The Adventist center “Le Sorgenti” in Vallegrande, Piazza Armerina ), hosted the Women's Ministries (WM) spiritual retreat for the women of Sicily. “It's about you” was the theme of the three days of meetings, from November 21 to 23, 2025. The special guest was Dagmar Dorn, Inter-European Division WM Director of the Adventist church. In her talks, she guided the participants through the stories of five women in the Bible, who had courage, resourcefulness, readiness, and trust in divine control in every area of life. We started with the biblical book of Exodus to learn about the two midwives who, with a touch of irony, disobeyed the unjust law issued by Pharaoh; Jochebed, who entrusted her newborn son (Moses) to God's care, carefully preparing the basket where she placed him before leaving it on the waters of the Nile River; little Miriam (Moses' sister) who remained nearby and immediately seized the opportunity to ‘accidentally’ offer help to Pharaoh's daughter; finally, the princess herself, who found the basket with the baby and went against her father's law and adopted the newborn, thus becoming an instrument of God for the salvation of an entire people.
Each meeting began with moments dedicated to singing, in conscious, orderly, joyful, and expressive praise. It was as if we had become a choir of female voices, united in glorifying our Lord. We got to know each other, introducing ourselves in pairs. We prayed a lot for each other. We shared smiles, joy, tears, and the struggles of daily life; we experienced the comfort of a hug, to bring a little relief from pain to those who needed it most.
On the Sabbath morning and afternoon, we had the opportunity to work in groups on four different themes: health, beauty, time, and work management. Each group received a guideline, with verses to match four different projects, until we were ready to present to everyone the ideas that had emerged from sharing and discussion.
The first group discussed the theme of beauty. We looked at how to create, in our own homes, groups of women, friends, and acquaintances who can find friendship and support, working together on small projects and creative ideas. Using different materials, such as leaves, four clothing designs were created on drawing paper. We appreciated the results; beautiful dresses were created.
The second group focused on health. They decided to meet outdoors to walk and exercise together, including stretching and aerobics. Physical exercise was combined with the principles of healthy eating, water, sun, rest, air, etc.
The third group dealt with time management. What strategies can we implement so that our personal time with God, and for ourselves, is respected by others? With kindness and firmness, we can carve out time for ourselves and for God.
Finally, the fourth group discussed the theme of work and family. The participants talked about offering their homes as meeting places; they spoke about the difficulties of finding work and how to balance work and family, or change jobs after a long time.
Each participant then committed herself to presenting and developing these ideas in her own church, thus continuing the experience of this shared time. One thing is always certain: we women really like to talk!
30th Anniversary of Women’s Ministries
A special moment was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Women's Ministries, which officially began in 1995. We celebrated this anniversary by giving thanks to God, reading promises from the Bible, and remembering the national leaders in Italy who have served over the years: Franca Zucca, Lina Ferrara, and the current leader, Abigaela Trofin. The program included a snack to celebrate 30 years with hugs and cakes. Saturday evening was recreational and, between reflections, funny skits, and popular songs, led us to a night of rest and our last day together. On Saturday evening and Sunday morning, various useful items were displayed on a table and put up for sale to help fund the Sicilian WM; on another table, there were handicrafts, delicious herbal teas, and other items created by the many skilled women.
After the final exchange of gifts and a last lunch together, it was time to say goodbye. There were thanks to the staff of Vallegrande, the host, the event organizers, and all the collaborators. The last and most important thanks went to our wonderful God, who created us just as we are, unique, capable of inspiring harmony and mutual support. Precious women!
According to a report by Fernanda D'Abbondio, one of the participants