The Basics: Born December 9, 1940, in Italy; died September 17, 2006, in Somalia; beatified May 26, 2018; feast day, September 17. Woman religious, nurse.
The Story: Leonella Sgorbati was doing what she loved when she died a martyr’s death.
Born in Italy, Leonella knew at sixteen she wanted to be a woman religious, but at her mother’s request she waited until she was twenty to 
join the Consolata Missionary Sisters. Leonella spent two years in England to be trained as a nurse, and when she was thirty, she was sent to Kenya. She spent fourteen years working in hospitals on the outskirts of Nairobi, then became the main teacher at a nursing hospital there followed by six years as her community’s regional superior. In 2001, she went to Somalia to gather information about establishing a nursing school in Mogadishu. The program was stood up the following year.
On September 17, 2006, tensions were high in Mogadishu due to reported remarks by Pope Benedict XVI, including a quote from someone else on Islamic teachings. Leonella, who had had trouble re-entering Somalia the week before, and her driver were leaving the children’s hospital when they came under gunfire. Her driver attempted to save her, but both were killed. At the time, Leonella was one of only two Westerners in Mogadishu.
She is buried in Narobi.
Leonella’s Wisdom: “I forgive. I forgive. I forgive” (her final words).
What We Can Learn from Leonella: If you die today, can you say that you spent the day doing what you love? If not, what changes can you make so that that will be true?
To Learn More About Leonella: Read her biography at the Consolata Missionary Sisters site.
To Learn More About Other Women Saints and Blesseds: Come back next week, or consider buying my book, Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.
