Geraldine Serina (38), a former Franciscan nun from the Philippines, got married to Maurizio Degortes (33), of Olbia, Sardegna in a civil ceremony last September 2. On the other hand, the religious rite has already been scheduled to take place early next year.

This unusual “love story” started in 2004 through a SMS message of encouragement and moral support that Maurizio addressed to a friend but was accidentally sent by mistake when he misdialed the last number. Sister Geraldine, who was stationed at that time in their convent in Palermo, was having a vocational crisis when she received the message. Somehow, it moved her almost to tears as she read through the following phrases: “Be strong as life is and should not be a tragedy! You’d see that tomorrow will be a better day.” She duly acknowledged it with thanks and gratitude that had made him too happy and contented to what he did. Subsequently, this was followed by a series of messages and later by conversations between them as if they had known each other for years, until the day when she realized that she was in love for the first time!

When Maurizio finally discovered that she was a nun, he was confused and disheartened. Nonetheless, he did all his best to convince her not to renounce her vows because he had felt a strong inner sense of guilt and remorse from the thought of taking away a bride of Christ. For him, such a transgression was neither fair nor possible. Meanwhile, the profound sentiment they have for each other had grown so strong and intense that they couldn’t overcome it anymore.

By the order of her Mother Superior, she had to leave the convent and go back to the Philippines. In the meantime, the parish priest who became her spiritual adviser contacted Maurizio by telephone and talked to him at length about himself and his good intention toward Geraldine. He arranged them to meet at the airport before she was about to board the plane to return home. When they met in January 2005 for the first time, she couldn’t believe how so young he looked like that she thought he could have had been sent by the person with whom she always communicated on the telephone. They exchanged a few words and promised that they would be seeing each other again in Italy in a few months’ time.

Source: Cristina Pace, Dopo Dio, sposo il mio Maurizio. Photos: Marco Iacobucci

¶ 8:43 AM