【慈幼通訊社
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2017 年
1月
31
日意大利卡塔尼亞訊】
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瑪竇福音這樣說道：「你們若不變成如同小孩一樣，你們決不能進入天國。」（瑪18：1-5）今天一位與這位聖史同名的小孩，在鄰近卡塔尼亞的聖額我略市慈幼聖心學校，證實了這一點。瑪竇年僅九歲，為嚴重殘疾人士，卻是這個慈幼會團體內的真正領袖及動力，尤其對那些在這裡寄宿的無依小孩而言。
瑪竇因殘障而被迫乘坐輪椅。他身患的遺傳病，尤其影響他的行動。意大利電視基金會正研究他的病例，但他的病暫時仍沒有治療的良方。他作一切都要依靠他人。
瑪竇心中渴望幫助他人，因此他時常前往聖額我略。他於女隱修院協助輔彌撒。他經常祈禱，也邀請人們為他祈禱。接著他前往探望來自外國的朋友 ─ 六十名來自畿內亞、塞內加爾、岡比亞、馬里，甚或遠至孟加拉的有需要協助的孩子。這些孩子因貧窮及戰亂逃離祖國。即使過了多個月，仍未懂得說意大利語，但他們與有語言障礙的瑪竇一起，卻能透過眼神、擁抱及彼此的友誼，立時了解對方。
當地慈幼會團體的 Cristian Scuderi 神父說：「瑪竇是一份恩賜。他為眾人，所有青少年及我們司鐸們，帶來希望與愛。」
瑪竇的母親在他身邊陪伴著，而支持他的眾多朋友及各方友好，也一起前來服務，而瑪竇經常去尋找外來的兒童。他願意以兄弟友愛的精神協助他們，同時他也得到別人的幫助和照顧。這些青少年一看見他，即立時關注他，並照顧他的需要，令人十分驚訝。他不能獨自站立，但人們知道如何從輪椅上扶起他來，表現得十分純熟。
雙方因著不同緣故而受苦，但這苦楚卻成為一股動力，一個彼此互愛互助的契機。
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When good is contagious: the story of Matthew and 60 foreign minors
(ANS - Italy –Catania, 31 January 2017) – "Unless you become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven" it says in the Gospel of St. Matthew (Mt 18.1 to 5). Today a child who bears the same name as the evangelist is proving this at the Salesian Institute of the Sacred Heart at San Gregorio, near Catania. At only 9 years of age, with a severe disability, Matthew is a real leader and motivator in the Salesian community and especially among the unaccompanied foreign children who are hosted there.
Matthew has a disability that forces him to use a wheelchair. He suffers from a genetic disease that affects especially his movement. The Telethon Foundation is studying it, but for now his illness has no cure. He depends on others for everything.
In Matthew’s heart there is the desire to help others. That is why he always goes to San Gregorio. He serves Mass in the convent of the cloistered nuns. He prays and invites everyone to pray for him, and then he goes to look for his foreign friends - 60 needy children from countries such as Guinea, Senegal, Gambia, Mali, some even from Bangladesh. These are children who have fled from poverty and war. Even after several months they still do not speak much Italian, but with Matthew, who his own language difficulties, there is an immediate understanding through looks, hugs and mutual friendship.
"Matthew is a gift. He brings hope and love to all, to the young people and to us priests," says Fr Cristian Scuderi from the Salesian community.
Accompanied by his mother and supported by many friends and acquaintances who now also attend the community, Matthew always goes to look for the immigrant children. He wants to help them in a spirit of fraternity, and at the same time he receives help and attention. It's amazing how these young people pay attention to him immediately and look after his needs. He cannot stand on his own but they know how to take him out of the wheelchair and support him, as if they had always been doing it.
On both sides, for different reasons, there is suffering, but the suffering becomes a resource, an opportunity for mutual help and love.