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Maria Rosa Zorza was born on October 9, 1943 in Palosco, Italy, the youngest of seven children. Because her mother died when Maria Rosa was only two, her maternal grandmother raised her.
Even from an early age, Maria Rosa felt called to the religious life. When she was almost 23-years old, she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Poor – Palazzolo Institute, not to be confused with the Little Sisters of the Poor. In religious life, she was known as Sister Vitarosa.
After studying nursing in Milan and specializing in geriatric nursing, she had a great desire to care for poor children in an African country. Finally, on October 20, 1982, she was sent to Kikwit, the largest city in the Province of Kwilu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There, she worked in the civil hospital.
While in that area, however, an epidemic of Ebola hit. While others around her became sick and died, Sr. Vitarosa seemed fine. In fact, she was busy as ever, helping those who were stricken by the deadly disease. When someone asked her if she was afraid, she answered, “Afraid of what?” She would often sing a Kinshasa song, “If in the church Jesus Christ calls you, accept to serve Him with all your heart.”
Sister Vitarosa eventually did contact Ebola and died on May 28, 1995.
On March 21, 2021, Pope Francis declared Sr. Vitarosa to be a Venerable. Along with her, the pope declared five other Sisters of the Poor, Palazzola Institute “Venerable:” Sisters Annalvira; Danielangela; Floralba; Clarangela; and Dinorosa.
