A Life of Witness: Sr. Regine Canetti, NDS (1921-2025)

A Life Rooted in Faith and Memory

Sr. Regine Canetti, a member of the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2025, at the age of 104. Born in Bulgaria on May 16, 1921, to a Jewish family, her life was marked by extraordinary resilience and unwavering faith.

At just 19 years old, she survived the tragic sinking of the Salvador, a ship carrying Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis. The vessel, overcrowded and unequipped, was caught in a violent storm off the Turkish coast. Over 220 lives were lost, including her mother and younger brother. Regine was one of the few survivors, washed ashore near Silivri. This harrowing experience shaped her lifelong commitment to peace, memory, and interfaith dialogue. After the war, she found her spiritual home in the Catholic Church and joined the Sisters of Sion, dedicating her life to reconciliation between Jews and Christians. Her presence in the Vicariate of St. James, especially in the Ein Kerem convent, was a quiet yet powerful testimony to the healing power of faith. She was known for her gentle spirit, her storytelling, and her deep love for the people of the Holy Land.

A Farewell in Faith

On Monday, July 21, 2025, the Vicariate of St. James gathered to bid farewell to Sr. Regine in a solemn funeral Mass held in Ein Karem. His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over the liturgy, honoring her legacy as a bridge-builder and a woman of profound courage.

Her life, rooted in suffering and transformed by grace, continues to inspire all who seek justice, peace, and reconciliation. May her memory be a blessing.

Watch a short video by Christian Media Center: HERE.

Watch a short video by Yad Vashem: HERE.