Rome (Italy). On 19 March 2025, the Study Center of the Pontifical Faculty of Education Science «Auxilium» promotes the Study Conference on “Caterina Daghero, Salesian Superior General in Salesian Style“, to delve deeply into the figure and service of the first successor of Mother Mazzarello as Superior General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and on the occasion of the publication of two works in the centenary year of her death: Acts of two conferences and more than 1200 unpublished letters.
- Caterina Daghero Superiora generale delle Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice (1881-1924), edited by Piera Cavaglià and Grazia Loparco, Teramo, Palumbi – Percorsi 10, 2024.
- Caterina Daghero, Lettere (1880-1924). Introduction, texts, and notes by Maria Concetta Ventura, Teramo, Palumbi – Routes 11-12, 2024, 2 volumes.
Catherin Daghero became Superior General at the age of 25, 9 years after the foundation of the FMA Institute, and remained for 43 years (1881-1924). She lived the transition from aggregation to the Salesian Congregation to full autonomy of an Institute that grew exponentially, until being present in 34 nations on 4 continents, with more than 4200 Sisters distributed in more than 480 active Houses in 1924.
She found herself at the government of people and works inserted into complex international contexts in times of peace and wars. This required an unusual capacity for adaptation and, at the same time, authoritativeness and motherhood, which led her to meet the Sisters in more than 400 trips in Italy and abroad, including one in Latin America lasting two years (1895-1897).
Mother Daghero was a woman of her time, with a strong sense of responsibility, modesty, and unwavering faith in promoting education. Between 1800 and 1900, the status of women in society changed and, at the same time, the identity of the religious in the Church was clarified, in turn marginalized by the processes of secularization and relaunched in the missions ad gentes.
How did Mother Daghero interpret her role as guarantor of the Salesian spirit among the FMA? How did she deal when faced with the unprecedented? What were her strengths in the face of many and unpredictable difficulties, and what were her limitations? What legacy has she left in the life of the Institute? What message for today?
These are some questions which we will try to answer during the Conference, through a series of interventions that, starting from some letters written by Mother Catherine Daghero, will delve into the wisdom and the openness of mind and action of this Superior General.
Program of the Conference
Institutional greetings
Sister Piera Silvia Ruffinatto, FMA, Principal of the Pontifical “Faculty of Education Auxilium;
Sister María del Rosario García Ribas, Vicar General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians; Sister Micaela Monetti, PDDM, President USMI (Superior of the Union of Major Superiors of Italy).
Video-biographical introduction
by the Communication Sector of the FMA Institute
Interventions
Moderator: Sister Maria Luisa Nicastro, Secretary General of the FMA Institute
In an age of change: the challenges for a woman in government
Sister Nicla Spezzati, ASC, Pontifical Institute of Theology of Consecrated Life Claretianum
Letter from Catherine Daghero – Salesian Superiors. Between fidelity to Don Bosco and the requirements of the Holy See
Paolo Vaschetto, SDB, Salesian Pontifical University
From superior to superior. Resonances and heritage in the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians
Sister Yvonne Reungoat, Superior General emerita of the FMA Institute
Response of the curators of the volumes
Sister Grazia Loparco and Sister Maria Concetta Ventura, FMA.
The conference will take place from15:30 alle 18:00 in Roma, at the Aula Magna John Paul II of the «Auxilium» Faculty and will be broadcast on the YouTube channel Centro Studi FMA.
