Nizza Monferrato (Italy). On 31 January 2026, on the Feast of Don Bosco, at the Our Lady of Grace Institute in Nizza Monferrato (AT), of Mary Help of Christians Province (IPI), the “Spasso carrabile” theater company presented a theatrical reading – a performance that combines the reading aloud of texts with an interpretive performance – created by Sisi Cavalleris, in anticipation of a significant historical event: the 150th anniversary of the first departure of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians for the missions (1877-2027).
It was 14 November 1877, and there were six FMA sisters – all very young – led by the head of the expedition, Sister Angela Vallese (1854-1914), who was 23 years old, heading towards Uruguay, then towards Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego (Argentina and Chile).
The Salesians, sent by Don Bosco, had preceded them by two years. Just five years after the founding of the Institute, many Sisters were already willing to leave. The chosen ones had to be courageous, daring, in good health, and above all, full of love for Jesus, ready to proclaim the Gospel to those who did not yet know it or to the Italian migrants who were already in Latin America.
Sister Angela Vallese, born in Lu Monferrato (AL) in 1854, was the first to enter what was called Patagonia, the land explored by Magellan in 1520. These were isolated territories, with few inhabitants and mostly populated by indigenous tribes dressed in animal skins. The polar region was called “Tierra del Fuego” (Land of Fire) because the indigenous people, in that land battered by the extremely cold wind, lit large bonfires to protect themselves from the intense cold.
She soon became the Superior of the FMA Houses that were opening year after year, and therefore her mission was to travel to visit the various missions, encouraging the Sisters to make the Salesian charism of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello flourish in those isolated lands.
Angela Vallese dedicated all her energy and creativity to those lands, educating girls, women, and children, saving them from ignorance, and helping them to encounter Jesus, whom she loved with a passionate love.
After many years, in 1913, she returned to Italy, to Nizza Monferrato, to participate in the General Chapter. Her health deteriorated more and more, until she died the following year. It was 16 August 1914; she was 60 years old.
This is why the city of Nizza is linked to this first great and heroic missionary. She returned here several times. She had crossed the ocean ten times and never would have imagined dying far from her beloved mission. It can be said that Sister Angela is the seed of wheat that fell to the ground and gave life to so many other stalks of grain. After her, 3424 missionaries have left to proclaim Jesus in the five continents.
As Don Bosco said, “A house without music is like a body without a soul.” For this reason, the theatrical performance was accompanied from beginning to end by the harmony of music, which made the “missionary” evening truly splendid. Two well-known musicians from Nizza performed: Simona Scarrone on the flute and Luca Cavallo, the music teacher at the “Our Lady of Grace” school, on the piano.
Among the guests of honor at the celebration were the Deputy Mayor Ausilia Quaglia, and, in addition to the parish priest, Father Paolino Siri, and Father Pierangelo Campora, there was Father Julio Abalsamo, an Argentinian priest who had visited the places where the first Salesian missionaries worked. Also, present was Mrs. Rosalba Tento, great-niece of Sister Angela Vallese, who had traveled from Lu Monferrato with her son to participate in the celebration in honor of the great missionary.
As a final surprise, three missionaries present in Nizza were called to the stage: Sister Teresa Bellaria, who as a young Sister left for France; Sister Piera Viarengo, who worked in Argentina; and Sister Marie Jeannette Rasoaimalala, who comes from Madagascar and was sent to Italy to share her loving presence with children and everyone she meets.
Their life testimony, like that of Sister Angela Vallese, attests that love allows for small and great miracles that surprise only those who do not believe in this extraordinary power!
