The courage to dream of the future. Life and mission of Mother Catherine Daghero

Rome (Italy). The courage to dream of the future. Life and mission of Mother Catherine Daghero is the title of the volume written by Angela Bertero, published in the series Paths of the Studies Center on the   FMA, at Palumbi Publishing House (Teramo 2023).

On 26 February 1924, at Nizza Monferrato, at the age of 68 after 43 years of service as Superior General and 49 years of religious life, Mother Catherine Daghero, first successor of Mary Domenica Mazzarello, guide of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, ends her earthly journey.

A hundred years later, this new biography is published. The author, a woman passionate about education and mission according to the Salesian style, recounts: “Becoming Mother Catherine’s ‘traveling companion’ was a great gift for me. I retraced her life and her mission, which I don’t know if I succeeded to render it in the best way, as a strong spiritual experience that gave me so much.”

In the introduction, she states, “After a stop in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin, in front of the altar of Saint Mary Domenica Mazzarello, which I dare to consider as one of my greatest friends, I think I said an affectionate yes. Retracing the steps of the ‘best of the Mothers’ had no celebratory purpose. The intent was to revisit a hundred years after her return to the Father’s house, a story of rediscovering and making known a past rich in courage and daring to transform it into seeds of future and of hope.”

The promise is kept. With a fresh and lively language, based on reliable historical documentation thanks to the help of Sister Piera Cavaglià, former Secretary General of the Institute, Angela Bertero restores the portrait of this surprising and simple woman, faithful to the Gospel and to Don Bosco, who tells the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, “We belong to Don Bosco: we must think, do, pray, live, as he taught us.” And more, “Where our work is not yet present, we must go. We must bring the spirit and the Blessed Mother of Don Bosco.” Here is the synthesis of Mother Catherine’s program of life and government.

In 1881, at the death of Mother Mazzarello, the FMA numbered 166 in 26 houses, located in four nations (Italy, France, Uruguay, Argentina). At the death of Mother Catherine, the FMA numbered 4,276 in 487 houses, in 34 nations, and 4 continents. Above all, Mother Catherine had the great merit of giving solidity and apostolic impetus to an Institute whose members were predominantly young and of little education.

During her government, thanks to her wisdom, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians followed the paths of evangelization and education. They prepared themselves in Universities and Schools of various kinds to guarantee women education and professionalization of various degrees and types. From the equalization of the School of Nizza Monferrato (1900) to the hostels for workers, Mother Daghero endeavors to make the FMA mission incisive for the times of change and great upheavals such as the first decades of the twentieth century.

Together with her Council, she chose the path of formation, but also that of openness to new types of works. With her, the FMA consolidate their identity as consecrated women, educators according to the Preventive System. Since the education of women is their specific mission, she promotes and supports the initiatives and activities that have this purpose, always remembering the spirit that must animate them. “The uncomfortable house? scant income?” she questions maternally and somewhat wittily, but most of the time our Houses must measure the money to reach the end of the year without debts!… There is the abundant compensation in the good that can be done and in the consolations that God sends to the souls that know how to face sufferings and sacrifices for His glory and for the good. Courage and be very cheerful!”

This biography is the first of a series of initiatives that the General Secretariat, the Studies Center on the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and Our Lady of Grace Institute of Nizza Monferrato, and Mary Help of Christians Province (IPI), are organizing to commemorate, deepen, and spread the knowledge of this very significant person.

The first will take place close to the anniversary of her death, on Saturday 24 February 2024, at Our Lady of Grace Institute in Nizza Monferrato. This regards the Conference on the centenary of her death (1924-2024) by Sister Piera Cavaglià, entitled “Catherine Daghero: from Nizza to the world with foresight of perspective”.

At the Generalate in Rome on Saturday, 8 June 2024, in the presence of Mother Chiara Cazzuola and the General Councilors of the FMA Institute, a Conference will be held for an in-depth study of the figure of Mother Catherine Daghero from the historical-charismatic-institutional viewpoint, entitled “The long government of an educational Institute (1881-1924).

After the biography, there will be the much-awaited publication of the Letters of Mother Catherine, edited by Sister Maria Concetta Ventura, to whom we owe the edition of the “Diary on the occasion of the first trip to America of the Superior General Sr. Catherine Daghero (1895-97)” written by Sister Felicina Fauda, with the introduction, text, and notes by Maria Concetta Ventura (Palumbi, 2020).

On 13 April 2023, the Studies Center on the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians published o video, available on YouTube, in which Sister Piera Cavaglià presents “Mother Catherine Daghero in Nizza Monferrato, irradiation center of her government”.

In the year in which the Salesian Family commemorates the “Dream at Nine Years” of Saint John Bosco, the biography, “The courage to dream the future. The life and mission of Mother Catherine Daghero” documents the fruitfulness of the gift received by Don Bosco and transmitted to his daughters and sons.