Nizza Monferrato (Italy). On 23 and 24 May 2025, “Our Lady of Grace” Institute in Nizza Monferrato (AT), of Mary Help of Christians Province (IPI), celebrated the Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians with various initiatives.
The vigil convened the entire School of Our Lady of Graces with the families for the Eucharistic celebration presided by the Bishop emeritus of Asti, Mons. Francesco Ravinale, to celebrate Mary and also the Feast of Our Lady of Graces thought of by Don Bosco to educate children to show gratitude to those who care for them. It was also to say a mutual thank you for what throughout the year seems obvious and is not! After the Mass, all students were invited to place a leaf on the great thank-you tree to make gratitude visible.
In the afternoon, the courtyard was filled with many children, from the youngest of the Micro-Nido, to the pupils of the Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary of First Grade, accompanied by parents, teachers, grandparents. The Mayor of the city, Simone Nosenzo, was present with families from Nizza and its surroundings to participate in the children’s procession, with the small statue of Mary Help of Christians brought by four children of the Kindergarten before, and then by four of the Primary School, wearing elegant little red capes.
The route, punctuated by brief pauses for reflection and prayer, culminated in the Shrine of Our Lady of Graces, declared by the Bishop a Jubilee Church, for the blessing of the children and the medals of Mary distributed, as per tradition, to each one. The parish priest, Fr. Paolino Siri, with his ability to animate, entertained the whole assembly with singing. The children sang a short song to Mary, accompanied by a greeting: “Hello Mary, you are the Mother who never abandons us”.
On the 24th, Liturgical Feast of Mary Help of Christians, instituted by Pope Pius VII in 1815, and spread by Don Bosco throughout the world, has seen reaching the “Madonna” – as the people of Nizza call the House of the Sisters – numerous people not only for the Masses, but also for a spontaneous visit to the altar of Mary, a prayer, an impulse of the heart, an always fresh memory of the time of attendance at this school. Past Pupils return gladly to see again their classrooms, the courtyards, the environments where they studied and also played happily in both distant and more recent years.
The culmination of the Feast was the procession through the streets of the city, presided by the Bishop of the Diocese of Acqui, Msgr. Luigi Testore, and animated by Fr. Claudio Montanaro, parish priest of Incisa; the parish priest Paolino Siri, and numerous priests and Deacons in the area. The Mayor, several municipal councilors of the city of Nizza, and some mayors from neighboring towns were also present.
A touch of celebration and solemnity was given, as per tradition, by the Musical Band of the city of Nizza, directed by the Maestro and artistic director, Giulio Rosa, and the President Michela Daddio with musicians able to create harmony and beauty. A good group of Alpinists, experts in guiding the float of Our Lady, showed a spirit of collaboration and synergy in carrying the beautiful statue of Mary Help of Christians through the streets of the city, in a long procession accompanied by civil and military authorities, as well as very many people, escorted by the police officers, ‘watchful grandparents’, the police on leave, and civil protection.
At the return of the procession to the large courtyard of the School illuminated festively, all participants had a lovely surprise. A religious dance was performed with oriental art and lightness by 15 Sisters from Vietnam, who arrived in Nizza as a phase of the Mornese Project in the Vietnamese language. Their “angelic” singing and their agile and harmonious dance steps gave the final touch to the solemn celebration, receiving thunderous applause.
The evening ended in beauty around Mary, not only surrounded by flowers, but by the many who love her and pay homage to her, in the special year that asks us to be “Pilgrims of hope”, despite difficult times. The Festival was an injection of hope for all and therefore remains unforgettable!
