Mornese (Italy). On 13 September 2020 the new experience of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Mornese (AL) officially begins, with the union of the two communities, the Mazzarelli and the Collegio, into an International Community based in the Collegio, the place of origin of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
Present at the inauguration were the Vicar General, Sr. Chiara Cazzuola; the Provincial of Mary Help of Christians Province of Piedmont and Val d’Aosta (IPI) Sr. Emma Bergandi and the members of the Provincial Council; Sr. Elide Degiovanni, Provincial Emeritus; the Provincial of Our Lady of the Cenacle Province (ILS), Sr. Carla Castellino; the Provincial of Holy Family Province (ILO), Sr. Maria Teresa Cocco; Sr. Emilia Musatti, Sr. Graziella Curti, some Animators of the IPI Province, and some residents of Mornese to represent the town.
The Salesian Provincial of the special Piedmont-Valle d’Aosta circumscription, Fr. Leonardo Mancini, presided over the Eucharist, rendering the start of the new experience solemn, in an atmosphere of prayer and trust in the presence of Jesus in Mornese.
The Vicar General, Sr. Chiara Cazzuola, said in her mesage “We are living together a significant day, which is an impetus towards the future. Mornese is for the Institute, for the FMA, and for the Educating Communities, a center of irradiation of the Salesian charism embodied in a marvelous way by Mary Domenica Mazzarello and by the first FMA, lived in the feminine with the wisdom of the Spirit. Don Bosco himself, speaking with Don Cagliero and with the first Salesian Directors of the community of the College said, “Let her do it, leave her free to do it, she knows …” because he knew that Mother Mazzarello, even in the midst of so many difficulties, was carrying out the other part of Don Bosco’s dream: to do for girls what was already being done for boys. Therefore a charism for the mission, a spirituality that is expressed in the unconditional gift to young people”.
The Animator of the Community, Sr. Maria Vanda Penna, invited the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, young people, families, members of the Salesian Family, and all those who wish to experience moments of reflection and spirituality together, to come to Mornese, to the places of Mother Mazzarello to relive the experience of the origins.
“The life of the first sisters in Mornese was beautiful, at the heart of the Community were Jesus and Mary and with them in the center, the fire of fraternity and communion was so great that after only five years from the Foundation (5 August 1872), six young FMA left to proclaim the Gospel in distant lands (1877).”
The new community promotes hospitality and charismatic proposals in the symbolic places of a Sacred Ground: the College, the Sanctuary, the Mazzarelli Spirituality House, and the Valponasca, with the commitment to revive the spirit of its origins.
“Let us do good while there is still time”
(Mother Mazzarello)
Sono in una bella comunità a Pemba in Mozambico, ed ogni mese ci nutriamo della bella pagina di riflessione e meditazione su Mornese, Madre Mazzarello ed ora di D. Pestarino che ci invia Sr. Vanda. La comunitá intera gode e partecipa di tutto cuore. Mi hanno incaricato di ringraziare sr. Vanda per questa bella iniziativa. Qui le giovani suore mozambicane non conoscono bene la situazione iniziale di Mornese, così partecipano e gioiscono come se fossero presenti. E tutte ci arricchiamo del bel spirito “Mornesino”. GRAZIE di cuore ❤