Ambrosian Romite guests of the FMA at Cassina – ILO

Lecco (Italy). The news of a major fire that on 11 October 2025, almost completely destroyed the ancient monastery of Bernaga, in Valletta Brianza, in the province of Lecco in northern Italy, shook the Diocese of Milan, being, since 1628, one of the main places of faith. Its popularity is increased by the fact that it was here, in 1998, that Saint Carlo Acutis received his First Communion.

The 22 Romite Ambrosian nuns who lived there were rescued and are all unharmed. However, they were unable to recover much, other than some ancient canvases and the relics of the young Saint. The Archbishop of Milan, Archbishop Mario Delpini, had issued a message reassuring the faithful and expressing closeness to the nuns:

“The Romite Ambrosian nuns of the Order of Saint Ambrose ad nemus are all safe! There were no injuries! It was a great relief, as you see and see again the impressive flames that enveloped the ancient monastery restored in 1963, as a home for the new foundation of the Romite. The merciless fire destroyed a wealth of documentation, of signs of devotion, those few personal effects that the nuns live on. In this disaster, I want to express the solidarity of the entire Ambrosian Church and my closeness and prayer. I know that the nuns will continue to pray, and trust in God will be the most necessary encouragement.

Saint Paul VI who encouraged Mother Candida in the foundation; Saint Carlo Acutis who received his First Communion in the monastery at a very young age; Mother Candida and the other hermits buried in the cemetery inside the monastery certainly continue to be close to the nuns. And in this moment of fear and suffering, of precariousness and uncertainty about the future, the nuns can be certain of the proximity, solidarity, assistance of Bernaga’s many friends and of all of us.”

In fact, a chain of solidarity was set in motion right from the start and the Sisters were temporarily welcomed in Ponte Lambro by the Little Apostles of Charity, while the desire remained alive to bring the community together in an environment that favored silence and prayer typical of monastic life.

Meanwhile, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the Lombard Holy Family Province (ILO), as the Provincial, Sister Stefania Saccuman, tells us, questioned how they could meet the needs of the nuns:

“When we learned from the newspapers about the fire, we wondered how we could help and immediately thought of our summer house in Cassina (LC), in Valsassina, not far from their Monastery and close to Concenedo di Barzio, where the Monastery of the Discalced Carmelites and the House of Spirituality ‘Paul VI’ of the Ambrosian Diocese are located.

Through Sister Antonia Franzini, FMA of our Province, who from this year is USMI delegate for the Diocese of Milan, we received the telephone contact of the Abbess, Mother Maria Alessandra Regalia, to make ourselves available for what they needed, especially the house.

The proposal was welcomed with gratitude and immediately shared with the Episcopal Vicar of Consecrated Life, Monsignor Walter Magni, with whom other proposals were also evaluated. After an inspection of our house in Cassina by the Mother Abbess and Monsignor Magni, together with the provincial bursar, Sister Angela Carsana, and after evaluating several important aspects for their monastic life, the Romite Nuns welcomed our proposal with joy.

Sister Angela, also with the help of the bursar of the Community of Lecco, Sister Silvana Salvador, took care of preparing the house and the organizational aspects. The transfer to Cassina’s house is taking place these days (23 and 24 October).

On October 24, the solemn Mass will be celebrated, presided over by Monsignor Walter Magni, on the anniversary of the death of Mother Candida, who opened the Bernaga Monastery. Happy and providential coincidence!

We are happy with this sign of fraternity and communion in the Church! We have the gift of their prayer for our Province and for the whole Institute.”

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