Nizza Monferrato (Italy). On 12 June 2025, in the Intesa Sanpaolo conference room in piazza Belgioioso in Milan, in the presence of the President of the Italian Environment Fund, Marco Magnifico, with the remote participation of the Chairman of Intesa Sanpaolo, Gian Maria Gros-Pietro, the winners were announced of Competition 2024, “The Places of the Heart” of FAI (Italian Environment Fund ETS) in collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo.
The campaign, launched in 2004, aims to raise public awareness of the value of cultural heritage by involving communities in the protection and enhancement of places that are most dear and important to them.
Out of 221 places and with 72,050 votes “Our Lady of Graces” Sanctuary” in Nizza Monferrato (Asti) was classified as 1st place. It is within the complex of “Our Lady of Graces” Institute, of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of Mary Help of Christians Province (IPI).
Sister Paola Cuccioli, in charge of the Historical Archive of Nizza, was present to receive the Prize, consisting of a significant financial contribution to projects for the restoration and enhancement of the Sanctuary:
“For us, the Sanctuary of Nizza Monferrato is ‘a place of the heart’. It is the Mother House of our Institute and therefore, an educative place, destination of many pilgrimages and visits. This year, among other things, it is a Jubilee church.”
Invited to recount how she collected such a large number of votes, Sister Paola explained that it was possible to reach this great goal thanks to “a great family” constituted by the FMA Institute, present in 5 continents, and by the whole Salesian Family, in addition to Schools, to Oratories from all over the world.
The Sanctuary is the ‘place of the heart’ not only for the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, but also for the whole city of Nizza Monferrato, “because it is not called ‘Institute of Our Lady of the Graces’; rather it is called ‘the Madonna’ because of the strong Marian presence that since about 1200 this place represents.”
In this regard, she recalled the active participation of the Municipality of Nizza Monferrato, which on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Institute, in 2022, made all the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians “honorary citizens” of the city.
After the video presentation by the Chairman of Intesa Sanpaolo, who congratulated the winners, the FAI Chairman concluded the conference with these words:
“The beauty of our work is that we always bring good news. And since there is an ever-greater need for good news, for examples, I am happy to close this edition by pointing out in John Bosco an extraordinary example of someone who with his own strength succeeded in doing something very great, because if you believe it you can do it. And this is perhaps the most beautiful lesson of ‘Places of the heart’”. (link to live streaming)
Care sorelle, C’è stata per noi una grande gioia questa notizia.
Ringraziamo il Signore per questo donno.
Che tutto sia per maggior gloria di Dio e un acrescere nel amore alla Madonna.
Sor Ma. Guadalupe Villicaña Castillo,
Segretaria Ispettoriale, MME
Congratulations! for the great work done by you dear Sisters.
Grande gioia!!!
Non potrebbe essere diverso!
Dear Sr Paola and Sr Piera
It is wonderful note the effort you made! we are proud of you and we thank you for all your hard work to give visibility to our Charism.
Long Live Mother Mazzarello!
I am proud of our Institute. Congratulations dear sisters.
Everything is possible when we believe.
SUCH A WONDERFUL NEWS TO BE PROUD OF.
CONGRATULATIONS dear sisters . A glory for all of us.
Apprendiamo notizia con grande gioia e riconoscenza al Signore e a Maria Ausiliatrice per questo dono prezioso al nostro Istituto e alla Chiesa. Maria è veramente presente!!!
Deus seja louvado por tão grande bênção! Parabéns ao IFMA e às nossas queridas Irmãs Salesianas, “monumento vivo de Maria Auxiliadora”! Santuário de Nossa Senhora das Graças, lugar santo e de santificação!
Que Maravilha. Minha alegria por essa conquista do nosso Instituto. Parabéns a todas. Maria passeia em nossa Casa em Nizza e em todas as nossas comunidades. Viva o Santuário Nossa Senhora das Graças!
Evviva!