From the End to a New Beginning

Project Mornese has come to an end...or a beginning...depending on one's perspective. With this in mind, this last blog is written by all the participants...the hopes, dreams, and desires of those who have come to the well, have found refreshment, and are ready to share it with the world!

INS: We have seen, touched, experienced, and have grown!

AFM: As we approach each Sister, we are standing on Holy Ground; we need to have an attitude of prayer, attentive listening, and acceptance.

SUA: We are filled with gratitude to our province and to our communities for the sacrifices made so we could be here, and we are eager and ready to share this journey with each Sister in our province.

AFE: It was a very enriching experience that has made me feel renewed and ready to go back to my community, to serve them better, especially through my own example, accompanying each one as an individual, allowing them to accompany me, and journey together as a community in commitment to our call to serve the young with love.

INK: Joyous accompaniment!

INM: Accompaniment with patient love and trust!

IRL: With great reverence for the individuality of each one, Mary Mazzarello led the Sisters along the road of Love, inviting and encouraging them to follow Jesus with courage and joy.

SUO: Our experience of Project Mornese helped us deepen our understanding of Mary Domenica's simple yet profound spirituality, the key to fostering mutual accompaniment, making each of our house, "the house of the love of God."

GBR: We appreciate having had this opportunity to get to know Mother Mazzarello at a deeper level, and look forward to sharing this with the Sisters.

ING: We have heard, we have seen, we have touched and experienced the origins of our Institute. Now filled with gratitude for the marvels the Lord worked in our lives, we return back to our beloved province and recommit ourselves to accompany our Sisters and the young in our mission with great dedication in the spirit of our Founders.

CINA: To be an animator one needs a great deal of faith, humility, and above all Love!

AES: Project Mornese has been a source of strength and light for me and will be so for my community.

INB: Deeper understanding of the context, the person, and the spirituality of Don Bosco, St. Francis de Sales, and especially of Mother Mazzarello have helped us feel like we have re-lived her days.

Amen!

Holy Week in Mornese

Reliving the Experience of Our First Sisters


The Washing of the Hands
replaced the traditional
Washing of the Feet

 We are a privileged group no doubt! This month has been a month of blessings. We had the added joy of celebrating Holy Week in Mornese, the land of our origin and of our co-foundress, Mother Mazzarello.

On Holy Thursday, instead of the traditional washing of the feet, we had the washing of each others hands to remind us of our role as servant leaders. The Altar of repose was kept in the very room of Mother Mazzarello where we kept watch with the Lord until midnight.



The Cross was carried
from Station to Station



Good Friday was a unique experience. A meaningful reconciliation service invited us to receive the Sacrament of Penance and at the end, each of us was anointed with the Holy Nard as a sign of blessing. As dark clouds gathered in the sky and light showers trickled down, we felt that nature, too, shared with us the Lord’s Passion. At dusk we joined the parishioners in a meaningful and well-enacted ‘Via Crucis’ along the streets of Mornese. The atmosphere of this little town reflected the road to Calvary.

Holy Saturday was a day of prayer and expectant waiting. In the afternoon, we visited the Roverno and shared in a meaningful prayer service there that explained the significance of the river in the lives of our first sisters and the symbolic gesture of washing off our burdens in the waters of the river. This further helped us to prepare ourselves for the Easter Vigil.



The Well of Mornese
is the background
for the new fire
at the Easter vigil


The Easter vigil was indeed a solemn celebration with the singing of the Exsultet by Fr. Mathew Chan. Our hearts were filled with the joy of the Resurrection.

It was indeed a unique joy to celebrate Easter in the Collegio. I am sure in the years to come during the Easter Triduum we will all join with our first sisters in Nizza in exclaiming: Ah Mornese!!! Ah Mornese!!!

Buona Pasqua! da suor Mónica Menegusi

Le suore di tutte le case si uniscono a me per augurarle buone feste Pasquali, in un con tutte le più elette benedizioni che sgorgano dal Cuore di Gesù risorto. (L. 21, 3)

The Sisters of all the houses join with me in wishing you a Happy Easter, with all the choicest blessings that spring from the Heart of the Risen Jesus.

Las hermanas de todas las casas se unen a mí para desearle unas buenas fiestas pascuales, así como las más selectas bendiciones que brotan del Corazón de Jesús resucitado.

 
Madre Mazzarello

From Water to the Spirit



Sr. Edna Mary

The beauty of our baptism, confirmed in our religious consecration, becomes even more meaningful as we renew our baptismal promises at the font at which Mary Mazzarello was baptized.
Added to this was the opportunity to view the original parish register, so kindly put at our disposal by the church sacristan, in which the name of Maria Domenica Mazzarello was written.

As her name was written on the paper of the parish register, may her spirit be written in our hearts!

THE BLESSED WINDOW OF THE VALPONASCA!!!

 

Group picture at the Valponasca

Yes!  For many, it is a small, insignificant window! But for Maria it all began with that window—her journey into spirituality, a deep spirituality of ‘action and contemplation’ that would become the basis for thousands of FMA’s and the young, the world over.



Sisters at the well



She was just a teenager then, and like any other teenager of our time who use the SMS and internet chat to keep in touch with friends, Maria used a unique, creative and most practical means—the only window facing in the direction of the parish where her first love, Jesus, resided—to keep in touch with him.

Unlike many teenagers of our time, she wasn’t selfish, possessive or insecure about her love. She brought in other children to meet her beloved, and when her family discovered it, they very wisely joined in and had their family prayers there.



View from the window
of the Sisters in prayer



Isn’t it an example for our families today in raising their children? In a world where children are emotionally distant from their parents, living without a sense of God, and where families are breaking up for no rhyme or reason, the window of Valponasca has a message or two.

• We need to create and point out the window of spirituality for children in our families.
• We need to keep our appointment with God in prayer as a family.
•  We need to be supportive and wise in involving ourselves in the goodness of our children.

May the spirituality of the window of Valponasca help keep our families happy and united!



From the Window to the World!

Distance is meaningless when minds are focused on the young and hearts are joined in one spirit. 

The Sisters taking part in Project Mornese, representing all the continents of the world, and thus, the entire Institute, offer a blessing for each nation, each province, and each sister, through the open window of the Valponasca!

Open Windows

Spirit of God

you seem to speak to us through open windows.

The early Summer sun seems to knock on the windows of our rooms

calling us to open up to warmth

to light

to the sounds and smells of a world renewed.

You, too, are knocking at the windows of our lives

You call us to open the windows of our hearts

to the warmth of your love

which brings us new life,

a the Summer sun to the world around us.

You call us to open the windows of our minds

to your light which leads us out into uncharted ways

and bids us go forward without fear

for you are ever with us.

You call us to open the windows of our ears

to "the music of what is"

to the beauty of life

to the sufferings of life

to the callls of those who need our help

to find you in their lives today.

You can us to open the windows of our senses

to the perfume of your beauty

in all that is positive in our world

in all that builds us life

in all that reaches out in care for others.

Come into our lives today.

Dissolve our fear of opening up.

Overcome our resistance that we, too, may be recreated in You!

Finally Mornese

After beautiful and wonderful experiences in Rome, Turin and Annecy, we finally reached Mornese!

As we drove through the country side and approached Mornese, we knew that Main was present and waiting for us here.  We want to deepen her spirituality so that we can accompany our sisters in community as she did in the first community.

We began Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday.  Part of the group went  to the Parish church to celebrate with the people of Mornese while the rest stayed and celebrated in the chapel at the Collegio.  As is the custom here in Mornese, we processed in carrying olive branches instead of the typical palms.  When you think about it, if Jesus rode into Mornese on the donkey, they would have waved olive branches instead of palms.  Thus, we welcomed the King of Peace with the symbol of peace

From Calvin to Crosses

That fateful day in 1517 when Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Thesis caused a chain of reactions that splintered Catholicism.  By 1536, John Calvin, the founder of Calvinism, set out to "convert" the city of Geneva, the seat of the bishopric of St. Francis de Sales.

Monument in Geneva to
Protestant Reformers
Left to Right: Calvin, Farel,
Beze, Knox

Calvinism took hold in Geneva.  Most of the people were uneducated and followed the direction of those who they thought knew better.  Also, the law stated that the religion of the ruler would be the religion of the entire country!

Little at a time, Francis was able to win back the Calvinists to Catholicism even though he was never able to take his seat in Geneva, a sorrow that followed him for his entire life.  However, he did have his own way of getting the Catholic faith back in the minds and hearts of the people...

One of the first things that the Calvinists did was to destroy all of the Crosses that had been erected around Geneva.  So, when a rich person came to confession to Francis de Sales, he would give as a penance...you got it...erect a Cross in the place of the one that had been destroyed!

From Calvin to Crosses...quite the journey for the man of God, Francis de Sales!

The Trinitarian Aspect of the Spirituality of St. Francis de Sales

The Trinitarian aspect was very strong in the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales. It is very evident when we visit the various places and churches associated with him. He had a special relationship with the Trinity. Almost every church that we visited depicted this aspect of his spirituality. He was full of the presence of the trinity. In the pictures of the saint we see the positioning of his right hand depicting the Trinity. (Three fingers upward symbolizing the Trinity.)

St. Francis writes about his experience of the Trinity at his ordination somewhat like this. “I was so completely filled with the presence of the Trinity. At my ordination, God took me from myself so that he could give me completely to his people”. 

May our Patron St. Francis de Sales help us to be close to the Trinity and feel its powerful and loving presence at every moment of our life.

How Great Thou Art!

The beauty of Annecy causes the heart and soul to sing out in praise!

O Lord, I stand in awe before your marvellous creation.

I enjoy the wonderful beauty and harmony in nature.

The flowers--how beautifully you have designed them,

each with a unique size, color, and texture.
Each one, however tiny it may be, spreads harmony and beautifies its surroundings,

fulfilling the purpose of praising its Creator!

How thoughtfully you have designed them, O Lord, which are here today, and are gone tomorrow!

As I admire your wonderful creation,

I cannot but thank you, my Lord,

for I know that I am much more beautiful and precious to you than all the beautiful flowers put together.

You have planned and designed me carefully, with immense love, from all eternity.

All that you desire is that "I be my best."

O Lord, my creator,

may my presence beautify this world of ours.

May I live in harmony with creation,

and always fulfill the purpose for which you so thoughtfully created me, my Lord,

to be happy, and to praise you, in this life and in eternity.

O Lord, our Lord, how great thou art!

A Different Kind of Revolution

Group entering school
of the Sisters of St. Magdalene

"I shall not spend my day idly...I will go and seek the afflicted, although they are not difficult to find, for pain is spread and scattered everywhere...I have encountered all kinds of suffering--that of innocence, of guilt, or repentance.  Oh Good Lord, in Your name I will go and transform the tears of desperation into the sweet smiles of hope."--Juliette Colbert, the Marquise of Barolo

A Sr. of St. Magdalene
speaks to the FMA

And so she did!  Juilette Colbert spent her life helping the poor.  The founder of the Sisters of St. Magdalene, Juliette spent her time, talent, and treasure in helping inmates at the local jail.  There she saw humans treated as animals, and she knew she had to act.  She used her influence and money to provide better jails for the people, especially young women who have fallen on hard times.  To this end, she revolutionized the jail system in Turin which later became the model for all of Europe!  The congregation of the Sisters of St. Magdalene are the only community in the Church whose first Sister was an ex-convict!

This work still continues.  The community of the Sisters of St. Magdalene run a home for women who have been released from jail.  They stay at this home, with their children, and are educated, given job skills, and helped to return to society in a meaningful manner.

This is only one of the great works of this great woman!

As Close As It Can Get-A Meaningful Eucharist

We will forever treasure the experience we had of celebrating the Eucharist in the Basilica at Valdocco, animated by the SUO Province. Just when our hearts were beginning to be heavy with the thought of leaving Valdocco, this experience lifted our spirits, giving us new energy, enthusiasm and determination to further our Salesian charism.

All of us joined in the entrance procession, each carrying a scroll upon which were written the names of all those whom we wanted to entrust to Mary, our loving Mother. The feeling was as if all those whose names were on the scroll were walking along with us towards our Mother.  The tray on which we placed our scrolls represented the open arms of Jesus, welcoming everyone into his heart!

We were seated around the alter, in the sanctuary.  We cannot explain the overwhelming feeling it gave us to be right there under the watchful eyes of Mary Help of Christians.

The initiative of Fr. Matthew Chan, SDB, our chaplain, allowed each one of us to break th

e host and share it with another, symbolizing self-sacrifice and self-giving in a world of self-fulfillment and selfishness.

The renewal of our vows at the end of the Eucharist really helped us to surrender our lives in the hands of God our Father and our Blessed Mother, who lovingly looked on us, her dear daughters.  There could have been no better parting gift than this--gathering as close as it can get--to Mary, Help of Christians and Don Bosco!

From Those Who Were to Those Who Will Be



Pinardi Shed chapel
in progress.

 Everywhere in Valdocco, restoration of our places of origin is taking place.  If one saw the DVD on the Restoration of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, one would realize the expense and the extent of such an undertaking.  Yet, there is another reflection that can be gleaned from plaster and pictures, terrazo and stained glass.



It is a debt of gratitude that we all owe to the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians who are now responsible for the places that are so dear to us all.  And seeing the care and the time, the effort and the money, that is put into keeping these places in their original state, helps us to reflect on our own need to preserve the mission, vision and charism for future generations.  Just as we are walking these sacred spaces, we want young people, FMA, and SDB to walk these sacred places for generations to come!









Journey through the Wandering Oratory

 Hats off to the participants!!! We completed the journey to the different oratories of Don Bosco in just three hours. Three hours of wonder and amazement, but it took Don Bosco nearly five anxious, painful, humiliating and discouraging years before he could arrive at the Pinardi shed.

What was it that made Don Bosco stick to his so called “rowdy” boys in spite of constant heartbreaks, tears and failures? Was it the fact that were it not for the good guides and benefactors that he had on his personal journey, he too could have landed on the street like the very boys he was helping? Or was it because he was overwhelmed with sorrow by the fact that the prisons were full of good but misguided youth? Or was it??? Or was it??? Or was it??? There could have been many reasons, but we know for sure, he was driven by his deep love for the young and his conviction that working with them was God’s will for him.

Looking at his first oratory at the church of St. Francis of Assisi, we realize that it is not the size of the place that counts, but the size of the heart that welcomes. Young people need today do not need our educational degrees, but the degree of our love.

 Thank God we do not have  to wander around like Don Bosco, searching for a place! But our hearts need to move around to search out the young who are in need of our assistance, who are lonely, misguided and exploited, and risking everything, love them as Don Bosco did.

Journey to Chieri - Land of uncertainty and doubts in the life of Don Bosco

We were wonderstruck as we visited the different places where Don Bosco lived and worked.  We had the good fortune of visiting the Seminary, the place where he had the vision of Comollo.

We marvelled at the way Don Bosco lived his life of poverty, of uncertainty and doubts.  When all doors seemed closed for him, he held on to the God of hope he so dearly loved.  He desperately sought financial and spiritual help and the God of hope didn't fail him.   He found kind and wise people on his way.

We remembered the thousands of young people with dreams - living lives of uncertainty due to poverty and family situations having no guides to help them.  Our call as spiritual guides and Salesian educators to the young was rekindled in these holy places.

Mary Mazzarello at Becchi

The image of Mary Mazzarello in the chapel of Mary Help of Christians at Becchi speaks of the birth of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. 

Mary Mazzarello is holding a replica of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin.  She is holding it close to her womb, signifiying that she, Mary Mazzarello, gave birth to all of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the living monument of Don Bosco's gratitude to the Mother of God!

On a Journey to Meet our Dear Father and Founder

It was a long and exciting journey from Rome to Turin!  Our hearts throbbed with joy and gratitude as we set foot in Valdocco.  At the sight of the dome of the famous basilica of Mary Help of Christians, we spontaneously burst forth in melodious voices singing, "Maria Ausiliatrice, ora pro nobis!"

Our visit to Becchi-the birth place of Don Bosco-helped us to see for ourselves how God fulfills his dreams through simple and humble people.  we were awestruck at the poverty and simplicity of life of the family of Don Bosco.  The influence of Mamma Margaret on Johnny made us further admire and love this simple and god-filled woman.  The pearls of wisdom she transmitted to him brought out a Saint in him.  May we have many more mothers of her caliber!  We raised up in prayer all single mothers who, even today, go through the pains and fatigues of bringing up their family with dignity like Mama Margaret did.

Thank you, God, for choosing Don Bosco and for choosing each of us to further his charism!

7 Thur: Years of childhood and early adolescence

            I Becchi - Morialdo – Mondonio.

 8 Fri:    Years of adolescence and youth - Chieri.

 9 Sat:  Years of first pastoral experiences -
            Wandering Oratory.

            Don Bosco accompanied bv Fr. Cafasso.

 10 Sun: Years of Maturity - Valdocco.

             Don Bosco accompanies young people.

11 Mon: Synthesis and evaluation of second stage

             Journey-Turin-Annecy.

             lntroduction to the spiritual iourney of SFS.

Catacombs of St. Callixtus



Celebrating Eucharist at the
Catacombs



Tuesday morning, the participants in Project Mornese went in pilgrimage to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus.  There, with the thousands of early Christians that gave their lives for Christ, the FMA recalled the journey of Mother Mazzarello to this same sacred spot.



Walking through the sacred tombs of the saints, it was easy to recall our own Saint Mary Mazzarello, who, at this very spot gave of her own poverty to help another in need.



Salesian guide of the Catacombs

As is recorded in the Cronistoria, although she was sick, she gave her shawl to a Slesian cleric, Carlo Pane, who was shivering with cold from an attack of malaria. 

  

With no consideration for her own well-being, Mother Mazzarello, like the first martyrs, gave all to Christ by giving all to another.

Participants of Progetto Mornese April 2011 at Casa Generalizia

Thank God We're Salesian!

Today the participants of Project Mornese had the honor of making a pilgrimage to Assisi.  The life of St. Francis and St. Clare reminded the FMA of the need for simplicity of life and integration of person. Although every spirit praises the Lord, "Thank God We're Salesian!"

Sr. Maria Troncatti

The participants of Project Mornese had the joy of meeting with Sr. Piera Cavaglia, the Secretary General.  She began the encounter with some very good news about our own Sr. Maria Troncatti!

On April 7, 2011, a team of seven doctors will meet in Rome to study the miracle that took place through the intercession of Sr. Maria Troncatti. A young mother was very ill, and her husband was told to talk her home to die.  Her distraught husband called a priest to administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.  The priest was a Salesian.  The Salesian willingly agreed to go to the bedside of the dying woman, and, while preparing to administer the Anointing of the Sick, asked the husband if he would pray to Sr. Maria Troncatti for the cure of his wife.  The husband agreed, and the entire village prayed to Sr. Maria.  The next morning, the woman began to regain consciousness and slowly was returned to health.  The two doctors that cared for her declared her cure a miracle.

The entire FMA world is asked to pray on April 7 so that the doctors agree with what we all know-Maria Troncatti is a Saint for our times!