On 29^th August 2013, Sr. Mini Mary Putharickal and I went to Rome to participate in the Mornese Project. These were the days of rich experience of our family spirit.

 The resource persons Srs. Moire, Edna Mary, Teresa Jojo and Fr. Joy SDB, the Chaplain and 34 sisters from 5 continents made the group of Mornese Project 2013. Our places of pilgrimage were Vatican City, Turin and Mornese.

 We were excited to visit Vatican, the Basilica of St. Peter the apostle where we had our first Mass celebrated as a group. In Rome, we visited catacombs, the major Basilicas and historical places. Later we moved towards our very own roots of Salesian spirituality.  We admired the Basilica of the Sacred Heart which Don Bosco built.

 In Turin we visited the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians which spoke of Don Bosco’s love for Madonna, Becchi where Don Bosco was born and spent his childhood. At Becchi everything spoke of Don Bosco and the hands of Mary who guided him in his zeal for young people. Later we moved to Chieri where Don Bosco spent his school life and the last days of his illness. In all places we spent our time in prayer.

 Our next destination was Mornese, the land of the bright sun, the sacred place of our foundress  St. Mary Dominica Mazzarello. It was a moving experience to gather around the  Mornese well. We had an enriching visit to the parish church where Mother Mazzarello grew up, to see the Baptismal font and to glance at the register where her name is inscribed. We visited “Mazzarelli” her birth place, Casa Immaculata and  river Roverno”. At the “Valponasca window” we spend the day in silence and prayer. The Animators reminded us of the words of Mother Mazzarello “It was here I learnt to work, pray, contemplate & serve with love”.

 We concluded our pilgrimage with the visit to Nizza where Don Bosco saw Our Lady walking in the house and renewed our commitment to the Lord in the room where Mother Mazzarello died.   In all the places we were helped to reflect the theological and spiritual journey of St. Mary Dominica Mazzarello.

We are sincerely grateful to the Congregation for this special gift given to us and to our dearest Sr. Maria Pettayil, our Provincial for giving us this rich and holy opportunity to drink deeply the spirit of our origin. We express our heartfelt gratitude to all the sisters of the province for accompanying us with your prayers.

 Sr. Alphonsa Kachappilly