On Sunday, 17^th August 2014 was a significant and memorable moment for each of us Daughters of Mary Help of Christians representing the Delhi region of the province, that gathered in the evening at Vasant Vihar for a solemn celebration of the Holy Eucharist to honor first missionary Sr. Angela Vallese on her death Centenary. At the melodious tune of the “Let all proclaim to the glory of the Father…..15 of us walked in the entrance procession holding small banners of pink and blue with the imprint of the portrait of Sr.Angela on it followed by Fr. K.U.Mathew SDB the celebrant. We then planted them each on a prepared pedestal before the beautifully decorated portrait of Sr. Angela Vallese. As the solemn Mass continued, the Offertory brought us to offer symbolic gifts with prayers for the faithful.  Fr. Mathew in his brief homily highlighted the audacious, missionary spirit of Sr. Angela Vallese and her great faith and hope in the Lord to win souls for Him with the zeal of the Da mihi animas caetera tolle. It was a constant leap in the dark for her living with the indigenous people of Patagonia.A beautiful moment which took us to the end of the Mass was the Pledge we all made before the altar, promising God the same missionary thrust, enthusiasm, joy and the same zeal for the thirst for souls, thus reviving that same missionary ardor that is in the heart of every Salesian charism. We were fortunate too to have had dear Sr. Maria, our provincial present with us on this great day!  From the table of the Lord to the banqueting table was a sumptuous meal to honor our beloved Sr. Angela Vallese. Sr. Maria, in her good night to the gathering, gave us, a message from the letters of Mother Mazzarello to Sr. Angela Vallese “to be of good example first, cheerful, obedient, have great faith and to always love one another. It was indeed abounding and thought provoking. The day truly was a memorable one for each of us. Proceeding, however, this celebration was the well prepared triduum in honor of Sr. Angela Valese wherein the community was able to know her missionary life and try to imbibe that same ardent desire and zeal for souls. Let’s make the dream of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello come alive today with our generous and unrestricted answer “I’ll go”.  LONG LIVE SR. ANGELA VALLESE!

Sr. Geraldine Barratt