I give you a happy announcement
My dear all,
this month’s letter is a new ‘step’ in the renewed growing path of our Association. That’s it: I give you a happy announcement.
“A roof a heart” project by the solidarity Commission of the actual Confederal Council, proposed at the beginning of this mandate, has become reality, through a slow, sometimes difficult path but daily sustained by the wish to realize the ‘dream’ that FMAs and past-pupils have always had: to have an own house.
And, with us, also sister Celestina Corna (Inspector of the Piemonte Inspectorate) and sister Nanda Filippi (bursar of Castelnuovo house), have believed in the ‘idea’, without refusing our proposal to substitute the Nuns in the management of the House and acompaning this preparatory path with far-sight and prudence.
The Institute has accompanied us with interest and goodwill, starting from sister Atonia Colombo, Madre Generale, sister Maria de Los Angeles Contreras, General Councillor, sister Candida Aspesi, Geberal Bursar, and our sister Maritza.
One of our objectives was no to make one of our Nuns’ Houses close, but to go on managing it on a common mission basis.
And now, we are there. In Castelnuovo Nigra, a delicious vilage on a Canavese hill, in the province of Torino (Italy), stands, majestic, a wonderful House that domanites the ‘holy valley’. It belongs to our Nuns, in which they have their spirituality meetings.
From the month of September the management of the House will be in the hands of FMA past-pupils Confederation.
This project, as the other ones of the actual Confederal Council, wants to actualize the 3rd Wordl Elective Meeting theme: Presence or survival?
Still that Assembly chose for Presence, but now we have to make that programme real, having been chosen by that Assembly.
And that’s one of the ‘steps’.
A bricks House – to be more established in the territory – to which we will give a ‘heart’.
A House in Piemonte, our Origins land.
A house that will be the propulsive center of our laical salesian-mornesine spiritualità, a hosting place for past-pupils and sympathizers, a seat in which young people of all ages can form themselves, an ambient for rest and relief… Where you can feel really at home: not passing hosts but someone, that’s part of the family, that stops there to recharge his/her energies to come back to the everyday life with renewed enthusiasm. And, why not, to rest for a long time after the free choice to spend the last years of life in a quiet, clean and comfortable ambient, where the only rules are mutual love, service and….happiness. The one that Madre Mazzarello goes on recommending.
And that’s it: we’ve prepared a roof for you. Now we need your help.
The House, that until now has been our collective dream, has become real: it’s made of bricks and must be supported.
We trust, in this, your usual generosity and in your continuous visits at the House, that’s a place o live in, besides being a symbolic place.
From 7th to 10th September, European Federations Presidents and Delegates will meet there, and the fact can be seen as a symbolic blessing to this new project. We’ll wait that, in groups or individually, you’ll all destre to come to Castelnuovo to appreciate the new ‘home taste’.

With sr. Maritza and all the Council, best regards to you all
Yours sincerely,
Carolina