In the minutes of the first encounter held in Valdocco, Turin, on May 20th, 1917, among Sr. Felicina Fauda, FMA Provincial, Fr. Philip Rinaldi, General Prefect of the Congregation, and the first three young vocations, we read: “Sr. Felicina presented to Fr. Rinaldi the three Daughters of Mary and told him about their fervent desire to be Daughters of Mary help of Christians in the world, and asked him to tell them a few words”.
Fr. Philip, who already knew them personally, thus spoke to them: since a long time the Superiors receive various appeals to create a Society of Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in the world… The Superiors always welcomed these appeals and wishes, all the more because such an idea was truly in Don Bosco’s mind. He spoke in fact of two different classes of people, keeping the same rule, one of which forms a community and the other lives in the world, so as to promote in it the spirit of the Congregation in the practical implementation of activity… Today we begin this work in obscurity, and we begin with the three here present. United in the same spirit, they will grow to perfection above all in the particular exercise of prayer, according to the spirit of Don Bosco: great simplicity, no complications… Continue to be as you are… And practice in the world those virtues you will certainly acquire with a more perfect life, doing your best and making yourselves available to do the greatest possible good, always with the spirit of Don Bosco… You are few, only three, but it does not matter; the works of the Lord are born in poverty, humility, and are shaped in silence… Be united among the three of you, make one heart and one soul…”.
“A memorable day” wrote in her diary Luigina Carpanera, one of the first three volunteers
“That fervent desires – the Major Coordinator adds – has grown well: the little plant has become a most beautiful tree. Today we too want to tell God: Here we are! We want to be faithful to the Holy Spirit who is at work in the world and who every day shows us what he wants to do through us”.
