MSMHC ITALIAN DELEGATION DAY
CUM
SILVER JUBILEE OF REV. SR. REGINA GONGMEI
Mary Help of
Christian Basilica, Valdocco, Turin.
On 15th
October 2015, the MSMHC of St. Teresa of Child Jesus, Italian Delegation
observed a Day of Thanksgiving and Jubilation. This day was specially marked as
a day of thanksgiving and celebration for multi-reasons as it was the feast of
St. Teresa of Avila (Seniors’ Day), Delegation Day, Silver Jubilee of Sr. Regina
and a day of gathering for all the sisters of the Italian Delegation. The
auspicious day kicked off with the solemn Eucharistic celebration at the chapel
of St. Francis de sale at the campus of Basilica of Mary Help Christians,
Valdocco, presided by Rev. Fr Jerome, from Vatican Radio
for Tamil Language. Rev. Father Nalayan sdb, from the Community of Valdocco for
English-speaking group con- celebrated the solemn mass. On this occasion, we
were blessed and encouraged with the presence of Susan the sister of Rev. Fr.
Jerome who came from Singapore, and 37 vibrant Missionary sisters representing various
communities in Italy.
Rev. Fr.
Jerome SJ, in his homily message emphasized of the importance of ‘the sense of
belonging’. He said, “We are in the Sanctuary of Mary Help Christians, the
source of strength for Salesians and Salesian Family”. He further said that
people come to this Sanctuary not only just to spend vacation but they revere
Don Bosco, Domenic Savio and Mary Mazzerello who all lived and worked here. The
second point of reflection was based on the life of two women, Mary and
Elizabeth. He spoke on how the impossible for men is made possible by God. In the sight of men, it is impossible for
Mary, a virgin to become a mother. She would have to face a capital punishment
by being stone to death. However, God’s intervention made it possible. In the
case of Elizabeth, it was impossible for her to conceive but God made it
possible. The impossible for men became possible for God because the two women
collaborated and celebrated God’s possible grace. 
It may be
mentioned that the venue chosen was significant for it speaks volumes about our
common heritage of our being part of the great Salesian Family. The chapel of St. Frances de sales stands
between the Magnificent Basilica of Mary Help of Christians and the Chapel of
the Pinardi Shade. The chapel of St. Francis de sales was and is the second
chapel for the oratory children of Valdocco. After six
years of honourable service, the Pinardi chapel increasingly became too small for the many young people of
Oratory. Therefore, a new church, dedicated to St Francis of Sales to cater the oratory, the foundation stone was laid on 20th
July 1851 and consecrated on 20th June 1852. For 16 years (until 1868), it
remained the heart of the newly born Salesian Congregation.
The schedule
of the day was carried out in a
following manner:-
Rev. Sr.
Bindhu Vincent carried out mass introduction.
Rev. Fr.
Nalayan personally welcomed all present. He welcomed Fr. Jerome SJ for the
celebration and extended his prayerful greetings to the Jubilarian Rev. Sr.
Regina Gongmei.
While the
Jubilarian Rev. Sr. Regina Gongmei read the scripture, Sr. Theodora chanted the
responsorial Psalm. Rev .Sr.
Piholi Leena and Rev. Sr. Ausilia Sangma offered the various intentions.
Vote of thanks was proposed by the Jubilarian, which was followed by photo-session and
festive lunch at the Chinese restaurant.
