(ANS – Rome) – A hundred years ago, on August 17, 1914, Sister Angela Vallese died in Nizza Monferrato (Asti), renowned for her holiness. She was a pioneer of the Salesian Sisters' missionary work. From Montevideo, Punta Arenas, Tierra del Fuego, the Malvinas (Falklands), Sister Angela Vallese wrote many letters to Don Bosco, Mother Mazzarello and Fr Rua. Recently these letters were published by the FMA.

Born in Lu Monferrato (Alessandria) on January 8, 1854 to a poor peasant family but one rich in children and love, Angela left when she was 21, on August 18, 1875, to go to Mornese (Alessandria), the place where the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians had their origins. They were founded by St John Bosco on August 5, 1872. In the community known as "the house of God's love", the Superior, Mother Mary Domenica Mazzarello, took the young girl in with the insight that saints have. She saw in her someone who represented God's plans and set her on the path of Salesian religious life, leaving all else behind.

On August 29, 1876 Angela made her first religious vows and in November 1877 was already prepared to lead the first missionary expedition of FMA Sisters to South America. Two years previously Don Bosco had sent the first Salesian missionaries to Argentina and this new women's institute had the same apostolic fervour driving it: making God known to the ends of the earth.

The first stage of the mission was at Villa Colón, Montevideo, in Uruguay, but they were awaiting her elsewhere. Uruguay was the outpost for launching out to Patagonia, land of Don Bosco's dreams, waiting for someone to help them live a signified human life and encounter salvation in Christ.

For twenty five years – from 1888 to 1913 - Sister Angela Vallese lived in Punta Arenas. In 1893 she was appointed as 'Visitor' to the houses opened by the Sisters in southern Patagonia and the Magellan Straits region.

Despite the severe climate, and frequent risk of shipwreck crossing the Magellan Strait to visit the Missions south of Tierra del Fuego, on Dawson Island, the Malvinas (Falklands Islands), difficulties of all kinds, including governments hostile to Salesian work, Sister Angela never wanted to leave those parts which by now had become “her land”. She died at 60 years of age on August 17, 1914.

The Salesian Sisters have recently published Sister Angela Vallese's letters to Don Bosco, Mother Mazzarello, Fr Rua, Salesian Superiors, her parents, her beloved sister Teresa, other relatives, the Sisters. Reading them we see how practical was this humble woman so passionate for the Kingdom of God. She knew how to inculturate in a simple way amongst the people of these lands, while remaining affectively bound to her country of origin and family, with no laments but loving everyone with all her heart. Her gaze was always directed beyond, to Heaven, the goal of every human journey and precious pearl. Nothing else mattered more to her on earth. The title of the collection: “Là non ci separeremo mai più” (There where we shall never again be separated) are words that often appear in her letters. They attest to the certainty that sustained Sister Angela, especially when human arguments fail when faced with the heroic offering of her life.

Published 19/08/2014