Mother Mary Mazzarello

Patron of the Red Group of Our School

Mother Mary Mazzarello is an inspiration during these times as the world suffers from the COVID pandemic because when her town was struck with typhoid in 1860, she took care of people around her till she too fell seriously ill. She recovered but never regained her physical strength.

However, this did not stop Mary Mazzarello from fulfilling her mission in life. Together with St. John Bosco she co-founded the Salesian Sisters (Daughters of Mary Help of Christians) While Don Bosco took care of abandoned poor boys found on the streets, Mary Mazzarello looked after young girls and women, teaching them skills so they could earn a living.

Valponasca, the place where Mary Mazzarello spent her childhood Mary Mazzarello was born on 9th May 1837. She lived in a small town in the hills not far from Genoa in Italy. Her family were hard-working farmers. Mary too would work hard to help her parents in the fields. Wherever she went the children in the village were drawn to her like a magnet, eager to hear her jokes and stories, or to ask her many questions. Later, Mary joined a convent and became a sister.

In 1864 Don Bosco passed through Mary Mazzarello's home town. Mary knew that her future lay with Don Bosco and not in her home town. Don Bosco helped Mary Mazzarello establish a group of women to do for girls what he was doing for boys. Mary became the leader of the group. The group were known as the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and later the Salesian Sisters.

She was loved and admired for her wisdom, joy, humour, and love for her sisters and their pupils.

At 44 years of age Sr. Mary Mazzarello fell ill with a severe form of pneumonia, and died on May 14, 1881 in Nizza Monferrato. She was beatified November 20, 1938 and canonized as a saint June 24, 1951.

Prayer to St. Mary Mazzarello

St. Mary Mazzarello your spirit of faith and concern for others led you to spend your life working for the young and the poor.

Show me how to find God's will in the ordinary events of my daily life. Strengthen me in my weakness and support me in my moments of need.

Quotes by Mother Mary Mazzarello

“Speak little, very little to creatures, instead speak much to God. He will make you truly wise.”

“Be cheerful always, never be sad.

Reference: salesiansisters.org