Mother Antonia

Born in Italy, at Lecco, in 1935. She made her first profession in the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in 1959. That same year she received her degree in Jurisprudence at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan. She subsequently graduated in Applied Psychology at the Catholic University of Louvain. From 1966 to 1989 she taught at the FMA Faculty of Education in Turin and then at the Pontifical Faculty of the Science of Education, ’Auxilium’, Rome, where she was President from 1983 to 1989, the year in which she was appointed Provincial of the Province of Taranto. In 1990, at the 19th General Chapter she was appointed Visiting Councillor of the General Chapter. During her six years of leadership the Auxilium made great progress.

She opened it up so that it could realise its specific mission in the Church and in the Institute. Among her many initiatives during this time, particular mention must be made of the Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Convention held at Frascati on the occasion of the Centenary of the Death of St. John Bosco. She herself was in charge of the publication of the Acts of the Convention under the title "Towards the Education of Woman Today - A contribution to reflection on the Feminine." Her particular sensitivity to feminine issues gave her confidence in promoting numerous initiatives and in forming valuable friendships with religious and lay people concerned with the education of woman. Significant in this area is her dialogue with the exponents of the Catholic Feminist Movement in Italy. She follows their publications and initiatives with great interest and understanding. The passion they share for history explains her friendship with Tina Anselmi, one of the first women to be a member of the Italian Parliament. The exchanges with her have been enriched during the years in which Anselmi was part of the Commission for Equal Opportunities. Friendship and collaboration have not been confined to her own country. In order to subsidise the Women’s Convention in 1988, Sr. Antonia went to Brussels, to the European Community. She also made an extensive trip to the United States to seek funding for her work. She established valuable contacts there and established networks which still exist today. Appointed Regulator of the recent Chapter she showed great expertise in the way she presented the working documents. She brought with her a deep understanding of the women’s movement and she was able to apply these insights in the context of the continual updating of the Salesian educative mission.

Inspired by the ideals of Don Bosco she accepted the challenge of the formation of women and recognised it as a profound need today. During a round table discussion at the Salesian Pontifical University she said : "Will we know how to respond to the exciting plan of Don Bosco, alive in the Church? I dare to say Yes!. Yes!, if together we commit ourselves to becoming the best that we can be; if as men and women we have the patience to build authentic interpersonal relationships. Yes!, if we apply ourselves with understanding and courage to create in our daily lives those conditions which promote respect for life, courtesy, and love. Is it not possible that this will be the witness which the Church gives to our complex and confused society. The advent of the year 2000 must find us not only technologically advanced but above all more advanced as human beings thanks to the constructive contribution made by women."

Simple and in love with life, Mother Antonia shows great honesty and clarity in facing issues. She knows how to marvel and wonder at the beauty which can be discovered in people and things. She enjoys community life and establishes spontaneous, sincere relationships, placing at the disposition of all who approach her, her skills and human qualities. Inspired by the life of Mother Mazzarello, she enjoys on the one hand the thrill of historical research into the origins of her Institute, and on the other the excitement of facing the cultural challenges of the day. Her preferred recreation she finds in the mountains. Mother Antonia believes in shared commitment and in a future filled with hope. The only condition is building it together. We are ready! Her first words to the Chapter Assembly when elected Mother General were "Confiding in Our Lady, Our Lord and in Mother Marinella, who will remain close to me, and in your trust, I give myself to this task. I accept!"