Nizza Monferrato (Italy). From 22 to 24 September 2023, the Mor… Nizza pilgrimage will be held, organized by the Historical Archive of Our Lady of Grace House of Nizza Monferrato of Mary Help of Christians Province (IPI), in collaboration with the Associations of the Nizza Monferrato area (Asti).
Now in its 6th edition, the initiative was born in 2017 to recall the autumn walks that Don Bosco organized for his young people and to retrace the path undertaken in 1879 by Mother Mazzarello with the first Daughters of Mary Help of Christians from Mornese, the Foundation House, to Nizza Monferrato, the Motherhouse of the Congregation.
Participation is open to everyone: from primary school children, to secondary school students, to summer center animators, to entire families… There will be a guide and naturalistic experts with the group who will show the beauties of nature encountered while walking.
Here are the planned stages:
Friday 22 September
Meeting at 3.00 pm in Don Bosco courtyard of the Our Lady of Grace Institute of Nizza Monferrato (known as “the Madonna”), cutting of the ribbon in the presence of the authorities, and start of the pilgrimage towards the first stage: San Michele. Here, after a prayer in the village church, a family will welcome the participants with a snack. The return is scheduled for 6.00 pm.
Saturday 23 September
Meeting and departure at 6.30 am. For the more experienced, there is a walk of approximately 34 km. Halfway, in Strevi, around 12.pm, there will be a short break with the “frugal walker’s lunch” offered by the Proloco of Nizza Monferrato (for food it is necessary to book by the day before). Here, anyone who wishes can join to take part in the second part of the stage towards Silvano d’Orba. Upon arrival, there will be a welcome from the Silvano community, a frugal dinner, and a surprise, prepared by the Administration and local volunteers. It will be possible to stay overnight with your sleeping bags.
Sunday 24 September
Meeting and departure by coach at 8.00 am from the “Madonna” for pilgrims who wish to participate in the last stage of the pilgrimage journey by either joining the walkers in Silvano d’Orba or continuing towards Mornese. The available bus will first reach Silvano d’Orba and then Mornese.
The pilgrims who arrive in Mornese in the morning will reach the Mazzarelli family and will be welcomed by Sister Blanca Sanchez, Animator of the House, and by the Community of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. Here they can visit the birthplace of Mary Domenica Mazzarello and the Missionary Museum. The pilgrim’s “desco” (lunch) is provided for everyone – walkers and non-walkers.
At 3.00 pm, after a Salesian recreation, the pilgrimage will end with the Eucharistic Celebration presided over by the Bishop of the Diocese of Acqui, Monsignor Luigi Testore.
The young people of the Historical Archive and TeleNizza youth group will take photographs and films also with a drone that will allow the 2023 edition of Mor… Nizza to be relived through images.
