The new bell installed in St. John the Baptist Church, Castagnito, is dedicated to Maestra Thecla Merlo.
Fr. Edoardo Olivero, pastor of the parish, said in the blessing ceremony: “Venerable Sr. Thecla Merlo, co-founder and first Superior General of the Daughters of St. Paul, was born and baptized in 1894 in this very parish, and her Daughters have always maintained a special bond with the village. Therefore, we wanted to dedicate our new bell to her. All the members of the parish thank the Daughters of St. Paul, whose generous financial contribution enabled us to complete this project.”
Many parishioners and friends attended the Mass celebrated on Sunday, 6 August, followed by the blessing of the bell. Present for the occasion was Sr. Anna Caiazza, Superior General of the Daughters of St. Paul, along with many FSPs from our Alba community.
Installation of the new bell in its tower took place on Monday, 7 August.
The pastor concluded the ceremony with the words: “We like to think that this new bell in the home parish of Sr. Thecla Merlo–a precious collaborator of Fr. James Alberione, who was declared Venerable in 1991–incorporates a bit of her ‘voice’ into our parish and that she will continue to protect her birthplace, which has never forgotten her.”
• Listening to the sound of Bell
