Congratulations, Sisters, Sr. Lydia Carini 70 Years! elebrating 70 years of profession this year is Sr. Lydia Carini, still called “Mother Lydia” by all who know her.
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Born in Brockton, MA, Lydia was the second in a family of four girls and two boys. Lydia’s mother was active in the parish, and her example of doing all the good she could for anyone in need, especially the poor, inspired Lydia to think about religious life. Lydia had the chance to study the Salesian Sisters up close at Camp
Sr. Virginia D’Alessandro 70 Years! r. Virginia D’Alessandro heard the call at an early age. She knew she wanted to be a Salesian Sister after she met the Sisters when the family moved to Atlantic City, NJ. She was in the third grade when she felt this pull, attracted by the Sisters’ spirit and way of life. “I’ll never forget my teachers,” she recalled. “Sr. Beatrice Curtis, my Sunday School teacher, was the greatest influence in my life and religious calling.”
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Despite a double tragedy when Virginia was 16 years old – the
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Mary Mazzarello in North Haledon, NJ. She must have been pleased with what she saw because she soon decided to join the Sisters. After finishing her religious formation, Sr. Lydia began her mission among the young as she continued her educational studies. When the province expanded to California, Sr. Lydia was chosen to be the first principal of St. Margaret Mary School in Lomita. She remained there until she was called to serve as Provincial of the U.S. Province in 1965. During the General Chapters of 1969 and 1974,
death of her 11-year old sister and of her father – which left her mother with four children to raise single-handedly, her mother accompanied Virginia to North Haledon one month after Virginia graduated from high school. “My mother stayed at the camp for a week to make sure I settled in,” Sr. Virginia remembers. “I was utterly happy, and happiness has stayed with me since that very first day more than 70 years ago.” As a Salesian Sister, Sr. Virginia’s mission took her to schools in
Sr. Lydia was elected by the delegates of the international congregation to serve as Councilor of the Missions, visiting every Sister missionary throughout the world. Sr. Lydia currently resides at the St. Joseph Provincial Center and fondly reminisces about the beautiful Sisters and people she met during her years of travel. Of her vocation, she states unwaveringly, “I left home on October 7, 1934, the feast of Our Lady, to become a Salesian Sister, and I have never regretted this for a single day.”
California, New Jersey, New York, Florida, Louisiana, and Wisconsin as teacher, animator, and principal. So talented was she that she was once asked to juggle a “triplet”: animator, principal, and 8th grade teacher while serving in Lomita, CA! Sr. Virginia then served faithfully as Provincial Secretary for 12 years. “My mother used to say that since I was always with the Sisters after school, on Saturdays, on Sundays, why didn’t I pack and just go?!” she says. “And here I am!”
Partners in Giving • Late Summer 2007 •
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