Indian Salesian nuns who spent a month in Italy renewing their charism say the experience was "soul-stirring."

"In Rome, we could touch, breathe and see the roots of our Christian faith,” said Sister Lucy Mannukulangara from New Delhi.

She was one of 15 nuns from Indian Salesian provinces who took part in The Project Mornese, which involves prayer and pilgrimages to Rome, Turin and Mornese, places associated with the Salesian congregation.

“It was not only a pilgrimage, it was also a time of grace and a call to transformation,” said Sister Josephine Savarimuthu who works in Warrangal, Andhra Pradesh.

Thirty-one English-speaking nuns from Asia, North America and Europe took part in the June 1-29 program which is offered yearly in English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.

The program aims to help Salesian nuns absorb the charism of their founders Saints John Bosco and Maria Mazzarello.

“Returning to Valdocco [Turin] and spending five days in the place where Don Bosco … lived and worked was nostalgic,” said Sister Regina Joseph from Chennai, who had studied in Turin some 40 years ago.

“The visit to the basilica of Mary Help of Christians from where thousands of Salesians, Salesian sisters and cooperators left for the missions was soul stirring.”

Sister Fatima Jebamalaimary, also from Chennai, said the well-prepared presentations by program facilitators helped participants “grasp the Salesian charism in its pristine beauty.”

One nun said the program should have a follow-up.

There should be a “second phase” called Project Jerusalem, which would allow “every Salesian sister to see, hear and touch Jesus in His own land,” suggested Sister Leeza Kokkattu.

Other Asian participants included nuns from Cambodia, the Philippines and Timor Leste.

There are about presently about 14,000 Salesian sisters working in 92 countries.

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