The years 1923 to 1933 marked a pivotal chapter in the history of the Comboni Missionary Sisters. From the opening of St. Daniel Comboni’s beatification cause to the leadership transition from Mother Costanza Caldara to Mother Pierina Stoppani, this decade witnessed defining moments that would shape the congregation’s future trajectory.
In 1923, Verona quietly laid the groundwork for a momentous undertaking: the opening of Daniel Comboni’s beatification cause. Professor Grancelli, a seminary professor, embarked on a profound historical study of Comboni’s writings, culminating in a seminal biography that aimed to prove the founder’s heroic virtue and missionary zeal. Though met with opposition from the Camillian Fathers, the cause moved forward, opening simultaneously in Verona and Khartoum in 1928.
Mother Costanza Caldara’s testimony during the process was particularly poignant. Having known Comboni personally, she affirmed his sanctity without hesitation, a conviction rooted in her own encounters with Virginia Mansour, the woman at the center of the Camillians’ allegations. Costanza’s steadfast witness spoke volumes about Comboni’s integrity.
Amid the cause’s progress, the congregation marked milestones of its own. The year 1925 brought the definitive approval of the Constitutions and the celebration of the fifth General Chapter, which saw Mother Costanza reelected for the final time. In a bold move, she authorized the opening of a missionary community in France to accompany Bergamasque emigrants, a decision that foreshadowed future debates about the Pie Madri’s scope beyond Central Africa.
The congregation’s golden jubilee of first vows in 1926 was a bittersweet celebration, honoring co-foundresses Maria Bollezzoli and Teresa Grigolini. Though the latter had left the institute, Mother Costanza’s diary reveals a poignant visit to “Signora Grigolini” on the eve of the anniversary, a testament to the enduring bonds of their shared history.
As the decade drew to a close, Mother Costanza prepared to pass the baton. The sixth General Chapter in 1931 elected Mother Pierina Stoppani, Costanza’s trusted vicar and companion on her expansive African journeys, as the congregation’s third Superior General. Pierina’s youthful energy, radiant demeanor, and gift for listening augured a fruitful tenure.
Tragically, just a year into her mandate, Mother Pierina fell gravely ill while visiting Tong, South Sudan. Diagnosed with severe intestinal inflammation, she faced death with courage and clarity, offering her life as a missionary sacrifice. Her last words rang out as a clarion call: “It is good that God be known by all… I gladly offer my life so that the spirit of Monsignor Comboni may continue to live in our congregation.”
The years 1923 to 1933 encapsulate the essence of the Comboni Missionary Sisters’ story: a legacy of saintly heroism, courageous expansion, steadfast witness, and sacrificial love.
