Suor Vincenza Poloni

Mother Vincenza Maria Poloni was born in Verona on January 26th 1802, youngest child of Gaetano and Margherita Biadego. She was baptised with name of Luigia Francesca Maria, in the Church of St. Maria Antica on the day she was born. Her family ran a grocery store in Piazza Erbe 8 and were deeply religious, educating their two sons and one surviving daughter scrupulously. Luigia grew up, above all, surrounded by her parents’ love. They were also able to provide education suitable to her social status.

She was an open-minded and talented girl and became her mother’s right hand, looking after the house and helping her sisters-in.-low with their numerous children just like a second mother. In particular she looked after her brother Apollonio’s wife who became blind while still young and needed continuous help. For years she went to the Shelter as volunteer until November 2nd 1840 when after attending mass at St. Catherine’s she entered the adjacent Shelter with three companions, intending to stay there indefinitely. This was the unassuning start of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy. The first group of thirteen nuns???