By Francesca Lungarotti
UIG contributing photographer, Giovanni Mereghetti, has traveled the world and his vast archives include photo reportages of many interesting and curious stories, including his photographs of the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Loreto, working and managing the activities of the publishing house now called Mimep Docete in Pessano con Bornago, in the province of Milan-Italy.
The Congregation of Our Lady of Loreto was founded in 1920 in Warsaw, Poland, by Blessed Father Ignatius Klopotowski. Father Ignatius took to heart the need of his time to bring the good news of God to all who needed it. For him, those most in need were those who did not know God. For this reason, he conceived the apostolate of the Catholic press. He wanted to reach every home through books and other spiritual publications. He bequeathed his charisma and apostolic fervor to the congregation he founded, as a vow to Our Lady of Loreto, who had miraculously healed him.
Nun at work in a printing press. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Nun engaged in packaging and binding work in a printing house. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Nun at work in a printing press. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Nun in charge of making printing plates in a printing house. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Proof control. Printing. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Nun engaged in packaging and binding work in a printing house. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Video editing nun. Pessano con Bornago, MI 
Video editing nun. Pessano con Bornago, MI 
Typographer nuns. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Nun engaged in packaging and binding work in a printing house. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
The printing staff. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Nun at work in a printing press. Pessano con Bornago-MI
Since the Congregation’s earliest days, the Sisters have carried on the work of their founder, committing themselves to reaching those most in need. The first Sisters of Loreto arrived in Italy, specifically in the municipality of Pessano con Bornago, in the province of Milan, from Poland in 1980. From the very beginning, they were considered a true institution in the city, and their fame undoubtedly extends far beyond national borders.
The Sisters of Loreto divide their time between prayer and work, assuming full responsibility for the publishing house and printing: they design, lay out, print, and bind the books. They are veritable volcanoes of ideas and energy. They handle all the editorial work, from computerized layout to printing and binding. They work with computers and machinery and dedicate all their energy to offering the reader a quality book, rich in spirituality – the spirituality that nourishes the soul.
Nuns checking the first sheets of printing. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Nun at work in a printing press. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Nun at work in a printing press. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Nun at work in a printing press. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Nun at work in a printing press. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Nun at work in a printing press. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Nun at work in a printing press. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Nun at work in a printing press. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Nuns checking the first sheets of printing. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Nun at work in a printing press. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Nun at work in a printing press. Pessano con Bornago-MI 
Nun at work in a printing press. Pessano con Bornago-MI
Giovanni’s reportage from 2008 depicts the nuns and documents a technological environment that has certainly changed and evolved significantly today, but it brings us back—in a thoroughly modern, energetic, friendly, positive, and entirely feminine way—to the famous Latin Benedictine expression applicable to many religious orders “ora et labora” (pray and work). Connecting with people on many levels remains the goal of much of Mereghetti’s work.
All images in this post are copyrighted to Giovanni Mereghetti. All images featured in this post and on Kaleidoscope are available for licensing. Please contact us at info@universalimagesgroup.com
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