DAUGHTERS OF THE DIVINE SAVIOUR
Abbreviation: DQM
Bangkok 1954
(Thailand)
1. FOUNDER AND FOUNDATION
a) Founder: Fr. Carlo Della Torre SDB (1900‑1982) was born on 7 July 1900 to a very religious peasant family of humble origins, at Cernusco sul Naviglio in the province of Milan, Italy.
In 1917, during World War I , the young Carlo who was not yet 18 years old, was conscripted to serve in the army for a year and a half.
Fr. Carlo Della Torre was a ‘late’ vocation, as he became a Salesian only after his military service.
For formation he was in The Cardinal Cagliero missionary institute at Ivrea (1923‑1926). Then he left for Macau where he began his novitiate, but completed it in Thailand (BangNokKhuek). It was there that he made his religious profession. Thus, Fr Carlo was one of the first group of Salesians who initiated the works of Don Bosco in Thailand.
During the period 1932‑1936, while completing his theological studies, he was assigned by his superiors to be the spiritual director of a group of young women employed at the mission. When he saw that they were ready to live the consecrated life, he set up the nucleus of a new religious family with them: the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
While the new institution was developing, Carlo Della Torre, who had been ordained priest in the meantime, was given other responsibilities.
War broke out in 1940. In the small centre of ThaMuang where he was then living, he gathered together another group of young women with vocations to the consecrated life, with the intention of founding another institute. Soon afterwards, the group and its founder moved to Bangkok.
Then in 1950, in agreement with his superiors and with the Bishop, Mgr L. Chorin, he left the Salesian society and was incardinated in the diocese. In this way, he was able to dedicate himself completely and freely to the spiritual formation of the new group.
b) Foundation: This group, which had the blessing of the Bishop and was erected canonically in 1954, took the name of the Secular Institute of the Daughters of the Queenship of Mary Immaculate.
Fr. Carlo continued to take an interest in the institute he had founded, and he animated it with the Salesian spirit and apostolic dedication, particularly towards the poorest young people.
On 5 December 1981, Cardinal Michai Kitbunchu, Archbishop of Bangkok, informed the Salesian provincial Fr. Raimundo Garcia that there was no longer anything prevent Fr. Carlo from re‑entering the Salesian congregation, following seven years of insistent requests.
A few days later, on 9 December as his health was deteriorating, Fr. Carlo was professed again as a Salesian, surrounded by a number of confreres and by his Daughters of the Queenship of Mary.
Thus, Fr. Carlo lived his final days as a Salesian, a true son of Don Bosco and a full member of the Salesian society that he had loved so dearly during his life.
He died on 4 April 1982, leaving the institute by this time well established.
2. IDENTITY AND MISSION
a) Identity:
The institute of Daughters of the Queenship of Mary is a secular institute of diocesan right founded in the spirit of the Apostolic Constitution Provida Mater Ecclesia of Pope Pius XII, issued on 2 February 1947.
It was canonically approved by the Archbishop of Bangkok on 3 December 1954.
This aspect of consecrated secular life is a special charism already expressed in the first Constitutions (1956) and confirmed in the revised Constitutions (1982 and 1986).
For us consecrated seculars, the following of Christ is the particular grace by which God calls us and consecrates us through the gift of his Spirit to be totally his in our entire lives and in everything we do, ready to implement fully the plan of God the Father ‘in the world and for the salvation of the world’, especially in the fields of education and youth formation.
‘Our evangelising action, our witness of faith by word and work, our community life in an atmosphere of fraternal love, and our practice of the evangelical counsels, take place in the world, together with the world, and for the world, like the light, salt and leaven of Christ, so that the world may change and become sanctified from within.’
b) Mission:
The institute of the Daughters of the Queenship of Mary dedicates itself to pastoral work with youth.
This is the special commitment left to us by our founder Fr Carlo Della Torre. He himself opened new schools so that the sisters could carry out their educative mission, forming the outlook and Christian life of the young.
Those confided to our care give us an opportunity of presenting the Gospel.
The institute is committed to activities which promote the education of youth: the Oratory, professional centres and other activities to help the development of young people.
3. RAPID SUMMARY
a) Erected as a secular institute of diocesan right on 3 December 1954 (Bangkok).
Approval of definitive Constitutions: 22 September 1986.
Recognition as part of the Salesian Family: 12 July 1996.
b) Motto: ‘Tospread the Kingdom of God through prayer and work under the guidance of Mary Immaculate.’
This is a synthesis of what is specifically ours. We are driven by the Spirit of God to build the Kingdom around us.
This is the principal motivation of our life.
For us, Mary is the queen of the world who supports our efforts to bring about the Kingdom.
Prayer and work are the expression of the characteristic Salesian synthesis.
c) Patrons:Mary Immaculate, St Joseph, St John Bosco.
4. PLACE IN THE SALESIAN FAMILY
a) Inclusion:
The institute has a special relationship with the Salesian congregation, both through its founder and through the spirit handed down to its members.
The institute recognises the Rector Major as successor of Don Bosco, as the father and leader of the entire Salesian Family.
He is called to promote growth and unity.
b) Relationship with other groups:
The institute understands that belonging to the Salesian Family does not diminish its own identity; rather it promotes it. The institute is aware that it has many elements which link it to Don Bosco and to the other groups in the Salesian Family. Inclusion in the Salesian Family incites us to feel secure in our identity and to maintain what we have in common.
Moreover, it encourges us to promote the different vocations in the Salesian Family.
c) Particular features of our life: Apostolic orientation, life‑style and educative methods are clearly Salesian. Particularly striking:
‑ a lively sense of the local Church and preference for work among the people and the poor; ‑ fervent devotion to Mary;
‑ the spirit of Nazareth: poverty, work, simplicity and joy.
