Mother Zita Verni

Born: 1894
Mother General: 1945-1963
Died: 1986

Mother Zita Verni was born in San Giovanni in Marignano on May 12, 1894, and died on March 18, 1986, in Rimini.

On December 8, 1918, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Mother gave herself completely to God in the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows.  Mother was a person of determination and she understood the value of Catholic education and for this reason, she dedicated herself to the education and spiritual formation of the youth.

In 1936, she opened the college in Rimini, in order to give young women the opportunity to get a degree in elementary education.  For Mother, education was a priority of great importance.  She followed the spirit of Mother Elisabetta Renzi who considered the school a place of community, of dialogue, of friendship, and of spiritual and intellectual unfolding.

In 1947, shortly after World War II, she was elected Mother General.  Her time as Mother General was very discouraging and frightening because of the destruction of so many schools and convents of the Congregation. With much faith in God, Mother began rebuilding the schools again.

During Mother’s term as Superior General, she opened many schools in large cities, as well as in small towns.  She wanted to give the opportunity of Catholic education to as many children as possible.