There are journeys that begin with a ticket and a suitcase, and others that begin with a single “yes”.
The one spoken by Mother Lucia Cupis and her first companions was far more than a geographical departure: it was a crossing into the unknown. A step beyond familiar horizons, towards distant lands none of them had ever seen, sustained not by human certainty but by complete trust in Divine Providence.
It was an age when travel offered neither comfort nor guarantees. Seas could suddenly turn to storm, routes could change without warning, and distances seemed to stretch endlessly. Yet six women — fragile only in appearance — left behind the security of their homeland to follow a calling greater than themselves.
Mother Lucia Cupis (Venice) and her five daughters — Mother Claudia Compagnotti (Venice), together with the sisters from Pavia, Mother Giovanna Scotti, Mother Rachele Tronconi, Mother Giuseppina Testera and Mother Maria Stella — accompanied by Father Burghignoli, arrived in Trieste around midday on 26 February. They proceeded to the hospital run by the Sisters Servants of Charity, situated at a considerable distance, where they spent the night. Father Burghignoli, however, lodged at the home of a distinguished gentleman, Cavaliere Napari, whom they happened to meet along the way; he kindly acted as their guide and also assisted with the delivery of their luggage.
Thus, on the morning of 27 February, it was easy for them to embark and set sail for Alexandria. At the same time, Mother Cupis sent news of the journey to Venice and Pavia: from Trieste, from Alexandria, from Cairo — where they remained for three days and had the grace of visiting the grotto that for seven years had been the dwelling place of Mary, the Child Jesus and Saint Joseph — and then from Suez.
Having arrived there by railway in the morning, they boarded the English vessel Colombo in the afternoon. They crossed the Red Sea and, after a brief stop at Aden, found themselves facing the Indian Ocean on 15 March.
The work of Divine Providence was evident, for everywhere the Mothers received gracious welcomes and charitable care. In Cairo, the Lord brought them into the company of Count Colleoni, who was likewise to embark on the Colombo and who became their guide and support throughout the voyage from Suez to Hong Kong.
Together with what was necessary for the body, they found — step by step — sustenance for the soul. From 15 to 25 March the navigation was calm, the ocean showing itself truly peaceful. What an impression it must have been for those six little doves, unaccustomed to travel, to find themselves for so long between sky and sea! Magnificent dawns and sunsets gave way to long hours of scorching sun or dense darkness, with no variation of coastline upon the horizon.
At last, on 25 March, they landed at Ceylon. Upon reboarding, however, they discovered the vessel changed: the journey was to continue aboard the Cadiz, smaller than the first.
Now the Pacific tested the travellers with two days of storm. On 31 March, Palm Sunday, they reached Penang, where they were warmly received by the French Sisters of the Holy Childhood. They received the blessing and palm from the hands of His Excellency the Bishop and attended Mass celebrated by Father Burghignoli, rejoicing to sanctify so solemn a feast.
Resuming their voyage, after twelve hours at sea they arrived in Singapore, once again guests of the French Sisters of the Holy Childhood. The stop lasted two days, and it was truly a miracle of Providence that the group managed to embark for the final stretch to Hong Kong. The carriage that had been hired to take them to the harbour within ten hours failed to arrive — for reasons unknown — and Father Burghignoli was obliged to find alternative transport.
The China Sea remained in constant turbulence, and the poor travellers paid a heavy tribute to seasickness. The force of the waves was such that the ship’s violent movements threw even seated or resting passengers to the floor. Yet, as on other occasions, after the first fright this too became a cause of shared laughter.
At last — what relief! On 12 April, the Cadiz reached Hong Kong. Count Colleoni went ashore first to inform the missionary Fathers of the Sisters’ arrival and to arrange boats for the transport of both passengers and trunks to land.
At first, the missionaries thought the news almost a jest; but once assured of its truth, they hurried joyfully aboard to welcome the Sisters. They were received by the Very Reverend Don Luigi Ambrosi, Procurator of the Mission; Don Timoleone Raimondi; and the other missionaries: Father Gaetano Favini, Father Simeone Volonteri and Father Giacomo Scuratti.
Biographical Notes on Mother Lucia Cupis, Hong Kong
