Pauline Founder
James Alberione
James Alberione was born in San Lorenzo di Fossano (Piedmont), Italy, on April 4, 1884. The Alberione family, made up of Michael Alberione, Teresa Allocco and their six children, were farmers.
Little James, the fourth child of the family, felt the call of God early in life. When questioned by his first-grade teacher as to what he wanted to be when he grew up, he replied, “I want to be a priest!”. His childhood years were directed to this goal...
Pauline Co Foundress
Thecla Merlo
Teresa Merlo was born on February 20, 1894 in Castagnito (Piedmont), Italy. Her parents were Hector Merlo and Vincenza Rolando. She was the second of four children.
She spent the early years of her life with her family and parish. At the age of 21 years old, she met Father Alberione in the church of Sts Cosmas and Damian on June 27, 1915. The meeting had been arranged by her brother, who was a seminarian at the time.