Santiago (Chile). In an atmosphere of celebration and fraternity, on 8 March 2024, on the International Women’s Day, in Santiago, at Sacred Heart Retreat House of St. Gabriel the Archangel Province (CIL) the Inter-sector Seminar “Towards a Generative Animation” opened for the Interprovincial Conference of the South Cone of Latin America (CICSAL).
To animate the Seminar – the fourth held, after CIAM, CIME and CIB – present were: Mother General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Sister Chiara Cazzuola, and some Councilors – the Vicar, Sister María del Rosario García Ribas; Sister Ena Bolaños, Councilor for the Administration; Sister Ruth de Pilar Mora, Councilor for the Missions; Sister Nilza Fatíma de Moraes, Councilor for Formation; Sister Leslie Sándigo Councilor for the Salesian Family and CICSAL Contact Person; and Sister Ausilia De Siena, Councilor for Communication. Also present were the Conference Provincials: Sister Marciana Toledo of Paraguay (PAR), President of CICSAL; Sister Ximena Oyarzo Mansilla of Chile (CIL); Sister Angeles Grassi, from Uruguay (URU); and Sister Silvia Boullosa from Argentina (ARG)with the Provincial Councilors and the Sector contact persons.
Every morning the meeting began with a prayer and a lectio given via video by Sister Maria Ko, biblical scholar, on several passages from the Acts of the Apostles, in which she encouraged to live generativity “to the ends of the earth “open to history and confident in the action of the Spirit, like Mary.
During each day, Mother Chiara and some experts deepened the themes related to authority, synodality, and generativity. Mother, with her wisdom and experience, highlighted some vocational and charismatic aspects of synodality.
The reports were enhanced through videos prepared for the occasion. The Rector Major Emeritus of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr. Pascual Chávez, spoke of the service of authority and obedience in the Charism, in the context of the synodal journey that is being accomplished as a Church. Dr. Bernardo Toro, of the AVINA Foundation, spoke of the need to live a new ethical paradigm based on “knowing how to take care of ourselves, of others, of thought, of foreign people, of knowing how to make exchanges from which everyone benefits, and of taking care of the planet.” Instead, Dr. Ana María Celis Brunet, a lay woman specialized in canon law, offered a key to reading based on the three choices of GC XXIV and on the Synod’s synthesis document on synodality.
In the afternoon, through a workshop methodology, they deepened the topics addressed in the morning, always seeking to have in the group, members of the four Countries and, on one occasion, they worked by sectors. The Councilors facilitated the activities with commitment, creativity, and dedication.
The focus of each day was the Celebration of the Eucharist, characterized by the carefully prepared liturgy, the harmony of the choir with Sisters from different Countries, who offered their voices and the contribution of various instruments, and the fraternity of the various Salesians who presided with closeness and simplicity: the Provincial of the Province of San Gabriele Arcangelo (CIL) of the Salesians, Fr. Nelson Moreno Ruiz; the Provincial Secretary, Fr. Osvaldo Valenzuela; the Bursar, Fr. Néstor Muñoz; the Delegate of Youth Ministry, Fr. Carlos Ampuero; and the Vicar Fr. Juan Bustamante. Everything made each Celebration a moment of paradise, favoring the encounter with a God passionate about humanity.
In her daily Good Night, Mother Clare offered a synthesis of the day and opened horizons that allowed the realities of the Institute, of the Provinces of the Conference, and of each Community to pass through our heart.
The final moment of the Seminar was lived in a spirit of celebration and gratitude. The prospect of a common path in the Conference, and the challenge to continue implementing the inter-sector programming were highlighted. The words of the hymn of CLAR, the Latin American Confederation of Religious, gave the impetus for the commission: “hope is already sprouting”… ” Let us seek our Lord Jesus who saves.”
Using the expression of Mother Mazzarello, everything that was lived has renewed the invitation to “revive the fire”, in a family atmosphere that grows day by day and wants to be a prophecy of the presence of the FMA in this southern corner of the world.
Photos: Flickr FMA
