Sicily. On 5 November 1994, at Catania, Sister Maddalena Caterina Morano, FMA, was beatified by Pope John Paul II. The spiritual and educative legacy of Mother Morano continues to be current on various fronts, and the 30th anniversary of her Beatification is an occasion to revisit her life of a woman, consecrated Salesian, and educator.
Mother Morano remains a model for anyone engaged in the delicate task of education and for those who care for the spiritual dimension of their own lives, both lay people and consecrated persons.
Like Don Bosco, she was able to find “the point accessible to good” and to value each one’s resources for the benefit of a full human and Christian growth, lived doing good. Her communicative mode is also an example of positive, respectful relationships that involve young people, adults, children, and even the authorities, to support educative, social, and catechetical works. As a faithful daughter of Don Bosco, whom she had personally known and with whom she had several times conversed, she was faithful to the good God (and she often invoked Him). She put her life at His full service, so that life in Christ might be born and grow in the hearts of many people, especially young people.
In view of the anniversary of 5 November and 15 November 2024 – day of liturgical memorial that coincides with the date of her birth in 1847 in Chieri – Mother Maddalena Morano Province of Sicily (ISI) has organized some events
On the afternoon of 5 November, 30th anniversary of the Beatification at Saint Agatha Parish in the Borgo di Catania, the solemn Eucharistic celebration presided by Archbishop Mons. Luigi Renna, concelebrated by the city’s parish priests and Salesian confreres, including the Provincial Vicar and the Delegate for Youth Pastoral Care and with the presence of Mother Chiara Cazzuola, in Visit to the Province ISI.
Numerous participants attended: members and leaders of groups of the Salesian Family, the lay “Small Atoner Hosts”, the Volunteers of Don Bosco, a representation of the pastoral reality of Biancavilla, the children of the FMA Oratory John Paul II of Catania, who animated the liturgy with singing.
The Archbishop’s very engaging homily was developed around three elements of Mother Morano’s life: missionary work as a meeting point between cultures, commitment to education, and current challenges, a life in the Lord’s vineyard.
On 6 November at Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (ME), where Mary Help of Christians community is located, which manages a family home for minors, two events were held to commemorate the 125 years of FMA presence, begun with Blessed Morano. In the first, at the town hall of the city, Mother handed a commemorative plaque to the Mayor, Dr. Giuseppe Calabró, who announced the road of the city that will be dedicated to the Blessed.
In the afternoon, the Community Theater Hall hosted the Conference, “The Entrustment as a territorial resource, between act of love, right, and responsibility” with the presence, in addition to local authorities, of Mother Chiara Cazzuola, of the Provincial, Sister Angela Maria Maccioni, and the Community Animator.
Commenting on the theme of the Conference, Mother stressed the importance of the family environment and the need to offer, to those who have been deprived of this benefit, the experience of a serene family. “Don Bosco wanted his institutions to be called ‘homes’, that is, places where children and young people can grow up peacefully.” “This is what Mother Morano did,” confirmed the Provincial, “who supported the Munafò Nursery and the orphanage entrusted to the FMA.”
Mother also released a brief interview with the Press Agency “AMnotizieVideo” and an interview to “Radio Giò”, run by the children of the FMA Oratory.
In Alì Terme (ME), House of the heart of Mother Morano, the Institute born thanks to her tenacity and resourcefulness, on the afternoon of November 9 there took place the celebration of the lighting of the votive lamp, placed in the chapel that preserves the remains of the Blessed, that will always remain lit until her canonization.
The Provincial of the Salesians of Sicily, Fr. Giovanni D’Andrea, presided over the celebration rite, together with the Vicar, Fr. Franco of Natale, and the regional delegate of the Salesian Family, Fr. Carmelo Umana. The event was attended by the Animators and young sisters, the FMA from the various communities, members of the Educating Communities and the Salesian Family, mayors of local municipalities, who testified to their appreciation for the educative work of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
The lamp was lit by Mother and, then, by the Provincial and members of the Educating Community of Ali Terme, who provided for lighting the candle from whose flame all the numerous participants drew light and renewed their baptismal promises.
The oil of the lamp will be donated in turn by the Municipal Administration of neighboring towns. The first supply was offered by the Municipality of Ali Terme. “A symbolic gesture”, said Sister Mariella Lo Turco, “with which the political representatives of the area were involved in a more widespread dissemination of the Salesian educative charism incarnated in Sicily by Mother Morano.”
The day of the liturgical feast was preceded by a Novena at Mary Help of Christians Shrine of the House of Ali Terme (ME), until the day of the feast dedicated to her.
During the Triduum, the evening Mass was celebrated, presided by the parish priest of Scaletta Zanclea (ME), Fr. Gianfranco Pistorino; the provincial vicar SDB and the parish priest of Alì Terme, Fr. Vincenzo D’Arrigo. On 15 November, the Archbishop of Messina, Mons. Giovanni Accolla, presided at the Eucharistic celebration.
The events in this 30th anniversary of the Beatification of Mother Morano, have been supported by many who collaborated in its conception and realization, especially by the elderly and sick sisters of the Communities of the Province, who accompanied with prayer, Mother’s visit and the initiatives carried out.
