25th of Profession – Ukraine

Kyiv (Ukraine). On 25 September 2022 in Kyiv in Ukraine, at the parish of the Exaltation of the Cross, where the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of Mother Magdalene Morano Community, of Mother of God Preprovince (EEG) carry out the service of catechesis and animation, the Eucharistic celebration took place for the 25th anniversary of Sister Anna Zainchkovska’s religious profession, the first vocation from Ukraine.

At the Eucharist, presided over by the Archbishop of the Diocese of Kyiv-Zhytomyr Msgr. Vitalii Kryvytskyi, Salesian of Don Bosco, the assembly made up of numerous parishioners, priests, SDB from the Communities of Zhytomyr and Korostyshiv of the Preprovince of Mary Help of Christians (UKR), students of the FMA high school in Kyiv, parents, teachers, young people, children, friends who came from various parts of Ukraine, thanked God for the fidelity to God and perseverance of Sister Anna, asking for the gift of new vocations and peace, so much implored for this country.

In his homily, the Archbishop who at the time of Sister Anna’s First Profession was a young Salesian, coming like her, from the Parish of St. Peter the Apostle of Odessa, recounted his testimony, speaking of a note handwritten by the newly Professed on that day, symbolically contained in a red box:

“‘Here I am, Lord, You have called me,’ Sister Anna wrote on this small note 25 years ago, on 24 August 1997 in Odessa, on the day of her first Profession, so as not to forget the words. After Holy Mass, I came to the church to pray the breviary and I found it. I had already made my Perpetual vows in the Society of St. Francis de Sales and this leaflet makes me think about my fidelity to the Lord. I bookmarked it in my breviary and every year in August, in the face of various challenges, it reminded me of my response to the Lord.

 Today, after 25 years, some things have failed. What remains? We ourselves have changed, but God’s Word remains. May the leaflet in this box remind Sister Anna of the ardor with which she pronounced her ‘Yes’ to the Lord.

This word is addressed precisely to you, Sister Anna. Each of us has a few words of personal response to the Lord, in which we have put all our hearts. I ask each of us to continue remembering the words with which we began an important stage in our life. This is my wish to Sister Anna and to each one: to return to our ‘first love’, to fight the good battle every day, and to be men and women of God”.

After the homily, Sister Anna renewed her vows of chastity, poverty and obedience in full consecration to the Lord, according to the Constitutions of the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, followed by the whole assembly singing, “Magnificat anima mea Dominum”.

Sr. Gabriela Rohde, the Animator of the Community, gave Sr. Anna a lamp, a symbol of Jesus Christ, so that she can take Him to children, young people, and anyone she meets.

At the end of the Holy Mass, the children, the pupils of the FMA School, and the young people from the parish gave their ‘captain’, Sr. Anna, gifts: poems and song; a basket of chocolate flowers handmade by them; a chest with the treasures that Sr. Anna collected abundantly during her service and catechesis to children and young people, reminding her of the real treasure she will collect in heaven: the boys/girls, a captain’s bell, a gift for the school, which reminds to fulfill one’s duties and to do good at the right time and place, in imitation of St. John Bosco and St. Mary Mazzarello.

There were many people who participated in the fraternal gathering at the School, many signs of affection and benevolence received and witnessed by Sr. Anna and the FMA, signs of hope for a future of serenity and peace in this land and for the people who live there.

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