Catania (Italy). On 4 September 2019, the day Sicily celebrates St. Rosalie, the Sicilian Province Mother Maddalena Morano (ISI) welcomed Mother Yvonne Reungoat, the Vicar General Sr. Chiara Cazzuola, the Visiting Councilor Sister Peče Marija, the Councilor for Administration Sister Vilma Tallone, and the Councilor for Youth Ministry Sr. Borja Runita.
Welcoming them in the beautiful Province courtyard were: the Provincial Sr. Maria Pisciotta, the Provincial Councilors, Mary Help of Christians community, and Mother Morano Community in Catania. To make visible their affection and joy, a bouquet of red roses was offered to Mother by Sister Angela Gulizia.
The objective of the visit is to:
– support, encourage, arouse responses, fostering hope for an organizational revival of the Province and for making the works more meaningful.
From the analysis of the visit of the Visiting Councilor, Sr. Marija Peče, in which potentialities of good and resources were highlighted and also some fragility, the need emerged:
– from the meeting-dialogue with the working group of the Con-Mission, with the Animators, and with the Provincial Council to understand in which direction the Province wants to proceed to support its decisions and choices.
In the morning, Mother and her Councilors met the work group of the Con-Mission which presented the work done so far.
In the afternoon, with the animators, Mother took up the reflection of the working group of the Con-Mission and the three paths indicated by Sr. Marija in the final report delivered at the end of the canonical visit.
The day ended with the Eucharistic Celebration presided by Fr. Marcello Mazzeo, SDB. Following this was the goodnight of Mother to all the communities close to the provincial house in Catania and the Animators present.
At the Good Night, Mother said that the life of communion and fraternity is a mission and encouraged everyone to continue take care of good relationships and Salesian assistance that are characteristic of the Preventive System.
On the morning of September 5, Mother and the Councilors met with the Provincial Council. After the greetings of the Provincial, Sr. Maria Pisciotta, Mother, citing the articles of the Constitutions, recalled what the duties of the Provincial Council are, encouraging the councilors to be always greater light for the youth of Sicily. Citing the words of a young woman pronounced at the meeting of the operational group of the Con-Mission, she said that hope cannot be lost, because if educators lose hope “young people are lost”. She urged the FMA and the laity to walk together, inviting everyone to change their mentality, encouraging them to work in synergy. She urged us to consider this precarious time an opportunity to choose poverty. Today, Mother emphasized, it is important to show signs of hope, even if they are few small steps.
In the afternoon Mother, Sr. Vilma, and Sr. Chiara met with the sisters from 1 to 20 years of profession. The FMA, after a brief greeting and after listening to a reflection by Mother, asked questions, emphasizing the uncertainty of the present, which reflects the social climate, and asking for indications for the future. The demands of consecrated life, the commitment to revive the charism – in the wake of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello, and in Sicily, also of Mother Maddalena Morano – were emphasized, starting from the needs of the mission. “We need to create synergy, so that young people have points of reference, signs of hope and life in abundance. We must commit ourselves to a believer’s reading of life. Finally, we entrust ourselves to Mary Help of Christians so that she will bless us and accompany our every desire for the good”.
