Turin (Italy). Sunday, 29 September 2024, in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin, nine Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the 147th FMA missionary expedition; 27 Salesians of Don Bosco of the 155th SDB missionary expedition; and some lay people of the Community of Don Bosco received the missionary crucifix during the Eucharistic celebration presided by the Vicar of the Rector Major, Fr. Stefano Martoglio, with the presence of the Mother General of the FMA Institute, Sister Chiara Cazzuola; the Custodian of the CMB, Deacon Guido Pedroni; the General Councilor for the Missions, Sister Ruth del Pilar Mora; and the General Councilor for the Missions, Father Alfred Maravilla.
Meeting the missionaries before the Eucharistic celebration, Mother Chiara urged the Sisters to “focus their lives on Jesus to go where He wants. The fundamental orientation of life is Jesus. You will go to proclaim Jesus, not your culture, not your experience. When you arrive where you are sent, with patience you must listen, learn what is behind the language, the culture.”
Mother continued, “The grace of being here in a land blessed by God in the Basilica where Don Bosco wanted his missionaries to leave from here, teaches us that Mary is the Teacher of Evangelization. May Mary teach you to be people who will sow the seed of the Gospel in the heart and soul of all the people you meet.”
Every missionary sending is always a moment of grace in which gratitude to God is celebrated and at the same time, one experiences the emotion for what God has done in Valdocco and Mornese, making sure that, thanks to the courageous audacity of the Holy Founders, we have many sisters and brothers who leave from the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians to reach every part of the world.
Addressing the missionaries in his homily, the Rector Major’s Vicar said, “This celebration is a celebration of faith. It is the recognition of the action of God in the Holy Spirit, in the heart of the Salesian Family and the Church. Your presence is a very clear sign of your responsibility and generosity, and it is a great sign of hope. We take this celebration with us, because this sign of hope, of light, is our joy. The Word of God accompanies us, reminding us that we are all prophets, witnesses of the presence of God.”
Referring to the Sunday Readings, he pointed out that “the core of our being Children of God is to bring God’s condition is the presence as the only hope in the world. The Gospel we have heard sets two pillars, two conditions. 1st condition is that of confidence in the Lord, the sense of the presence of God every day; confidence in the Lord, the ability to keep the Lord at the center of our life. The name that Don Bosco gave to the presence of God was Providence. The Lord accompanies your life; the Lord follows every moment. Trust Him, always.
2nd condition: is that of transparency; it is important to grow in humanity. Cut off what draws you away from God, because it ruins you. Safeguard what brings you closer to God; it is your strength; let it grow. Your humanity, your charity, and your ability to stand by your brothers and sisters, carries and will carry the presence of God, always. The Lord tells us strongly, ‘I am with you and accompany you to go out together in this new life. Trust me’. This movement of faith that makes us missionaries, bearers of Christ, capable of taking care of our brothers and sisters, asks us to guard our community, our being together. The Church is communion; God is communion.”
After having blessed the Crucifixes, the Vicar of the Rector Major handed them to the SDB missionaries, while Mother gave them to the new FMA missionaries, and the Custodian of the CMB to lay missionaries.
In the solemn blessing of the mandate, the Vicar of the Rector Major, extending his hands over the entire group of departing missionaries, pronounced the prayer of blessing, which can also be extended to the many missionaries scattered throughout the world:
“Lord, look at these your servants, our brothers and sisters, who are invested with the sign of the cross, whom we send as messengers of salvation and peace. Guide their steps with your right hand; sustain them with the power of your grace, so that they may not falter under the weight of apostolic labors.
May they have the pastoral heart of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. May they be for the young, Jesus’ paternal and maternal presence, that wants abundant life for everyone. Give them the ability to listen, to be in solidarity with everyone, the imagination, creativity, apostolic courage, patience in waiting, the enthusiasm of love. Let them be joyful signs and carriers of salvation.
Dear brothers and sisters, may Mary, Mother and Teacher, accompany you and protect you. In the name of Don Bosco and in memory of the first missionary expedition, go and proclaim to the young people and the poor of the world the joy of the risen Christ.”
The new FMA missionaries continue their journey, preparing for discernment in view of the destination, with the Missionary Formation at the Pontifical Urbanium University of Rome, some courses of Salesian Spirituality at Casa Madre Ersilia Canta of Mary Mother of the Church Preprovince (RMC), and specific formation for the mission ad gentes, accompanied by Sister Ruth del Pilar Mora and the collaborators of the Missions Sector.
Photos: SDB
Auguri. Insieme nella preghiera, nella gioia di essere donne in uscita a favore dei piu poveri.
Dio vi Benedica la Nostra Mamma Ausilitrice vi Protegga sempre amen