Castelgandolfo (Italy). From 8 to 20 July 2024, in Castelgandolfo, at Casa S. Rosa of St. John Bosco Province (IRO), 14 new Provincials from all over the world experienced the formation course with the aim of continuing to form for the service of animation and government, welcoming with faith and hope the challenges of today and seeking together with the General Council, by listening to the Spirit, the calls of God in the light of GC XXIV.
“Put out into the deep and cast your nets… Towards a generative and synodal style of animation and government” (Lk 5:1-11) is the theme that guided the experience, lived in a climate of prayer, fraternity, and mutual sharing, with an interactive and experiential modality.
Mother, Sister Chiara Cazzuola, and the General Councilors of the FMA Institute, animated the days, proposing the content in a laboratory style, making themselves present for personal interviews and sharing the experience throughout, as motivated by Mother:
“We are here, in the place where God calls us today. We are given a time of grace for an experience of living together with Mother, the General Council, with everyone. We are offered the opportunity to learn together the art of caring; to reflect on our being generative of life by mirroring ourselves in Mary.
Being aware of the moment in which we are called to “be there” is a condition for making our mission alive and dynamic, in the constant search and discernment of God’s will. For us consecrated women educators, today is an event of grace, a Kairos to be looked at from the perspective of hope as a time of salvation and, even while perceiving the darkness of the present, we try to grasp its light.
We live in a time when the processes of change and transformation of society are evolving rapidly and are touching our lives in some way. In this time, the service of animation and government can only be carried out by passionate people who, through an enlightened and lived faith, make God credible in this world. People who keep their gaze focused on Him, learning true humanity from Him. It is only through people who encounter God, can He return to the hearts of the people.”
The new Provincials lived this time with great gratitude, being struck by the testimony of Mother and the Sisters of the Council. “You made us understand how very important the testimony is that we give to our Sisters through your simplicity, closeness, familiarity, attention to our needs, availability to dialogue. All this teaches us how to be an animator of the Sisters. Your generative presence made us feel at home.”
“The attentive, joyful, and familiar welcome of Mother and the Sisters of the General Council made me feel like a daughter who arrives at her mother’s house. Their total availability of time and life, in listening, in dialogue, and in guidance, helped me understand how to place myself in the mission, in particular in the dimension of motherhood, accompaniment, and synodality, at the service of the animation of the Province that was entrusted to me.”
The intercultural nature of the experience was highly appreciated, with the richness of the different realities, in the family spirit:
“Such a diverse and united group can only be explained by the strength of a charism. From the first moment I felt at home among the Sisters. I experienced that it is possible to live communion in a diversity of cultures, languages, and customs. The family spirit experienced in these days was a school of maternity, accompaniment, synodality, and celebration. I learned a lot from the topics discussed, but even more from the way in which we lived the fundamental elements of our charism: the relationship with the Lord, communion, familiarity, simplicity, and authenticity… What we were experiencing was the life of the Institute incarnated in the people with whom we lived.”
The days were marked by the words of the Mother, by the different themes, and by the presentations of the different Sectors by the Councilors with their collaborators. Significant moments were also the pilgrimage to St. Peter, the visit to the general archive in the General House and the meeting with the Novices.
“Mother’s words at the beginning of each day were a true illumination of the theme. The presentation of the Councilors and the Sector they animate gave me an overall vision of the organization of the Institute and awakened in me a greater appreciation of all its dimensions. The visit to the Novitiate was also an important moment. Contact with the Novices who are the future of our Institute, encouraged me and revived great hope in me.
Another moment, no less rich, was the visit to the Vatican, the heart of the Church. It was a must, because we are daughters of Don Bosco, who taught us and transmitted to us a great love for the Pope. Being in Rome, the visit to the General House was also a must, where we saw the general archive of the Institute and its organization. Seeing is learning. Another characteristic element of our life was Mother’s Good Nights and the sharing of innovative projects that take place in various parts of our world. These broadened my vision of the Institute, of the work on behalf of poor and needy young people.”
Some convictions that emerged among the new Provincials:
“Through this formation, we understand more about the complexity and delicacy of our task. It is a great responsibility, but we feel a lot of trust from the Institute and the need to truly take care in accompanying the Sisters.
It is important to welcome the mandate as a gift from the Lord with joy and gratitude, to foster a climate of listening, respect for others, dialogue, participation, and sharing (as we experienced it with Mother and the Council), and to foster the formation of the Animators to collaborate closely with the Provincial.”
They also expressed gratitude for the time spent in Castelgandolfo, “a pleasant and quiet place that allows one to savor coexistence with nature and listening to God,” and for the sisters who, with their attentive and discreet work, facilitated their stay.”
“We are very grateful for this experience that really helps us and gives us support to carry out this very delicate mandate. We know that we are not alone, because Mother and the Sisters of the Council accompany us and are always available for a sincere discussion.”
Photos: Flickr FMA
