Rome (Italy). From 19 to 28 September, in preparation for the missionary mandate, a group of new missionaries, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, engaged in the year of formation and preparation for the mission in Rome, at the Generalate, accompanied by the collaborators of the Mission Sector, live a charismatic experience in the places of origin in Mornese (AL), Nizza Monferrato (AT), Colle Don Bosco (Castelnuovo Don Bosco), Chieri (TO), and Turin.
“On the footsteps of Mother Mazzarello and Don Bosco we revive the missionary impetus of our charismatic origins“ is the general objective foreseen for this time, in which the FMA have the possibility to pause, to reflect, to pray precisely where Mother Mazzarello and Don Bosco took their first steps in their call to life, consecrated life, and missionary life.
It is indeed a unique experience to be able to touch by hand that from Mornese, from the Becchi, from the small and remote villages, the FMA Institute and the Salesian Congregation have then expanded all over the world, bringing the richness of the Charism “to the ends of the Earth”.
The experience of the new missionaries in the charismatic places of origin, the missionary mandate, and this year of preparation for the mission are part of the beginning of the Triennium of preparation for the 150th anniversary of the First Missionary Expedition (14 November 1877). As Mother Chiara Cazzuola recalls in Circular no. 1038:
“The year 2027 will be for us Daughters of Mary Help of Christians the 150th anniversary of the departure of the first missionaries from Mornese to Uruguay and then to Argentina. Every celebration, every important anniversary, is a reminder to return to the roots of our history, to the sources of our spirituality. We recall with joy and gratitude the words of Pope Francis at the Chapter Assembly, on 22 October 2021, ‘Do not forget the grace of the origins, the humility and the smallness of the beginnings that made transparent the action of God in the life and in the message of those who, full of wonder, began this journey’.”
The charismatic experience will end on 29 September 2024, in Turin in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, when nine Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, together with a group of Salesians of Don Bosco, will receive the missionary crucifix from the Mother General of the FMA Institute, Sister Chiara Cazzuola, and the General Councilor for the Missions, Sister Ruth del Pilar Mora, during the Eucharistic Celebration presided by Fr. Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major. The celebration will be streamed live and more details will be released soon.
The FMA who will receive the missionary cross come from Chile, Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, and Vietnam.
The Institute, the Provinces, and the Educating Communities of origin accompany these Sisters with prayer and fraternal closeness on this journey in which, as Mother again urges, “we are accompanied and preceded by Mary, Mother, Teacher, and first Missionary of the Gospel. Let us renew with courage and boldness our trust in Her, so that She may help us to remain open to the voice of the Holy Spirit who alone can point us towards new missionary horizons and, as at Pentecost, make us capable of speaking other languages to proclaim the great works of God to suffering humanity (cf. Acts 2:4,11). To Mary we entrust peace among peoples, our communities in difficulty, the young people we love with special charismatic predilection.”
Que alegria Neo Misioneras. Son la Esperanza vivente de Jesus Buen Pastor. Las esperamos… Sor Aida
Wishing you an abundance of God’s blessings dear Sisters!
Queridas hermanas,las acompañamos con
nuestro cariño y oración.
Que el Señor y la Auxiliadora las bendiga y acompañe,lo hré con mi oración por ustedes.
Auguri carissime missionarie. Sono felice per il vostro si per andare tra le gente più povera. Dio vi benedica. Insieme nella preghiera.
Grazie, care sorelle, per il coraggio che avete avuto nel rispondere alla chiamata di Dio ad essere missionarie. Che Dio vi benedica e vi conceda molte grazie e buona salute e lo Spirito d Dio sia su di voi affinche possiate essere missionarie di Cristo attraverso il nostro Carisma. Auguri.
Sono felice di questo. Sono di Dio e per l’Istituto. Preghiamo per loro 👍👍🙏🙏