Manaus (Brazil) The Provincial Chapter of Laura Vicuna Province (BMA), with seventy participants among FMA, laity, and young people, took place on November 12-14, 2019, at the Mornese House of Manaus. The welcome to the participants was taken care of by the Referents of the Sectors who gave life to a retrospective of the previous ones, referring to the theme of the General Chapter: “Do whatever he tells you – Communities that generate life in the heart of Contemporaneity”. Among songs and explanations, the reception highlighted the different Marian titles of the Patrons of the States in which there are the different houses of the Provinces: Our Lady Help of Christians (Porto Velho / RO), Our Lady Immaculate Conception (Manaus / AM) which welcomed the participants.
Subsequently, children and adolescents living in situations of social vulnerability, guests in Mamma Margherita Home, presented a wonderful show centered around the phrase “Do whatever he tells you”. They called attention to the cry of the Amazon and, even more, children, adolescents, and young people threatened by drugs, prostitution, human trafficking, etc. It was a moment of great emotion.
In opening the Chapter, the Provincial, Sr Carmelira de Lima Conceição, presented Mary’s attitude at the Wedding of Cana with great depth and sensitivity, making a parallel with contemporaneity and the commitment to build and be communities that generate life for everyone, especially for young people.
In the opening Eucharist, Fr. Taddeo dos Santos Canavarros, SDB, auxiliary bishop of Manaus, highlighted the qualities of Mary, her participation in the Plan of Salvation, together with her interventions in favor of the People of God, recalling the participants to a Marian devotion truly embodied in the life of the people who call for justice and freedom.
After these solicitations work began, and it was encouraging to see how everyone had prepared themselves by reading and reflecting on the texts, and how the FMA, lay people, and young people were in unity of communion, looking for answers to the challenges of the young people of the Province and, at the same time, showing great freedom in suggesting strategies for common growth.
The Chapter Assembly worked in a climate of great responsibility, unity, friendship, joy, serenity, and commitment, accompanied by the care of our Mother and Teacher, Our Lady of the Amazon, who helped us to intuit what Her Son was asking, so that our life and mission in the beautiful and demanding Amazonian land, may continue firmly and strongly in its service to the Kingdom of God.
