Castel Gandolfo (Italy). From 23 to 29 March 2025, 23 Daughters of Mary Help of Christians from four different countries of Mother of God Preprovince (EEG) of Eastern Europe and Georgia met in Castel Gandolfo to live an intense experience of prayer, reflection, and fraternal sharing.
To preach the Exercises on the theme, “With Mary generative in love because generated by love,” was Mother Yvonne Reungoat, Superior General emerita of the FMA Institute. “I have accepted the request of your Superior, Sister Malgorzata Pietruszczak, because a great affection binds me to your reality, especially in this very delicate moment that asks you to be, with your courageous presence, a sign of God’s love among sisters and brothers who are suffering because of the war,” that motivated Mother Yvonne. She then emphasized, “We bring our people, but we are accompanied by all the people of our lands.”
The days were marked by moments of silence, sharing encounters, times of community and personal prayer, with Eucharistic Adoration and the celebration of Holy Mass. The atmosphere of recollection fostered an inner renewal and a strengthening of the fraternal bond among the Sisters.
A special grace for the participants in the Exercises were the Good Nights given by the General Councilors: Sister Nilza Fátima de Moraes, for Formation; Sister Leslie Sándigo Ortega, for the Salesian Family; and Sister Runita Galve Borja, for Youth Ministry.
On 25 March, on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, the Sisters learned with anticipation about the election of the new Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation, Fr. Fabio Attard, announced to them by Mother Yvonne before Holy Mass at noon. In the afternoon, they were able to follow the live streaming of the solemn moment of the profession of faith of the newly elected, with the greeting of the Capitulars and Mother Chiara Cazzuola, present in Turin. With intense prayer, the exercises then accompanied the elections of the other members of the General Council of the Salesians.
After the Spiritual Exercises, the Sisters of the EEG Preprovince spent a whole afternoon at the Generalate in Rome. After the initial welcome by the General Secretary, Sister Maria Luisa Nicastro, and the guided visit to the Charism Exhibit, they met with Mother Chiara Cazzuola.
In her talk, Mother, with simplicity and deep awareness, invited the Sisters to be thankful for the gift of the Salesian feminine vocation, to walk in a synodal style, and to look to the future with hope and confidence. She also shared the joy of being able to greet in Valdocco, Turin, the new Rector Major, XI Successor of Don Bosco.
The afternoon of fraternity ended with the celebration of Vespers together with Mother and some General Councilors. Afterwards, a convivial dinner and joyful recreation organized by the Sisters of the Council made the time even more special.
At the end of this intense week, on Sunday 30 March, the group had the joy of making the Jubilee pilgrimage to Saint Peter’s Basilica. In Piazza Pia, a place where groups registered on the Iubilaeum25 app are welcomed, they received the Jubilee Cross and the prayers of the pilgrim to follow along the way. Walking along Via della Conciliazione, they reached the Basilica and passed through the Holy Door, a passage of grace and spiritual renewal.
In front of the tomb of the apostle Peter, they proclaimed the Creed, each in their own language. During the Jubilee walk, the participants had the opportunity to pray for peace, entrusting to the Lord and to Mary Help of Christians the populations marked by suffering, especially those from the native lands of the Sisters present. The Eucharistic Celebration at the Altar of the Chair was the culmination of the pilgrimage, a moment of renewed consecration to the Lord and deep communion with the universal Church. With a grateful heart, they entrusted their lives and the Salesian mission to the protection of the God of Mercy and the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace.
This spiritual experience left a deep mark in each participant, renewing the enthusiasm and commitment to follow Christ according to the spirit of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. With a heart full of gratitude, the FMA of the EEG Preprovince departed for their communities, ready to witness with even more enthusiasm to the love of God in the realities in which they work, to be with Mary and like Mary, mothers who generate life.
