Fatima (Portugal). From 8 to 12 January 2025, the triennial verification of the CIME Interprovincial Conference for Europe and the Middle East was held in Fatima, at Casa Nossa Senhora do Carmo.

The meeting was attended by the Superior General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Mother Chiara Cazzuola; the Vicar General, Sister María del Rosario García Ribas; and some General Councilors – Sister Nilza Fátima de Moraes, Sister Maria Ausilia de Siena, Sister Ruth del Pilar Mora, Sister Maria Assunta Inoue, Sister Lidia Strzelczyk, Sister Marta Riccioli, Sister Paola Battagliola; the Provincials of Europe and the Middle East, FMA, young people, and lay collaborators women representing the various FMA presences, for a total of 100 people.

On 8 January, with the celebration of the Eucharist in the Shrine of Fatima, this meeting of reflection and sharing on the guidelines of General Chapter XXIV opened: community presence that listens, community presence that walks ‘together’, community presence in outreach and networked, as well as reflection on the Resolution of General Chapter XXIV on the seven objectives of the Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’.

At the first conference, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, after welcoming all the participants, spoke of the pilgrim community of hope, emphasizing that the Triennial Verifications are an experience of common commitment and charismatic responsibility. It is also a question of paths of communion, an opportunity to re-read the community and socio-educative experience in the light of the Word of God and the challenges of our contemporaneity, placing themselves in an attitude of renewed hope for the future. In this direction, Mother Chiara underlined the dimensions of fraternity, solidarity, and affection that unite the Provinces of Europe and the Middle East, which for the first time participated in a chapter Verification as a single Conference (CIME).

After the Holy Mass in the Shrine and breakfast, each working day began with an introduction to the daily Gospel by Sister Roberta Tomasi, Animator of the Community of St. John Bosco in Jerusalem (MOR).

During the days,  Mother deepened several topics, in accordance with the guidelines on which we worked. One of the themes addressed was that of synodality as spirituality based on listening to the Word of God, contemplation, silence, and conversion of heart. In this sense, she said that the synodal perspective, while drawing on the rich spiritual heritage of Tradition, contributes to renew its forms. It is a prayer open to participation, a discernment lived together, a missionary energy that is born from sharing and radiates as service. She said, “Synodality for us Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, is an impulse to rekindle the fire of mission, following the example of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello.”

In this regard, she recalled the Triennial in preparation for the 150th anniversary of the first FMA missionary expedition, saying that “we have in our hands the most powerful and effective tool, education, to respond to today’s challenges.” Looking at the origins for the future of the Charism was another challenge that Mother left to all participants in the Verification. “Like Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello, who lived in times of great cultural, social, economic, political, and ecclesial changes, we too are called to recognize that the charism is not only for us, but it is a gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church and to the new generations. It is a gift rich in potential that hopes to continue to flourish with our increasingly passionate and qualified contribution.”

The group work  on the guidelines of General Chapter XXIV, already being carried out in the Communities and Provinces, was guided in a dynamic and profound way, in an atmosphere of familiarity, fraternity, and sharing. Each guideline was given a day, with work coordinated by an Provincial and groups led by some Sisters.

The evenings were moments of sharing and knowledge of the mission of some communities in Europe and the Middle East. At the Good Night of 8 January, Mother Chiara presented lthe photograph and slogan that will accompany the journey towards the Canonization of Sister Maria Troncatti, FMA missionary in Ecuador:  Missionary Mother Artisan of peace and reconciliation. Sister Maria Troncatti was a missionary with a big and generous heart, artisan of peace and reconciliation in the rapprochement between settlers and Indians, offering her life so that there could be peace between the two populations.

The “ecological rosary” led by the young participants in the triennial review at the end of the day dedicated to the seven objectives of Laudato Si’,  11 January, was a moment of gratitude for the journey made by the Educating Communities in the field of integral ecology. Another significant moment was the visit to the Shrine of Fatima and the places of Fatima, a “prayerful pilgrimage” that strengthened the Marian identity of the participants.

On Sunday, 12 January, the liturgical Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the FMA, the lay collaborators, and the young people dedicated the last day of the Verification to reflect on the proposals to be presented to the General Council for the theme of the next General Chapter. The day ended with a moment of fraternal recreation in the Salesian spirit.

The participants of the CIME Triennial Verifica expressed their gratitude for these intense and rich formative moments lived in fraternity, which helped to look at the essence of their own Salesian vocation.

Photo: Flickr FMA

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