Prague (Czech Republic). From 20 to 26 November 2024, Mother Chiara Cazzuola visited the Province of Mary Immaculate (CEL) of the Czech Republic and Lithuania. Arriving late on the 20th of November at the airport in Prague by the Provincial, Sister Zdeňka Švédová, she then reached St. Joseph Provincial House in Prague – Kobylisy.
On 21 November, accompanied by the Provincial, she visited Holy Spirit Community in Plzeň, which welcomed her with bread and salt according to the traditional Slavic custom, as a sign of hospitality and cordiality.
With the Provincial and the head of the Skvrňany Pastoral Center, Sister Hana Koudelková, Mother visited the nearby Seventh-day Adventist church where Sunday Masses have been held for about a year and a half. The Bishop of Plzeň has in fact decided that the pastoral center of Skvrňany, since 1 September 2017, will be entrusted to the care of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and the Salesians of St. John Bosco Province (CEP). The parish is characterized by a missionary orientation. Its mission is the first evangelization and the new evangelization, especially in the district of Plzeň – Skvrňany. The priestly service is carried out by the Salesian confreres of the community of Plzeň – Lobzy. Here she met with the pastors of the local church.
Subsequently, the manager, Sister Dagmar Vedrová, showed Mother the Youth Center located in the building where the community lives. She was also able to welcome one of the students who lives there, a math teacher who helps in the Center, and Fr. Igor Bibko, the parish priest of neighboring parishes, who celebrates Mass in Greek-Eastern rite and lives in the same house.
In the afternoon, Mother Chiara visited the Salesian Youth Center run by the Salesian confreres in Prague – Kobylisy, where the FMA also work, and appreciated the possibility for the Sisters to collaborate with them. In the Center, she greeted the Provincial, Father Martin Hobza; the Provincial Secretary, Brother Pavel Liškutin; the Community Director and the head of the Youth Center. Meeting two groups of catechists of the FMA, she told them that it is important to know Jesus, but even more important to have God in your heart.
On 22 November, Mother started the day by giving the Good Morning to the young girls of the Vocational School of the House of Prague – Karlín, encouraging them to live these years of studies well and wishing them a happy and full life. She also visited the environments of the Vocational School, the Nursery, and the School, and greeted the staff of this work.
In the afternoon, she met with the Provincial Council, spending a valuable and formative time with the Provincial and the Councilors, also answering their questions. She then attended Mass celebrated in the house by the SDB Provincial, Fr. Martin Hobza. There were several members of the Salesian Family present: VDB, Salesian Cooperators, Contemplative Fraternity Mary of Nazareth. At the end, Mother greeted all those present. She stressed that it is good to meet and share the Charism that unites the Salesian Family. The feast continued in the School with refreshments.
On 23 November in the House of Prague – Karlín the meeting of all the FMA’s in the Czech Republic was held with Mother who, after the presentation of the five communities, answered questions and encouraged with her words. “There is a great variety of charismatic works. You say you are small, but there is a huge potential of resources. I see a great potential for good and I thank the Lord for what you are doing.” She continued, “I think that the people of the Province like you very much. They welcome you with such cordiality; they love you. This is characteristic of our spirituality. Being welcoming and friendly is important in the Church.”
In the afternoon, Mother Chiara visited with some Sisters, the most important places of the city: the Cathedral of St. Vitus, Wenceslas, and Adalbert and the Charles Bridge on the river Vltava. She then spent with the Sisters an evening of fraternity with a quiz on the history of the first Sisters in the Czech Republic during their clandestinity and up to the present day. The game revived the past and sowed in hearts a feeling of gratitude for the wonders that the Lord has worked.
The second part of the visit took place in Lithuania, which she reached by plane together with the Provincial.
On the morning of 25 November in the House of Kaunas, Mother met the parish priest and two Salesian Cooperators. She had lunch in the company of four Salesian Confreres from the two communities of Vilnius and Telšiai, of the special Circumscription of Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta (ICP).
She then visited the Children’s Day Care Center which is located in the same house. The children sang for her, prayed together, and gave a drawing to Mother. She then met the two communities gathered together.
On 26 November, she moved to Kaišiadorys, where she attended Holy Mass in the Cathedral, presided by the Bishop emeritus Mons. Juozas Matulaitis. Mother Chiara thanked the Bishop for welcoming the FMA in his diocese and in the parish of Kaišiadorys. The Bishop expressed gratitude for the FMA community as a significant presence for the people.
Mother General also visited the chapel of the Blessed martyr Bishop Teofilius Matulionis, whose moving story was told to her by the Sisters.
Towards the end of the visit, she greeted a group of children preparing for their First Communion, asked them what they were doing, and praised their goodness. It was a short but joyful encounter.
The FMA are grateful to the Lord for the visit of Mother to their Province, for her simple, meaningful presence, and for her wise and incisive words.
Photos: Flickr FMA
