Santiago (Chile). On 23 January 2025, Sacred Heart Retreat House Chapel in Santiago hosted the Eucharistic Celebration of welcome and the start of the service of animation and government of Sr. Marisol González Araya for the next six years for “Saint Gabriel Archangel” Province (CIL).
According to the Constitutions of the FMA Institute: “The Provincial is the bond of unity among the communities entrusted to her care and between these and the center of the Institute. Her fundamental task to animate the communities of the Province in the spirit of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello, and to strengthen their capacity to respond to the expectations of the Church in the evangelization of young women.”
The Salesian Provincial of Chile, Father Nelson Moreno, presided at the Eucharistic Celebration, in the presence of the family of the new Provincial, friends, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and members of the Salesian Family.
During the homily, Fr. Moreno addressed the new Provincial, stressing that “in this mission that is opening up, the invitation is to work alongside the Sisters, promoting communities where the Salesian charism is breathed in every gesture, in every look, in every action.”
He added that “the charism of Don Bosco and Mary Mazzarello is still alive and dynamic, like a river that never stops flowing, feeding every space where education is transformed into the living Gospel.”
In concluding, Fr. Nelson said, “Dear Sister Marisol, may you be a sister among sisters; your service be a voice that inspires confidence and a witness that urges them to be agents of change. Always remember that every action has the power to sow hope and transform lives. […] Your Salesian brothers of our Province of Chile, affectionately wish that your provincial community, under your government and your animation, may be a living witness of the Gospel, a space where good Christians and honest citizens are formed.”
After the homily, Sister Susana Díaz, Provincial Secretary, read the Decree of appointment, and then left the word to Sister Ximena Oyarzo Mansilla, who had performed this service for nine years, received her and gave her blessing to Sister Marisol:
“Dear Sister Marisol, as the Province of ‘Saint Gabriel Archangel’, we pray to God that the service of animation and government beginning today be like the heart of Mary Mazzarello, a simple woman, open to the action of the Spirit, who practiced and lived the gift of welcome, of familiarity and affection in the midst of her sisters. May God grant you His wisdom and the ability to safeguard in synodality the life of our educating communities, so that theymay be generators of life, signs of hope.”
A warm applause resounded for her in the Chapel, expression of joy and gratitude to God for the new Provincial. With surprise, she received the greeting of Mother General, Sister Chiara Cazzuola, and her Council, in which they expressed their joy and guaranteed affection and prayer for her and for her new service.
After Communion, Sister Marisol, as new Provincial of Chile, addressed a greeting in which she thanked Mother General and her Council, Sister Ximena Oyarzo, the Sisters, members of the Salesian Family, and lay people for their support.
In her discourse, she referred to Jubilee 2025 and the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Latin America, with the first missionary expedition. “The seed planted with love many years ago has borne abundant fruit and it is our duty to continue cultivating this fertile land with dedication, joy, and fidelity to the Salesian charism.”
The celebration ended with the entrustment of the FMA to Mary Help of Christians and group photos. In February, Sister Marisol will participate in the meeting of the new Provincials in Rome.
