Roma (Italy). At the end of the summer Plenum, in Circular no. 1051, Mother Chiara Cazzuola and the General Councilors of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians share what they have experienced during this period, from the recent experience of the Spiritual Exercises at the house “Villa Tabor” in Cesuna (Vicenza), in Saint Mary Domenica Mazzarello Province (ITV), from 19 to 26 June 2025.
Events of singular grace
A “unique grace for the whole Institute and for the Salesian Family” is undoubtedly the date of the Canonization of Sister Maria Troncatti, set by the Holy Father for 19 October 2025, coinciding with World Mission Day.
The event is located in the heart of the Triennium in preparation for the 150th anniversary of the first FMA missionary departure (1877-2027). “The example of the first Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, after Mary Domenica Mazzarello, reaches us in this time of renewed missionary enthusiasm and invites us to rediscover with freshness and courage the roots of our ‘outgoing’ Church, as consecrated women for young people, called to generate life and hope wherever the Lord sends us.”
Another moment of intense gratitude and lived ecclesial communion, celebrated on 4 July 2025, is the gift of the conclusion of the Diocesan Inquiry on the life, virtues, and fame of holiness of the Servant of God Mother Rosetta Marchese, 7th successor of Saint Mary Domenica Mazzarello, whose testimony “continues to illuminate our present, inviting us to rediscover the mystical and contemplative dimension of our vocation.”
The journey of the Institute in the Church
During the plenary session, enriched by the presence at Castel Gandolfo of Pope Leo XIV, who celebrated the Eucharist in the parish of St. Thomas da Villanova on 13 July, Mother and the Councilors, in the light of the canonical visits and animation and triennial verifications carried out so far (CIME, CIAM, PCI, CIAO, SPR) and those who will live it in August (CIMAC-NAC, CINAB, CIB-CICSAL), could recognize the transformational impulse that the guidelines drawn up by General Chapter XXIV are bringing to the Provinces and that they “they are becoming more concrete, especially in the formation plans, in the growth of synodality and in missionary openness.”
In view of the commitments made by GC XXIV, these months have continued with the updating of the documents, Formation Plan “Rooted in the Covenant” and Guidelines for the Educational Mission of the FMA (LOME), that are reaching a first phase of drafting, along with the deepening and study of the theme of the Protection and Prevention of Abuse of Minors and Vulnerable Adults, dedicating a time of reflection and listening to experts.
Events of particular importance
Mother and the Councilors then share some resonances regarding significant appointments for the Institute: the Elective General Assembly of the VIDES International, held in Rome from 9 to 11 May, with the election of the Administrative Counsel, which will remain in office for the next four years; the International FMA Past Pupils Congress, held in Sacrofano (Rome) from 25 to 28 May on the theme, Let us not be robbed of hope, with 270 participants from 27 countries; the Consulta of the Salesian Family, which met at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome with the new Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, from 4 to 8 June.
They also express their gratitude for the lively participation in the Marian Festival “The World Sings to Mary”, held online on 30 May, which involved numerous educating communities from all over the world in viewing the videos with creative interpretations of love to Mary through song.
In the fidelity of God, let us renew the joy of our “yes” for and with young people
In the imminence of 5 August, “a day that reminds us of the grace of the covenant given to us by Mother Mazzarello and the first Sisters,” the Sisters of the Council assure prayer to the young women who will begin their journey in the Institute as Novices, those who will emit their first Profession, perpetual vows or renew their religious profession, and express gratitude to all the Sisters who celebrate their jubilee for 25, 50, 60, 70, 75 years of fidelity.
They also render special gratitude for the ‘yes’ totally given of Mother Chiara, who on this 5 August celebrates the 50th anniversary of her religious profession. From 24 to 27 July, Mother “has the opportunity to thank God for the great gift of the call to be a sign and expression of His prevenient love as a Daughter of Mary Help of Christians,” spending a formative time together with a group of Sisters who celebrate this anniversary with her in the Jubilee Year, in the light of the Word of God and the Charism.
Gratitude to the Lord also goes for the simple and joyful fidelity of Mother Chiara to the will of God, which is manifested in her constant availability to the Church, through her recent appointment by Pope Leo XIV, as a member of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
SYM at the Youth Jubilee
Another upcoming event is the Youth Jubilee, which will be held in Rome from 28 July to 3 August, where about 5,000 young people of the Salesian Youth Movement are expected, together with FMA and SDB. In addition to the activities organized for all, “SYM pilgrims will participate in special moments: catechesis by language groups, SYM Fair (29 July), SYM Jubilee Festival (30 July), the mandate of the Rector Major and the Mother General (2 August), who with their presence, will bring to the young people the heart and the word of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello today.”
The Circular concludes with a greeting joined to fraternal prayer by Mother and the Council Sisters: “May the example of our Saints, especially Sister Maria Troncatti, and the daily witness expressed in the simple and generous gift of many Sisters, educators, support us on our way to make every educating community a place where we live the commandment of love and forgiveness.”
