Concesio (Italy). On 5 September 2025, the Community of Saint Paul VI of Concesio, in the province of Brescia, as part of the re-signification journey, found itself experiencing a transition of belonging: from the Preprovince of Mary Mother of the Church (RMC) to the Lombard Holy Family Province (ILO).
This significant moment of the Institute took place in the presence of Sister Paola Battagliola, Visiting Councilor of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, who arrived in Lombardy on 4 September for the Canonical Visit; Sister Jessica Salvaña, Superior of the RMC Preprovince; and Sister Stefania Saccuman, ILO Provincial.
The symbolic passage of a key, within the Eucharistic Celebration, sealed this passage. The key opens and closes, opens hearts to new horizons of belonging, which are always a deepening of the only necessary belonging, that to Christ. The Parish Priest of Concesio, Fr. Fabio Peli, recalled it in his homily with the words of St. Paul, “I am referring to the fact that each of you says: ‘I am Paul’s’, ‘I am Apollo’s’, ‘And I am Cephas”, ‘And I am Christ’s!’ (1 Cor. 1:12).”
Sister Paola Battagliola, in her words, highlighted the preciousness of this mission. “Taking this choice means valuing the precious service that you dear Sisters continue to offer. I am thinking of the careful and loving custody of the birthplace of Saint Paul VI; the cordial and fraternal welcome of pilgrims and the pastoral collaboration with the local Church. Your presence is a living sign of memory, openness, and mission’.” And regarding the reception of the Lombard Province, she wished the sisters that, “for each one, this insertion becomes an opportunity for inner growth, renewed apostolic impetus, and ever brighter testimony of the love of Christ.”
On behalf of the Mother and the General Council, Sister Paola then thanked the RMC Preprovince for having accompanied the work in recent years with care and dedication, with maternal concern and attention; the FMA of the Saint Paul VI Community, for having welcomed the path of discernment with faith and availability, showing themselves docile to the action of the Holy Spirit, in the style of obedience and communion. Also the ILO Province for welcoming these Sisters as a precious gift, enriching itself with their presence and opening up to a shared path of fraternity, co-responsibility, and mission.
The presence of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Concesio dates back to 29 October 2009, when it was requested of the FMA Institute, by the Paul VI Institute -Foundation Work for Christian Education, a collaboration with respect to educational-cultural activities related to the figure of Pope Paul VI.
Since then, a small community of FMA, dependent on Mother, resides in the birthplace of John Battista Montini, with the main mission of accompanying pilgrims on their visit to the House, in collaboration with the Paul VI Institute.
Over the years, the work has seen the Beatification (2014) and Canonization of Saint Paul VI (2018), which led to the rediscovery and valorization of this great Pope. The mission of the FMA continues in welcoming the many pilgrims/visitors to the House of the Saint, leading them to deepen their family roots and solid Christian values. Those roots rich in social, religious, economic, cultural, and political sensitivity that allowed him –with the Grace of God – to become a prophet of modern times.
In addition, the Community carries out a collaboration in the “Study and formation program” supported by the Work for Christian Education, a cultural initiative aimed at students in the three-year period of the Secondary School of the Province of Brescia. The FMA also collaborate at the diocesan level in initiatives that help to raise awareness of the figure of the Brescian Pope and, within the reality of Pastoral Unity “St. Paul VI”, make their contribution to catechesis and liturgical animation, with a special focus on the experience of Lectio Divina.
The passage of the Community of Concesio to the ILO Province helps to remember the beauty of a Charism inserted in the Church for the good of all and helps the Sisters to grow with joy and freedom in belonging to the Institute called to Holiness, as the life of Sister Maria Troncatti, a missionary originally from the Diocese of Brescia, testifies.
