Rome (Italy). On 25 October 2025, on the anniversary of her dies natalis (25 August 1969), the video summarizing the life of Saint Maria Troncatti was published, presented on 17 October in the General House of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians on the occasion of the opening of the celebrations for her Canonization (19 October).
“Every existence carries within itself the imprint of its roots. The places, the affections, the unexpected encounters, the challenges faced in the first years are not just memories, but fundamental pieces for the future journey. So it is with Maria Troncatti, the indomitable missionary of the Amazon rainforest.”
The video opens with these words, telling the first steps of the little girl who will be a great missionary in Ecuador and, now, the first Daughter of Mary Help of Christians proclaimed Saint after the Co-Founder, Saint Mary Domenica Mazzarello.
From Corteno Golgi, a small mountain town in northern Italy, in the province of Brescia, where she was born and lived her childhood and adolescence, making the choice to leave without looking back, to Varazze in Liguria. With the outbreak of the Great War, she attended a course for nurses, and then went to Nizza Monferrato. There she received her missionary destination from Mother Catherine Daghero, to go to her beloved Ecuador, where she spends her life to the point of giving it for the reconciliation between settlers and Shuar. The images flow quickly in unfolding God’s providential plan for the life of this young woman who initially wanted to be a missionary among lepers.
“Her mission came to an abrupt halt on 25 August 1969. The small plane headed for Quito crashes shortly after takeoff. Sister Maria dies instantly, but remains alive, indelible, in the hearts and history of her people who mourn, not only a missionary, but a mother, the good madrecita, the artisan of reconciliation and of peace.”
“Your sadness will be changed into joy!” This is the quotation from the Gospel of John (Jn 16:20) that gives the title and meaning to the film, which is completed with the final pieces of the dates of her journey towards the honor of the altars, 8 November 2008 Venerable, 24 November 2012 Blessed, 19 October 2025 SAINT.
The narrative is embellished with period photographs and historical films, as well as an original audio with the voice of Sister Maria, kindly made available by the General Archive of the FMA Institute, the Historical Archive of the Salesians of Don Bosco of Ecuador, and the Historical-Photographic Archive of Varazze. The original music is by Sister Susana Díaz, FMA of the Saint Gabriel Archangel Province (CIL).
Available in Italian and Japanese, the video will soon also be translated into other languages.
