(Lima, Peru). Saint Rose of Lima Province (PER) joyfully joined the entire Institute and the Church for the Canonization of Saint Maria Troncatti, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians and missionary dedicated to the service of the poorest.
On 22 October 2025, the Salesian Family of Peru celebrated this event with a Holy Mass of thanksgiving, presided over by Monsignor Paolo Rocco Gualtieri, Apostolic Nuncio to Peru, at the chapel of the Provincial House of Lima.
The Provincial, Sister Elsy Núñez, invited Salesian priests, diocesan priests, and priests from different Congregations, religious women, and members of the Salesian Family, in an atmosphere of communion and gratitude. Sister Marta Riccioli, Visiting Councilor of the FMA Institute, was also present on the canonical visit to the Province.
In the homily, Monsignor Gualtieri underlined the exemplary life of the Saint, recalling that, “she was known as ‘Madrecita’, as a woman with an open heart, mother of all, close and compassionate.” He also added that, “she was a missionary mother, an artisan of peace and reconciliation,” a living testimony of Salesian charity among the Amazonian populations.
Sister Elsy invited everyone to give thanks for this gift of holiness for the Church and the Salesian Family. She highlighted “presence” as an essential characteristic of Salesian spirituality; a close, familiar presence that accompanies the journey and which, as expressed by Card. Ángel Fernández Artime, is transformed into a true sacrament.
At the conclusion of the Eucharist, she gave the representatives of the congregations present a remembrance of the life of the saint, while all the participants received a small relic and a commemorative key ring, in the hope that the example of the new Salesian Saint will become increasingly known and loved.
The encounter continued with a fraternal time full of joy, during which a theatrical work was presented that recalled the main passages of the life of Saint Maria Troncatti. The performance, animated by the theater company and the band of Mary Help of Christians School of Lima, allowed us to relive her missionary spirit and her love for those most in need, leaving a message of hope and Christian commitment in everyone.
In concluding, the Provincial expressed her sincere thanks to all the participants, underlining that, “a saint is not made by herself alone,” since behind the figure of Saint Maria Troncatti there are the entire Shuar people and the settlers who knew her and who, together with her, continue to follow the path towards holiness.
