Naples (Italy). From 28 February to 6 March 2025, the Superior General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, made a brief visit to the Southern Province of Our Lady of Good Counsel (IMR).
The intense days due to the long distance between one community and another in the vast provincial territory were marked by the theme, “Fragments of life”, since Mother in her visits, although brief, was able to experience small “fragments of daily life”, to know and breathe the breadth and intensity of the commitment of the Communities and of the pastoral life that animates every Sister, every member of the Educating Communities, of the Salesian Family, and the young people, the privileged portion of the mission.
Upon her arrival in the Provincial House of Naples on February 28, Mother Chiara was warmly welcomed by a beautiful representation of Sisters, lay people, young people, by the Sisters of the Resident Provincial Council and by the Provincial Sister Ivana Milesi, who expressed with these words the joy of having her in the Province: “Dearest Mother, here you are at home! We have chosen not to tell you how the Province is but to make you know, even if in small and simple fragments, the life that will be told to you live in the many encounters that you will have. Thank you for being here, thank you for being the center of our house, Mother Mazzarello today for each one of us!”
During these days of grace, Mother, in addition to the Educating Communities of various Houses, on Sunday March 2, she was able to have deep and vital sharing encounters with the FMA from 1 to 20 years of Profession, answering their questions and reflecting together on the paths of hope and the future of the Institute and the Province. She also met with the Animators, with whom she first shared the paths of the Institute, with its joys and its labors, answering questions about the exercise of authority and government, and subsequently giving each one the advice that only a Mother can give, so that each one may live this task in self-giving for the good of the Sisters and the realities entrusted to them.
On the afternoon of 2 March, there was a time for celebration together in Taranto, which involved the whole Province, bringing together from every corner FMA, adults of the Educating Communities and the Salesian Family, priests collaborators in different realities, volunteers, children and young people who were the first protagonists of this feast that, in addition to telling the “fragments of life”, paid tribute to Mother Chiara, covering her with affection and gratitude with the warmth typical and unmistakable of southern Italy.
The Feast, with various expressive moments, was marked by the characteristic Salesian joy and allowed Mother to have a look at the entire Province and to meet many faces, giving each one a word, a smile, an encouragement, as she usually does. At the end, she addressed the assembly with these words:
“I carry everyone in my heart. I knew that the Southern Province is a warm, lively, and affectionate Province, but today I have had a direct experience with all of you. It will be impossible to forget you, as I also hope not to be forgotten by you, and to have the support of your prayer and encouragement.
Allow me a thought on ‘Hope’, a word that has come back many times today. As long as we manage to live together moments like this – which are not random, but built together with so much patience – as long as we are able to do this together, we can be sure of being people of hope in a world that tends to individualism, selfishness, to raise walls and create separations. This living together the Salesian adventure is a sign of hope and light for all.
I wish you to continue this journey with courage, seeking to interpret the Salesian Charism as we are, in the diversity of each one of us, but always together as a common gift, focusing everything on the strength of giving ourselves to others, the only power that can transform society and the world. This was taught to us by Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello and we want to implement it today, here, where we are, and where we live. I wish you a good journey, that you may continue to be light and hope in the various places where you live.”
In her short but intense itinerary, Mother crossed the different Regions of Italy belonging to the Province: from Campania – where in Naples she also met the Communities of Ottaviano, Torre Annunziata, and Gragnano (28 February); in Puglia, with Cerignola (1 March), Taranto (together with the Communities of Corigliano d’Otranto and Spezzano) and Fragagnano (2 March), Martina Franca (together with the Community of Brienza, in Basilicata), Ruvo di Puglia (3 March); to Calabria, with Soverato, Scandale (4 March), Reggio Calabria (together with the Communities of Villa St. Giovanni and Rosarno), Lamezia Terme (with the Community of Spezzano Albanese), to then return, on 6 March, in Campania, Naples, and finally Mercogliano. On 3 March she also connected online with the Communities of Sliema and Victoria-Gozo in Malta.
In the various communities where she has been and where there are Salesian Communities of Don Bosco, she was able to meet them and share some of the mission carried out together in this part of Southern Italy.
There were many opportunities to meet the Bishops of the various dioceses in which the FMA are dedicated to the educative mission and who were present for the celebrations, for moments of discussion on the pastoral journey of the dioceses of which they are Pastors, or even just for a brief but heartfelt greeting.
On the last day, Mother Chiara was able to meet the Sisters of the Provincial Council, to whom she expressed her gratitude for these intense days, but rich in encounters and life. She shared with them the paths, especially the path of redesigning, and the dreams for the good of the Province, encouraging all to continue with hope in the certainty of the Lord’s presence.
Photos: Flickr FMA
