Rome (Italy). On 11 December 2021, in Rome, at the Generalate of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the Representatives of Associations and Groups of the Salesian Family and of VIDES, in presence and online, expressed their Christmas wishes to the Mother General of the FMA Institute, Mother Chiara Cazzuola.
Present are Sr. Leslie Sándigo, newly elected Councilor of the for the Salesian Family Sector with the collaborators, Sr. Gabriela Patiño Osorio, Delegate of the Mornese FMA Past Pupils World Confederation, and Sr. Lucrecia Uribe, World Delegate of the Association of Salesian Cooperators (ASSCC) and World Animator of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA); Sr. Runita Borja, Councilor for the Youth Ministry Sector; and Sr. Annecie Audate, General Director of VIDES International.
The encounter opens with a moment of prayer inspired by the parable of the ‘good sower’. The members of the Salesian Family, the Groups, the Movements, and the Associations, like the seeds, are willing to let themselves be guided, formed, accompanied by Mary, a presence that generates life, and by Mother General, animator and guide of the FMA Institute, living with joy their belonging to this great Family.
After each of those present proclaimed a biblical verse in front of the Child Jesus, Word made flesh, the moment ends with expressions of gratitude to the Lord, who continues to sow His Word abundantly and freely in the life of each one today, and offers the gift of His presence and fraternity.
The different seeds offered to Mother that give rise to the variety of fruits ‘rich with the perfume of the future’, represent the variety and uniqueness of each Association and Group that brought their wishes:
A member of VIDES offers orange seeds, “which are a real marvel for their organism, like our volunteers, capable of regenerating life in the places where they carry out their service”.
A representative of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) brings cedar seeds, the oil of which can be used in food or cosmetics, “In the same way, the devotees of Mary Help of Christians bring love for Our Lady of Don Bosco everywhere, to spread the perfume of the Gospel in the Church”.
A Past Pupil offers chestnut seeds, with beneficial properties for the heart, “The FMA Past Pupils Association wishes to continue living the commitment to make the Salesian Mornesian charism beat strongly in the world.”
The World Coordinator of the Salesian Cooperators (ASSCC), Mr. Antonio Boccia, gives Mother the pine seeds, rich in proteins and vegetable fibers, “Thus, the members of the Association offer their contribution by living their specific lay identity with commitment , as a wealth in society and in the Salesian Family. On this Holy Christmas, we affectionately give her simple seeds that, in silence, await the moment to bloom and give life to a new plant, and together, all of us from the same family, offer a forest of new plants with the promise that we lay people, with the FMA, will continue to be generative together in the Kingdom of God”.
Mother Chiara, in response to the good wishes received, takes up the words of St. Paul to the Ephesians from the Liturgy of the 3rd Sunday of Advent, Sunday of Joy:
“The Lord is near and this is what makes us rejoice. Close not only in this Mystery of Christmas, which the Liturgy calls us to renew, but also close in daily life. And knowing that God is close to us, that He is not indifferent to our human affairs, but He is a compassionate God, full of love and tenderness, who follows us lovingly, … is the reason for our joy. The Lord is close to the point of fully accepting our humanity. It is a great Mystery that leaves us speechless, bewildered by the wonder, by the greatness of His love. To truly be a Salesian wish, we are called to ‘be a Christmas’ for each other, to bring this God close. St. Paul reminds us ‘Let your kindness be known to all’. Let us think of Don Bosco, of his insistence on loving kindness, on ‘making oneself loved’. Kindness is a direct channel through which we can make others know the God of joy, whom we profess with our life. May we all be this manifestation of God who is close to the people whom the Lord entrusts to us, may we be this manifestation of God’s goodness for everyone, especially for the young, for the poorest”.
After Mother’s words, Sr. Leslie Sándigo gives the word to the people connected online, including Mr. Renato Valera, President of the Primary ADMA of Turin; Mrs. Maria Carmen Castillón, Confederal President of the Mornese FMA Past Pupils World Confederation; Mr. Guido Barbera, President of VIDES International.
In presence or at a distance, all the participants lived the moment of good wishes to the Mother General of the FMA Institute, relishing the family spirit that comes from the common belonging to the Charism of Don Bosco and to the Salesian Family.
