Vellore (India). On 10 September 2022, the Community of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of Vellore Katpadi, of the Province of St. Thomas the Apostle (INM), with the Salesian Family and the young students of the Auxilium Home, celebrated the feast of Blessed Carmen Moreno, FMA, for whom the House is named.
The Auxilium reception house in Katpadi, in fact, bears her name since it was founded in 2001, the year in which Sister Carmen Moreno was beatified, becoming the patroness of the community and of the mission dedicated to the elevation of the poorest girls.
“A sacrificed love” is the theme of the Feast, which began with the Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Fr. Anthony Samy, pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Katpadi, with the presence of the Animator and head of the three Schools, Sr. Amala Mary Mariadoss, of the Principals, and of the teachers.
The life of Beata Carmen Moreno – martyr of the Spanish Civil War, killed with Blessed Sr. Amparo Carbonell on 6 September 1936 – and her virtues such as kindness, piety, wisdom, humility, simplicity, sacrifice for others, were remembered and presented by High School students. The celebration was designed to be a special invocation to Blessed Moreno, asking her to intercede for the needs of the Educating Community. Sharing the day with the entire Salesian Family was a tribute to the martyr of the FMA Congregation.
In his homily, Fr. Antony Samy recalled the virtues of Blessed Carmen Moreno, whose life was centered on courage, determination, commitment, and sacrificial love like that of the Virgin Mary. Above all, he wished the teachers to commit themselves and lead a sacrificed life to be an example to the students entrusted to them.
The celebration of the Feast in grand style was intended as an encouragement to live the Salesian charism with passion and to transmit the values embodied by this patroness to the new generations. At the end, the Animator thanked the parish priest who celebrated the Holy Mass and those who were present at the feast of Blessed Carmen Moreno. Afterwards, lunch was offered to everyone.
