Assisi (Italy). From 3 to 7 February 2023, the formation meeting was held in Assisi which was attended by 26 new Animators of the Italian provinces in the 2nd and 3rd year of their first mandate, and in the 1st year of their second mandate of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. The theme of the meeting was “The service of authority, a sign of prophecy, mercy, and truth”.
The Animators lived a pilgrimage in the footsteps left by St. Francis in that blessed land, where everything speaks of him. The itinerary and the various moments of the meeting were carefully prepared by the formation team made up of Sr. Maria Rosaria Tagliaferri, Sr. Carla Meschini, Sr. Piera Porro, Sr. Antonella Terravecchia.
For two mornings, they were accompanied on this journey from San Damiano to Rivotorto by Sister Rosaria Carpentieri, Alcantarine Franciscan, who helped them reflect:
– the first day, on authority as contemplation of the Lord and, under the eyes of the great Crucifix of San Damiano, she invited them to look at Him with His own gaze of mercy and the search for the beauty present in themselves and in others;
– the second day, in comparison with the first community of St. Francis, she accompanied them in understanding how to build the FMA communities “guarding and caring” for the sisters entrusted to them “because here it is perfect joy…”.
On the third day, instead, the new animators had a morning of reflection guided by Prof. Ignazio Punzi who, through the proposal of the anthropological model in the four codes – filiality, maternity, paternity, and fraternity – helped them to re-read maternity as “fully becoming daughters”, unifying the past, the present, and the future. In his reflection, he also guided them to re-evaluate time, seeking and living that “of the seventh day, the only time sanctified by God”.
All the days were accompanied by Fr. Alessandro Valentino, Episcopal Vicar for Evangelization and the Laity of the Diocese of Nola, who with his warm and clear words guided them with three lectio to distinguish through the Word of God and some biblical characters, three significant combinations in their service: authority and prophecy (Deborah), authority and community (the first disciples), authority and service (Martha and Mary).
“They have been very intense and rich days, not only for the content we received, but also because they allowed us to deeply encounter Saint Francis and his spirituality that always enchants and attracts. They gave us the opportunity to reflect and to discuss on the way of living the service of authority and animation in our communities, starting from the personal situation and the path of maturation of each”.
