Missionary Festival: “It’s time to rekindle the fire”!

Rome (Italy). On 24 November 2024, broadcasting from Rome, from the Generalate of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, will be the Missionary Festival with the presentation of songs that reached the finals in the Contest for the creation of the hymn of the 150^th anniversary of the first missionary expedition (14 November 1877).

On 14 November 2024, in the streaming broadcast followed by the whole world, the Superior general, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, aofficially opened the Triennial of preparation for the 150^th of the first missionary expedition. The theme, “It’s time to rekindle the fire!”, the famous expression of Mary Mazzarello (L 27,8), prompted many people from all over the world to deepen their missionary passion by recalling the story of the first FMAs who, with courage and audacity, crossed the ocean to make known in distant lands the love of God for every person, proclaimed in the typical style of the Salesian Charism

The study of the theme was translated into artistic expressions by the numerous participants in the competition launched for the creation of the logo and the anthem, to whom Mother, the General Councilors, and the Evaluation Commission (consisting of FMA, laity, and young people) express sincere gratitude and great appreciation for the artistic skills demonstrated, well combined with a strong missionary sensitivity, and a great sense of belonging to the Institute.

Comments from participants to congratulate the winners were very much appreciated. Among these, the one of a “happy Past Pupil” allows us to grasp the spirit of the competition. “The important thing is to have participated and feel the love of the whole world for the beautiful and sublime charism of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. The flame has already begun to be rekindled and from all over the world, we will unite our Uruguayan voice, with the same love with which those Sisters left Mornese. It’s up to us just to continue to rekindle the fire. Thank you very much.”

Congratulations to the already well-known winners, for the logo: Valentina Calabrese, Gaia Greco, Angelica Buanne, Ilaria Fara, FMA, Anna Maria Spina, FMA, Gabriele Maria Calabrese, SDB; and a  missionary animation group of Central Italy for the hymn:

Susana Diaz, FMA and Yinett Contreras, Novice of the Chilean Province Saint Gabriel Archangel (CIL). During the celebration moment on 14 November, the winners were involved in a beautiful and significant online interview, which ended with the consignment of the award plaque to Valentina Calabrese, present in the hall representing the group of missionary animation of Central Italy; and to Sister Doménica González, from the Chilean Province, one of the participants in the international conference of FMA Formators, who was present for the event.

Saint Paul recalls that, “in the stadium races everyone runs, but only one wins the prize,” even if the other competitors reach significant levels. The desire to value the production of other artists in the competition for the anthem, came the idea of the missionary Festival, which will be broadcast on Sunday in live-streaming, 24 November 2024, at 17:00, Rome time.

The songs that reached the chart’s top 10 will be performed, accompanied by a video and a short presentation of the authors.

The date chosen for the festival is not random; it pays tribute to Sister Maria Troncatti, great missionary among the Shuar, on the anniversary of her beatification, which took place on 24 November 2012 in Macas, Ecuador. The Rite was presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato, Salesian of Don Bosco, then Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints. Present also were: the Superior General of the time, Mother Yvonne Reungoat; the General Secretary, Sister Piera Cavaglià; the Postulator General of the Causes of the Saints of the Salesian Family, Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni; the Vice Postulator, Sister Sylwia Ciezkowska, FMA; the Provincial of Sacred Heart Province (ECU), and a wide representation of FMA, members of the educating community, young people, children, and families also of the ethnic Shuar.

Mother Yvonne, to communicate the news of her Beatification, on 29 May 2012, wrote to the whole Institute: “It is particularly necessary to help the young people to approach this wonderful missionary who, with active faith, daring generosity, and joyful hope announced and witnessed the love of Jesus to all.”

This is the spirit of the festival, which wants to nourish in many other young people the missionary passion that characterizes the true disciple of the Lord!

Link to the direct-streaming