Prešov (Slovakia). On 4 September 2025, Saint John Bosco Province (SLK) officially opened a new Community of Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Prešov. In August, the Salesian Family, the parish, and the young people of Prešov had welcomed the birth of the new FMA community with joy.
During the Eucharistic Celebration on 4 September at the Salesian Parish of Don Bosco, Sister Maria Assunta Sumiko Inoue, Visiting Councilor of the FMA Institute, introduced Sister Editka Štefkovičová as Animator of the Community, whose patron is Blessed Maria Romero Meneses.
The Community is made up of five FMAs who will dedicate themselves to Maria Romero School, a family home for Roma girls and young women, inaugurated by Mother Chiara Cazzuola on 2 August 2024 – at the oratory, after school, teaching the language to migrants, and activities in the Parish.
In the homily, the Director of the Salesian Community, Fr. Ján Jakubov, SDB recalled the pastoral ardor and love for the poor of Blessed Maria Romero. “Like her, each of us is also called to service, to mission, where we are, to help others get closer to Jesus.”
At the end of the Holy Mass, Sister Maria Assunta thanked the entire Salesian Family and the community of Prešov for the beautiful welcome given to the FMA and expressed her joy for the dream that became reality, a dream about this place that was not only of the Sisters, but of God and the people. She also expressed the desire that this community continue to be a place of peace and welcome for every person, without distinction.
After the celebration, the chapel in the Sisters’ house was consecrated and officially inaugurated. The celebration continued with refreshments in a joyful family atmosphere, where there was no shortage of singing and dancing.
