Rome (Italy). On June 5, 2019 on the occasion of World Environment Day promoted by the United Nations General Assembly, which has as this year’s slogan Beat Air Pollution along with the aim of raising awareness in daily life in regard to reducing the amount of air pollution and diminishing each one’s contribution to global warming and its effects on well-being.
The Community of the Generalate of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians chose to make a concrete gesture by planting a tree in the garden as a sign of the life lived in this House by many of our sisters during the 50 years since its foundation. The tree is a symbol of fruitfulness and of the commitment to collaborate in safeguarding our Common Home.
Early in the afternoon, as we sang ‘Holy Mary of the Way’, the community processed to the garden where the tree was planted and will grow. Present were: Sister Piera Cavaglià, Secretary General, and Sr. Vilma Tallone, Treasurer General. The two older children, sixteen-year-old Dilshod and thirteen-year-old Zarrinakhon, of the family from Tajikistan that lives in ‘Laura Vicuña House’ also take part in the event.
During the celebration some passages from the Encyclical of Pope Francis, ‘Laudato sì’ were read and some verses of Psalm 1 “…As a tree planted along running waters…” The Lord was praised with the canticle of St. Francis of Assisi “Praise to You Oh my Lord…for mother earth, who feeds us and sustains us, for the fruit, flowers, grass and for water and for fire…”
Sister Vilma Tallone, after recalling the arrival from Turin in 1969 of some young sisters full of energy and enthusiasm, pours into the pit the water necessary for the growth of the tree, which is a prunus pissardi; a sign of the care given to the goods of creation, and of openness to the action of the Holy Spirit that increases the thirst for God.
Sister Mirian Greselin places the number 50 at the foot of the tree and the Animator hangs the plaque with the inscription: “Our gratitude is raised to the Creator with you” – General House – Rome 1969-2019.
At the end of the celebration, the gardeners poured in fertilizer as the sisters took turns to shovel the earth, filling the hole where the tree was planted with soil. The gesture of remembrance and prophecy was accompanied with the singing of the Institute hymn, “O Qual Sorte Siamo Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice”. A round of applause sealed this simple but heartfelt and moving gesture that can be considered the first official event of the Celebration for the 50th anniversary of the Foundation of the FMA General House in Rome.
