Rome (Italy). On 21 December 2025, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the four communities belonging to Mary Mother of the Church Preprovince (RMC) filled the theater hall of the General House of the FMA Institute in Rome for their Christmas greetings to Mother Chiara Cazzuola and the General Councilors.
“God seeks home”, a short story created the atmosphere for Vespers on the fourth Sunday of Advent, which was also joined by Mary Help of Christians Community of the General House (RCG). “Are we ready to welcome God?”, was the initial question-provocation.
After the prayer, the song “Sing to the Lord” was introduced with these words:
“The Christmas we celebrate today has the face of a Child. A young face, a fragile face, a face that reminds us that God chose to trust the little ones to change the world. On the night of Bethlehem there are no chairs, but a manger. There are no speeches, but a gaze. As daughters of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello, we know how to recognize this style. God becomes close, enters history with gentleness, puts Himself at the height of the little ones, walks with them, believes in them. (…) ‘Sing to the Lord a new song’; new like every boy or girl entrusted to us; new like every possibility of good hidden even in the poorest situations; new like education that never tires of starting again…”.
The Animator of the RMC Preprovince, Sr. Jessica Salvaña, then spoke, “Dearest Mother and Sisters of the Council, here we are again to make you hear our personal best wishes, expressed through prayer and also singing. These good wishes are also given, with our simple gifts, an expression of our affection and the joy of being with you, of our gratitude for the gift of each of you, and for your testimony of God’s prevenient love in the life of every Sister of the Institute. Along with these gifts, a small Christmas tree with lights; may the Light that comes from Jesus, our Savior, bring joy and hope to your hearts. Merry Christmas!”
As per tradition, Mother and Sisters of the Council returned their good wishes with a song, “May Christmas be peace”.
Mother Chiara, thanking the FMAs from all over the world present in the room, and with them the Provinces of origin, took up the words of Pope Leo’s Angelus, recalling the figure of Saint Joseph, who, “left the shore he knew to face a sea he had not known.” Joseph acted as a faithful husband, father, and servant of God, always seeking only the will of the Lord and making this family hospitable.
“I like to think that this figure also asks us to have the same feelings, above all not to let ourselves be overwhelmed by the passing of time, by the things we have to prepare, but to give ourselves this silence that is preparation for this great event. (…) The Pope gave this advice, ‘if we live the attitude of St. Joseph, let us make our heart a hospitable home, our community hospitable, where there is room for everyone’.
When we say ‘Merry Christmas’ what are we saying? Long live life, a good life! Thinking that life is a most precious gift, a very fragile gift, but is the most precious one we have. Christmas is the feast of life and Jesus, incarnating Himself in our nature, reminds us of this.”
Mother concluded her words with the contemporary account of a young man who welcomed the gift of fatherhood with great joy and availability, leaving aside his plans, with a welcome for life very similar to that which Joseph had for Jesus. “Thus, I wish you ‘Merry Christmas’, that is, a good life with Jesus!”
The evening concluded with the exchange of gifts and an inevitable convivial moment enriched by the joy of the encounter among sisters.
Photos: Flickr FMA
