Rome (Italy). On 22 January 2026, the day on which Blessed Laura Vicuña is celebrated, the Vicar General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Sister María del Rosario García Ribas, reaches the Provincials and Superiors of Preprovinces with a letter, to communicate the place where the Feast of Gratitude 2026 will take place on April 26 in “Sacred Heart” Province (ECU) of Ecuador.
Recalling that Ecuador is the “homeland of the heart” of Saint Maria Troncatti, she adds: “Mother, together with all the FMAs in the world and every educating community, will still have the opportunity to prolong in time the immense joy experienced at the gift of her recent canonization.”
Encouraging us to begin preparing “this annual event, a significant moment in the family life of our Institute, with prayer and with the certainty of having the opportunity to express the gratitude and affection that unite us to our dear Mother, Sister Chiara Cazzuola, center of communion and guide of the Institute,” the Vicar thanks the Provincial, Sister Lupe Erazo Arce, together with the Sisters of this Province, “for having welcomed the proposal with great love and for having given their willingness to prepare this event.”
She also announced that at the appropriate time, the letter of introduction will be sent with the choice of theme, the preparation journey, and the detailed program of the celebrations. She urged that the invitation Pope Leo XIV extended to young people last summer be adopted:
“Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Don’t settle for less. Then you will see the light of the Gospel growing every day, in you and around you” (Homily, Tor Vergata, 3 August 2025).
Sister María del Rosario concludes the letter by entrusting the Institute to Mary. “May Mary, Mother and Teacher, continue to bless and accompany with her powerful help our Institute on its journey of holiness.”
In recent years, the Feast of Gratitude has taken place: in Vietnam (2025); in Mozambique (2024), in Colombia (2023), in Piedmont, Italy (2022).
Que noticia mas bonita y hermosa para nuestra América Latina, en los que hemos sufrido grandes cambios a nivel político, social y en otros ambientes que nos han golpeado por momentos …, sin embargo, El Señor de la Vida y Maria Sma Auxiliadora nos siguen llevando bajo su bendición y nos empoderaran cada vez más por “El cuidado y el respeto por la Vida de nosotras mismas y de los mas frágiles ….
A Sor Maria del Rosario GRACIAS por esa gran invitación. Desde ya nos uniremos con la alegría y la Oracion por Ka Madre y por nuestro Instituto.