Rome (Italy) On 3 December 2020 the 2nd meeting is held of the “Salesian Thursdays at Auxilium”, online in-depth study appointments on the themes of pedagogy, spirituality, and history of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, organized by Studies Center on the FMA of the Pontifical Faculty of Education Science “Auxilium” in Rome. The theme, studied by Prof. Grazia Loparco, FMA, Professor of Church History, is: “Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in difficult times. The Hour of Charity in Rome (1943-1947).”
Over time and in the diversity of the geographical areas in which they are present, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians have found themselves facing numerous difficulties or emergencies: natural disasters, persecutions, ideological oppositions, wars, mass emigration, epidemics, famine, etc. Before the current pandemic, for example, several FMA were victims of the Spanish flu (1918-1920) contracted in some cases, in their service as nurses in military hospitals.
In Rome in 1943 there were about 230 FMA, distributed in about ten communities, mostly in poorer districts. In addition to the common hardships of war, various people in emergency situations knocked on the door of the FMA Houses: hunted Jews, displaced persons, orphans, unemployed girls, etc. Other situations of hardship were found by the FMA on the streets: the little street girls – the shoe shiners of the second post-war period – exposed to numerous risks; gangs of girls without education and without shoes, daughters of families camped in miserable barracks.
How did the FMA Communities face so many unexpected events, while ordinary life was already upset in its rhythms? With what resources? And with what guidelines? On the basis of the historical documentation, Sr. Grazia Loparco will help to re-read a page of experience that is a source of reflection and a key to access the future, because the ‘difficult times’ change face, but new challenges always remain.
The presentation is broadcast in live-streaming on the YouTube Channel of the FMA Studies Center from 18:30 to 19:30 (Rome time).
The first meeting on 5 November 2020, on the Global Educational Pact that challenges educators, studied by Prof. Piera Ruffinatto, FMA, is available on the YouTube channel.
