Alcabideche (Portugal). On 5 May 2024, Our Lady of Fatima Province (POR) celebrated the Province Feast of Gratitude at St. Joseph House in Alcabideche.
Impelled by fraternal love, the FMA came from their Houses to live this day together in deep gratitude to God, to each of the Sisters, and, in a special way, to Sister Deolinda Teixeira, the Provincial, in the “bond of communion between the communities entrusted to her and between these and the center of the Institute” (Constitutions, 144).
The celebration began with the Eucharist, presided over by the Provincial of St Anthony Province (POR) of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr. TarcÃsio Morais. After expressing thanks to God for having involved the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in the mandate to Don Bosco in the dream at nine years, which this year celebrates its Bicentennial, we continued with a time of fraternity, in which every community of the Province represented a dream of Don Bosco.
It was an afternoon of great sharing of gifts – music, theater, dance and poetry – in which were admired the many ways to give color to Don Bosco’s dreams and express gratitude.
To the Lord who chooses, calls, gathers, and sends, he gave thanks for the commitment of Sister Deolinda in the mission entrusted to her and, on her birthday, the Sisters prayed for the gift of her life, her parents, intercessors to God, and her family.
“Remain in my love!” (Jn 15:9). This is the command that Jesus left in the liturgy of the Sixth Sunday of Easter; to be a sign and expression of God’s love, to remain in Him and, in communion with the sisters, to serve the mission. This is God’s dream for each one and for the Province. Being faithful to this FMA identity is the best expression of gratitude to God, to Sister Deolinda, and to every Community.
Through Mary, the Teacher Jesus gave to Johnny Bosco, the Sisters of the Portuguese Province asked God for the grace to truly live a love that endures everything, trusts in everything, and never loses hope, invoking the abundant blessing on all the Educating Communities and on the life and mission of Sister Deolinda.
“This is how Don Bosco wanted us, a living Monument of gratitude to Mary. (…) We are the living thanks for Her constant intervention in our lives, in our educating communities, in a continuous crescendo of amazement.” (Cir. No. 1037).
