Estoril (Portugal). From 31 July to 10 August 2023, on the occasion of World Youth Day in Lisbon and the inauguration of the new Provincial, the Superior General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, made a brief visit to Our Lady of Fatima Province (POR).
Joyfully waiting for Mother at the airport were the Provincial, Sr. Rosa Cândida Gomes, with the councilors Sr. Conceição Santos and Sr. Maria das Dores Rodrigues and with the aspirant Sofia Guerreiro, representing all the young people of the educational realities and pastoral care of the FMA. She gave her a bouquet of flowers as a sign of joy for the presence of Mother in their midst.
Upon arriving at the Provincial House of Estoril, she was then welcomed by all the Sisters of the Community of Mary Help of Christians and of Our Lady of the Rosary House, by the FMA of other Houses who had come to help welcome the pilgrims who were staying in the area, by the lay collaborators who work at the Provincial House, by the General Councilors who had already arrived to participate in WYD – Sr. Runita Borja, Councilor for Youth Ministry; Sr. Nilza Fatíma de Moraes, for Formation; Sr. Ausilia De Siena, for Communication; Sr. Ruth del Pilar, for the Missions; and by two collaborators from the Sectors.
On 1 August, while Lisbon was filling with pilgrims, Mother Chiara was able to get to know the Provincial House better, the Sisters of the Community, and meet the Provincial. In the afternoon, she crossed the city of Cascais to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of Europe, “where the land ends and the sea begins”, as the Portuguese poet Camões said. Together with Mother, the community followed on television the opening Mass of WYD 2023, presided over by the Patriarch of Lisbon, Cardinal Manuel Clemente.
On 2 August the World Day of the Salesian Youth Movement was held, which was divided into two moments: the SYM Forum and the SYM Festival. In the morning, Mother, accompanied by the Provincial and Sr. Nilza, went to the House of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Lisbon to participate in the SYM Forum. They were welcomed by the Provincial, Fr. Aníbal Mendonça; the Rector Major, Ángel Fernández Artime; and members of the SYM coordination team.
When Mother crossed the courtyard of the school, young people, FMA, and SDBs came to meet her for a greeting and a photo. The Forum, with the presence of 150 young people from 51 countries representing the different realities of the SYM, was an intense moment of Salesian spirit. In the auditorium, the Rector Major and Mother answered various questions with clarity, simplicity, and depth. The Forum concluded with the celebration of the Eucharist of thanksgiving for WYD Lisbon 2023.
In the afternoon, Mother Chiara returned to Estoril for the great SYM World Festival, which was attended by about 8,000 young people. After the welcome, the Rector Major and Mother made themselves available to listen to the young people during a time dedicated to spiritual accompaniment and confessions. Then, between two wings of young people, to the rhythm of the Poiares Philharmonic Band, they headed towards the large central stage, where the young people interpreted the musical “Dream at Nine Years” with art and depth.
After dinner, the Vigil took place with the actualization of the dream of the two columns and Eucharistic Adoration. Thousands of young people on their knees and in impressive silence adored Jesus, present in a large wooden monstrance built by a young Portuguese SDB. At the end, Mother Chiara and the Rector Major gave the Goodnight. Mother invited the young people to welcome these days of grace, “Let yourselves be guided by Mary in these days and listen to the voice of the Spirit.”
On 3 August, Mother visited the Gardens of Belém and the City of Joy, a space with the Vocational Fair, the Chapel for Prayer, and the Park of Forgiveness. In the afternoon, she participated in the moment of welcoming Pope Francis in Edoardo VII Park, known as Hill of Encounter.
On 4 August, at the Central Office of the Salesians in Lisbon, the Press Conference was held for journalists of the Salesian communication realities, in the presence of the Rector Major, Mother, and the General Councilors for SDB and FMA Youth Ministry, Fr. Miguel Angel García Morcuende and Sr. Runita Galve Borja. In the evening, la Mother followed the great Via Crucis with Pope Francis on television in Edoardo VII Park, where the crowd prayed, sang, and adored in profound silence.
On 5 August, the feast day of the FMA Institute was celebrated in the Provincial House of Estoril in the presence of Mother General, the General Councilors, the sisters of the neighboring communities, and other FMA. The Eucharist was presided over by Fr. Manuel Mendes, director of the house in Manique. The FMA renewed their vows, celebrated their profession anniversaries, and sang in thanksgiving to God for the gift of fidelity and of Mother.
On 6 August, early in the morning, Mother Chiara, with the Provincial, the Councilors, and other FMA, left for Campo de Graça, in the Tejo River Park, for the Eucharistic Celebration of WYD 2023, in which Pope Francis left his final message to young people, “Shine, listen, and don’t be afraid”.
On 7 August, there was the pilgrimage to Fátima. It was the first time that Mother and some Councilors set foot on this sacred land, experiencing the atmosphere of holiness that one breathes and lives here. After visiting Valinhos, the home of Francisco and Jacinta Marto and Lucia, Loca do Cabeço, where the Angel appeared twice, and the place where Our Lady appeared to the three shepherd children on August 19, 1917, they attended ‘Eucharist in the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity. Going out into the churchyard, Mother met the Rector Major and various groups of young people from the SYM.
On 8 August in the morning, Mother visited the houses in the area: St. Joseph House and Our Lady of the Rosary School. In the afternoon, she had a meeting with the Animators and then a fraternal moment with the FMA that concluded with the Eucharist presided over by Fr. David Bernardo, SDB, and with Vespers.
On 9 August, the day began with Morning Prayer and a meeting with 72 sisters of the Province in the hall of the Provincial House on the theme of generativity in the life of the FMA, which ended with a moment of dialogue with Mother.
At 12:00, the installation Mass of the new Provincial, Sr. Maria Deolinda Teixeira was celebrated, presided over by the new SDB Provincial, Fr. Tarcízio Morais, and concelebrated by Fr. David Bernardo, a fellow countryman of Sr. Deolinda. The Celebration was animated by the aspirants and the Community of Setúbal.
At the time of thanksgiving, Mother read the decree of appointment and addressed a few words of gratitude to Sister Deolinda for her willingness to take on this mission. She also thanked Sister Rosa Cândida for her service in these six years. At the end of the Eucharist, the hymn of the Institute rang out, “Oh qual sorte”.
In the afternoon, Mother Chiara met the aspirants, the new Provincial, and Sr. Conceição Santos, Animator of the aspirants. It was a meeting of knowledge and sharing in gratitude for the gift of these young people. In the evening, Mother met the new Provincial Council.
On 10 August, the Provincial, Sr. Deolinda, and the Bursar, Sr. Alzira Sousa, accompanied Mother to St. Ann House in Setúbal, where she was welcomed by the whole Community and by the girls of the hostel. After a festive lunch, they left to accompany Mother to the airport.
The FMA of the Portuguese Province are grateful to God for this encounter with Mother, for her wise words, her contagious joy, closeness, affection, and trust, which spoke to them of our charismatic roots, of the beauty of religious consecration, and belonging to the Church and the Institute that has Mary as Mother and Teacher. To Her they entrust the intentions of Mother Chiara and her Council.
Photos: Flickr FMA
