Rome (Italy). The Superior General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians is henceforth Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences “Auxilium” in Rome.
The Holy Father Francis approved the proposal in the audience granted to the Excellent Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, on 2 November 2021. The official communication bears no. 853/2021 of the protocol.
The Grand Chancellor is therefore Mother Chiara Cazzuola, current Superior General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA).
It is a significant passage for the role of women in the Church, which marks the history of the Faculty in its 52nd year of life. Since 1970, when the International Higher Institute of Pedagogy and Religious Sciences of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, founded in 1954, aggregated in 1964, and then incorporated in 1966 to the Higher Institute of Pedagogy of the Salesian Pontifical Athenaeum, became the first Pontifical Faculty entrusted to a female religious institute. The Grand Chancellor was the Rector Major of the Salesian Society of St. John Bosco. The Vice Grand Chancellor was the Superior General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
Mother Chiara Cazzuola affirms:
“I immediately thought of Pope Francis’ attention to the world of women, to the consecrated life of women, to his confidence in the abilities and potential of women, to the process of renewal he is carrying out, which also affects traditional organizational forms. We are called to accept this new assignment with a sense of responsibility and a spirit of service. We want to thank Pope Francis for his kindness and trust in our Institute.
Having greater autonomy in the choices and setting up of the Faculty requires moving forward in fidelity to evangelical Christian principles and the norms of the Church. In particular, the attention to women and to the internationality of the Faculty are two very important elements from the very beginning of our Salesian vocation and of the educational-cultural mission”.
The Principal of the “Auxilium” Faculty, Prof. Piera Ruffinatto, on behalf of the entire academic community, thanks the Holy Father “for this recognition, as an act of esteem and trust in the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians” and assures Mother Chiara Cazzuola “collaboration to continue to qualify and give impetus to the cultural mission of the Faculty at the service of the universal Church and the Institute”.
The Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians expresses its gratitude to Fr Ángel Fernández Ártime, Rector Major of the Salesian Society of St John Bosco, until now Grand Chancellor and in him, to all his predecessors who with availability and foresight, have encouraged and accompanied over the years the mission of the Faculty in the panorama of the Pontifical Academic Institutions, in its identity and vocation to promote ‘a culture of life’, to form professionals in the field of education.
E’ un importante passo in avanti nel cammino di autonomia della Facoltà… ciò sottolinea l’importanza anche del ruolo della donna all’interno della Chiesa… Auguri Madre per un cammino proficuo di cultura…
Sr. Filomena Vasciarelli
Magnífica decisión!! La esperábamos desde hace varios años. Augurios para la Facultad y para la Madre Chiara que inicia con buenas manifestaciones de la Providencia Divina.
This is a great milestone for the Institute, Auxilium and for women. Congratulations and well done to all who enabled this to happen
Anche da parte mia il fraterno ringraziamento a Papa Francesco,
per aver concesso tale autonomia della gestione e animazione della facoltà Auxilium, a Madre Chiara. Il mio fraterno apprezzamento è anche per aver diffuso questa notizia attraverso il nostro sito con espressione di riconoscenza per tutte le persone che dall’inizio hanno dato il proprio contributo nel qualificarla in sintonia con “i principi cristiani evangelici e le norme della Chiesa…”.
Ho fiducia che da parte delle sorelle in autorità del nostro istituto presenti nelle varie località favoriscano ancor più la preparazione delle sorelle nella missione educativa con la frequenza personale alla facoltà, estendendo tale opportunità anche a laiche/laici che potranno collaborare nelle diverse nostre opere.
Querida Madre Chiara cuánta alegría nos da esta gran noticia. Rezamos para que el Espiritu Santo sea siempre su consejero.
Carissima Madre Chiara, tanti auguri e buona missione. Le assicuriamo la nostra preghiera per questa grande responsabilità.
Con preghiera e affetto
A huge milestone in the history of Auxilium and the Institute.
Our gratitude to God and to Pope Francis for such belief in the transformative role of the feminine genius in building the common home.
Congratulations Mother Chiara and sr. Piera. One with you in promoting the culture of life and the prophecy of presence.
Cara Madre ci congratuliamo con lei. Tanti tanti auguri con altrettanta preghiera. Il Signore benedica la tua nuova missione. Con affetto le suore della comunità Damasco Scuola