FMA and SDB General Councils Meet

Fraternity and Gratitude

FMA and SDB General Councils Meet

(ANS – Rome – July 22, 2021) – On July 21, the members of the FMA and SDB general councils met at the Generalate of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Rome. It was the first time since the SDB general chapter, which ended in March 2020, and it was a moment of fraternity and mutual knowledge on the eve of the Sisters’ 24th General Chapter.

It was actually a family experience. This was felt and seen in and by many signs: the joyful welcome, the celebration of the Eucharist with the two councils united, the dinner together, the various greetings and gifts exchanged.

The Rector Major presided at the Eucharist, concelebrated by all the confreres and animated by the councilors. It was offered for the intention of the FMAs’ GC24, and it made possible  reciprocal thanks for the gift of communion and fraternity, characteristics of Salesian spirituality.

In his homily, Fr. Angel Fernandez invited us to reflect on the fact that the whole history of salvation is based on faith: “Every day we see the fruits of life of our realities, a sign that God works miracles of salvation, transformation, and conversion. The true renewal of the [FMA] Institute and of the [SDB] Congregation depends on faith and our conversion in faith. It is authentic faith that regenerates our mission with young people. ‘Lord, increase our faith!’ The celebration of the general chapter will be an experience of the Holy Spirit, and it will be our faith that will make us repeat: ‘Lord, may everything you want be fulfilled in me.’ When we leave it to God to be God, then we live in faith, joy, and hope.”

Other beautiful moments of the evening were dinner together, mutual presentations, a hymn to Mother Mazzarello composed and performed by Fr. Gildasio Dos Santos Mendes, councilor for communications, the Good Night of the Rector Major, and his expressions of fraternity toward Mother Yvonne Reungoat and the FMA Institute. He also gave updates on the preparation of the Don Bosco House Museum in Turin, which will be enriched by significant documentation on all the groups of the Salesian Family and on each of the Salesian saints and blesseds, who are the most beautiful face of the great Salesian Family.

The evening ended with an exchange of gifts and the words of Mother Yvonne, thanking for the journey lived together in synodality, hoping that it will continue as a sign of communion of the Salesian Congregation and of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, united by the same charism, a gift for young people from all over the world.

Source: https://www.cgfmanet.org/