austraLasia

?

Shortcut

PrevPrev Article

NextNext Article

Larger Font Smaller Font Up Down Go comment Print Attachment
Views 696 Comment 0
ALA_5514

20201122_WOR.jpg

By our own correspondent


World, 21 November 2020 -- For the whole Salesian Family, the mother of Don Bosco is a shining icon, inspiration, model of apostolic life to follow. The Church through Pope Benedict XVI declared her Venerable in 2006 for having lived a life of heroic virtue. Every year on 25 November the Salesians of Don Bosco, in accordance with their General Regulations, celebrate a Mass for their departed parents on her anniversary day. Mamma Margaret passed away on 25 November 1856.


Margaret Occhiena was born in Capriglio (3 km from Becchi) in 1788 and died at Valdocco in 1856. She is also considered the 'First' Salesian Cooperator, and in many countries the Salesian Cooperators have launched 'Mamma Margaret Workshops' to support the Salesian mission. In 1988 the 'Mamma Margaret Association' (Uruguay) was also founded for the parents of the Salesians of Don Bosco.


Her statue at Valdocco, blessed during the General Chapter 28 by the Rector Major, and a very inspiring point made by Pope Francis in his Message to GC28, offer us a good occasion to celebrate her anniversary this year with a special touch:


"What would have become of Valdocco without the presence of Mamma Margaret? Would your houses have been possible without this woman of faith? In some regions and places “there are communities that have long preserved and handed on the faith even though no priest has come their way, even for decades.


This could happen because of the presence of strong and generous women who, undoubtedly called and prompted by the Holy Spirit, baptized, catechized, prayed and acted as missionaries. For centuries, women have kept the Church alive in those places through their remarkable devotion and deep faith” (Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Querida Amazonia, 99).


Without a real, effective and affective presence of women, your works would lack the courage and the ability to transform presence into hospitality, into a home. Faced with the rigour that excludes, we must learn to generate the new life of the Gospel. I invite you to implement approaches in which the female voice, her outlook and her actions – appreciated for her individuality – finds an echo in making decisions; not simply as a helper but as someone fully involved in your presences." (Pope Francis)


This message of Pope Francis is a strong invitation for us Salesian to make some progress on the path with our lay mission partners, since good number of them are contributing like Don Bosco's mother to the Salesian mission in all of our houses and works.


This annual occasion on 25 November is also a good chance to take a few pages of her biography in our hands: starting from John Baptist Lemoyne (Italian), through the three most easy available ones in English: Teresio Bosco, Joseph Aubry or Benzinger Sisters (Boscolink). Or you can watch a few minutes of her video-story (YouTube).


Mamma Margaret Resources:

Related news articles:



49635650222_cb857f9367_k.jpg


49635650567_22b6f276e6_k.jpg


MammaM1-capriglio.jpg


Mamma-Margerita-installation.jpg


Screenshot-(6450).jpg


Screenshot-(6452).jpg
Attach

Drag and drop your files here, or Click attach files button.

Maximum File Size : 0MB (Allowed extentsions : *.*)

0 file(s) attached ( / )

  1. 5663(II)_Celebrating the Month of Don Bosco

    By Isabella Saleu Port Moresby, PNG, 5 August 2021 -- As we commence the month of August, for some, it may just be an ordinary month, but for me and my Salesian family, it is the month of our Father, Teacher and Friend - St. John Bosco. For...
    Date2021.08.04 CategoryPGS Reply0 Views1055 file
    Read More
  2. 5663(I)_Through the pandemic a more vibrant ADMA Japan emerges

    By Fr. Angel Yamanouchi, SDB Spiritual Animator ADMA - Japan Tokyo, Japan, 5 August 2021 -- Thanks to the EAO ADMA Congress preparation, we are able to hear many encouraging ADMA (Association of Mary Help of Christians) around the whole reg...
    Date2021.08.04 CategoryGIA Reply0 Views687 file
    Read More
  3. 5662(II)_Perpetual profession of 3 EAO missionaries in Africa

    Utume, Nairobi, Kenya, 3 August 2021 -- Last Saturday, 31 July, in the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Upper Hill, Nairobi - Kenya (AFE province), 10 young Salesians made their perpetual profession during the Eucharist celebrated by Fr. ...
    Date2021.08.03 CategoryWorld Reply0 Views915 file
    Read More
  4. 5662(I)_ADMA EAO Congress 2021 Registration open until August 15

    By ADMA EAO Congress 2021 Steering Committee EAO 3 August 2021 -- On the first day of August 2021 the ADMA EAO Congress Steering Committee composed of the two EAO ADMA 'stronghold' countries - Timor Leste and the Philippines (TLS, F...
    Date2021.08.03 CategoryEAO Reply0 Views763 file
    Read More
  5. 5661_See Something Suspicious, Say Something

    By Nigel Akuani Port Moresby, PNG, 2 August 2021 -- Since the establishment of Papua New Guinea’s Whistleblower Act in 2020, young people are now making a genuine call to people of good will serving in the workforce to speak up and re...
    Date2021.08.02 CategoryPGS Reply0 Views732 file
    Read More
  6. 5660(IV)_The Reception of two new FMA postulants in Myanmar

    “The Almighty has done great thing for me. Lk. 1:49” By Sr. Juliet Kwye Kwye, FMA Anisakan (Myanmar), 30 July 2021 -- On 24 July 2021, on the day of the Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians, two Myanmar young girls, Lucy and...
    Date2021.07.30 CategoryFMA Reply0 Views1350 file
    Read More
  7. 5660(III)_August 2021 - EAO Time of Vocational Blessing

    By our own correspondent Rome, 30 July 2021 -- In the Southern hemisphere the month of August is celebrated around the Salesian provinces as the 'Month of Don Bosco'. Our hope is that our Salesian Family members in Australia-Pacific...
    Date2021.07.30 CategoryEAO Reply3 Views7638 file
    Read More
  8. 5660(II)_ADMA Spring in Indonesia - new Center in Jakarta

    By Sr. Ernestina de Jesus, FMA Jakarta, Indonesia, 30 July 2021 -- For the upcoming EAO regional ADMA Congress any member of the Salesian Family is welcome! 11 years after the first EAO ADMA Congress in Paranaque (2010), there are many more...
    Date2021.07.30 CategoryINA Reply0 Views823 file
    Read More
  9. 5660(I)_FMA: Dream big for the ladies

    By Sr Cristina Villasanta, FMA Port Moresby, PNG, 30 July 2021 -- ‘Dream Big for the ladies’ was the encouragement of Sr. Mabel Pilar, FMA (former Provincial Superior) and Sr. Teresita Padron, FMA, the present Provincial, to the...
    Date2021.07.30 CategoryFMA Reply0 Views651 file
    Read More
  10. 5659_Youth Leaders undergo Formation Training

    By Christine Maden Rabaul, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea, 28 July 2021 -- Thirty-two youth leaders of the Mary Help of Christians (MHC) Parish, Rapolo, attended an intense one-day formation training at the Haus Sekan Retreat Center, Ra...
    Date2021.07.28 CategoryPGS Reply0 Views644 file
    Read More
List
Board Pagination Prev 1 ... 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 ... 533 Next
/ 533