Messaggio della Consigliera per le Missioni _ 14 giugno 2018 (English)

1. Ahomeforall.
Rome, 14 June 2018.
Dearest Sisters,
“Although we are far apart we can be close to one another every day in the Heart of Jesus, and we
can pray for one another there, isn’t that true?” (Madre Mazzarello - L 42).
We meet again for our usual appointment and, with great joy, we wish to revisit the journey
undertaken since we launched the project, “For a common home in the diversity of peoples”.
Since October 22, 2017, we have sought to live and to deepen each month the proposal to see our
world as a common home, where there is room for everyone, where no one is excluded, and where
all can feel they are citizens of the same country because the borders have been overcome and
eradicated. Pope Francis always tells us that we must knock down walls and build bridges. In order
to do this, we are convinced that the best response to the migration phenomenon is TO GO OUT,
TO MEET, AND TO BE CLOSE.
From our presence, our look, our words, from the small gestures of welcome and interest, we can
measure the quality of our being FMA’s in outreach, the intensity with which we live the culture
of encounter, our Gospel commitment: “A Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved
with compassion at the sight” (Lk 10: 33).
On June 9th
, we celebrated the 150th
Anniversary of the consecration of the Basilica of Mary
Help of Christians (Turin). We all have present in our heart the Shepherdess of the dream Don
Bosco had in 1844 and with her words: “This is my house, from here comes my glory!”
In the centenary of the Basilica (1968), Fr. Louis Ricceri, the 6th
Successor of Don Bosco, said to
the FMA: “You regard this centenary of family interest because in reality, the Basilica is partly
your House because it is the House of your Mother, of your true Superior”.
General Chapter XXIII had as its theme: “Being today with young people a home that evangelizes”.
During the Chapter, the young people told us: “A real home is one where a family lives…we would
like you to be able to build relationships, with the courage to open your facilities, your minds, and
your hearts. We want you to share daily life with those who cross the threshold of your
homes…Together we can commit ourselves to welcome the poorest, not only in terms of
material poverty, but also the spiritually and existentially poor…Help us to feel that we are not
guests, but children in the house of God, in your homes”.
Dearest Sisters,
“For a common home in the diversity of peoples”, the theme of our project, is more than ever
timely, relevant, and urgent!
Think of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, think of GC XXIII, think of the migration
phenomenon as an invitation to think of the people without a home!
And thinking of homeless people is thinking about Don Bosco who struggled to find a home for his
boys, because those who do not have a home lack affection, presence, a family, hope for the
future…

2. Ahomeforall.
Think of the reality of the Church and also of the Institute, in which many Parishes/Provinces have
taken in young migrants, some families, unaccompanied minors, people who have lost
everything…The first thing given to them was their own home, that is, a safe place, a real and
concrete space of another space, the interior one of welcome, respect, and dignity.
Let us also think of another home, one that is well known to us because it is an essential part of our
mission: the school! How many migrant children, unaccompanied minors, children of asylum
seekers or refugees live in the streets of our cities - perhaps very close to our home - and are doubly
lacking: they do not have the ‘material space of a home to live in’ and they do not have the ‘school
home’, the right to instruction and education.
Let us ask ourselves: how can we as communities, wherever we are, change the life of a migrant
child, offering him/her the opportunity to attend school, to feel welcomed, to be integrated into a
new reality, to become the protagonist of his/her story?
Dearest Sisters,
If every community would make the commitment to change the life of even only one migrant girl
or boy, think how great and meaningful would be the power of good that grows and brings growth!
I thank you from my heart and in the Heart of Jesus for the good that you make grow in silence
and in generosity, without any publicity: the home that you are for all the people who have left
their country, their loved ones, their culture… The common home that, together with other
ecclesial and civil organizations, you seek to build and offer to those who are alone in the world, to
those in need, to those who, although poor and wounded by life, are called ‘a child of God’, our
sister, brother!
A strong embrace and feel me very close with prayer and affection,
Councilor for the Missions