FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES OF MARY THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Transcription

1 FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES OF MARY O, I THE JOURNEY BEGINS God will rejoice over you with gladness, renewing you in love see Zephaniah 3:17 Fmm in the world.

2 In June 1876 nineteen future Missionaries of Mary gathered with Mary of the Passion at a house in Ootacamund, India. Each of these women, a er prayer and discernment, had made the painful and difficult decision to leave the Society of Marie Reparatrice. We have no record of the months they spent together, except that Bishop Bardou, mep, the local Bishop, welcomed them and assisted them in the decision that Mary of the Passion along with three others: Marie de S. Anges, Marie Agnes de St. Jean Bap ste, and Marie du Coeur Immaculee, should go to Rome to explain their situa on. They le their home of Nazareth on November 21, 1876 and arrived in Rome, December 21, FMM with Muslim and Chris an Refugee Children in Aleppo, Syria Nzenzili Mboma, fmm working with Missionary Ins tutes at SEDOS, Rome M P F M 21, 1839 N 15, 1904 B O 20, 2002 Philomena Robert, fmm with Pakistani Mother and Children FMM par cipate in Interreligious Conference on AIDS in Russia

3 Community of FMM at Prayer S F M M M P ( ) Their new missionary ins tute, Missionaries of Mary, was approved by Pius IX on January 6, This was the first missionary community founded by a woman, Mary of the Passion, together with her nineteen companions. Their vision of mission led them through difficul es to a new moment in their lives. Their first convent in Europe was located in St. Brieuc, France. Bishop David, the local Bishop, strongly supported the new religious ins tute. The whole Ins tute, a er consulta on of all the Members, entered the Third Order Regular of St. Francis in The name of the Ins tute became Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. Ebola Team FMM in Liberia

4 Many young women entered the novi ate of the Missionaries of Mary. Soon Mary of the Passion sent some of the new missionaries to reinforce the Sisters in India and also to new missions in China. The la er included seven who were sent to a founda on in Taiyuan Fu. These women were among those put to death during the Boxer Rebellion of They were canonized in Maria Assunta Palo a was also sent by the Foundress to China in Assunta died of Typhus in Remembered for her simplicity and humility, Assunta strove to do everything for the love of God. She was bea fied in 1954, She is s ll held in honor in China and there is a new community of women which claims her as their patroness. FMM affirmed their Charism first given to Mary of the Passion. They proved the strength of this charism a Gi of God which they each received. They grasped the truth that the adapta ons required in a new historical moment also required unwavering roots in their FMM beginnings. The results are daring new ways of seeing as FMM today embrace the sufferings of people with a way of seeing shaped by Eucharis c contempla on. Gloria Carpinello, fmm Pastoral Care Franciscan Childrens, Brighton MA Odile Coirier, fmm Jus ce, Peace, Care of Crea on Franciscans Interna onal, United Na ons T : S M H, M. A, M. C, M. N, M. P, M. A, M. S. J B R, C, 1900 Vita Marie Riccardelli, fmm Nursing Pastoral Brighton, MA Barbara Dopierala, fmm Elderly Afflicted with Diseases of Aging Fruit Hill Day Services, North Providence RI

5 C SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL B M A, FMM F N H G, I C 1920 The Second Va can Council opened October 11, 1962, and ini ated a process of aggiornamento. Religious Women undertook this work with intense Prayer, Discernment and Courage, entering a long transforma ve process in their life and ministry. Growing into the fullness of Christ acquired greater energy for FMM and for all Religious Women and Men a er Va can II. The Council called them to return to the sources of their life as members of par cular congrega ons, reading the signs of the mes. They were challenged to revisit the vision of their Foundress or Founder and to remove the encrusta ons of history acquired over me. S C 1930

6 I M P, F M M,. Alma Dufault, fmm from Introduc on to For the Mission and its Risks FMM in Quebec, Canada around 1908 FMM Eucharis c Adora on, Via Gius Rome around 1950 The Aim of the Institute makes it Universal.~ Mary of the Passion, 1877 F F I 1877 M P F 1878 I 1882 I 1885 T 1886 C, C 1887 E 1888 S 1889 B 1892 C 1895 P 1897 M 1898 B 1899 H 1900 S, M At the end of 1904 there were: 2060 FMM Sisters 86 Houses in 23 countries 1903 U S, H, S A, I 1904 C A kindergarten in Leopoldville, Congo around 1920 Make of my heart and of the Institute a flame of fire which will embrace the whole world. Mary of the Passion, December 18, 1888