Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians - Rome MISSIONARY SPIRITUALITY PROJECT America Southern Cone

Its birth Mother Antonia’s visit to the south of Chile (20-28 April 2002) has sparked in her the desire to share this missionary treasure with the whole Institute Towards the end of the Chapter, Mother General invited the provinces of the CICSAL to launch the Missionary Spirituality Project Through a letter sent to the provincials of the CICSAL (24 June 2003), Sr. Ciri expressed the desire of Mother General and the Council : - to offer support and accompaniment to initiatives that will arise - to entrust this project to the Mission ad gentes sector Among the activities programmed for the next six-year period “one stands out: the CENTENNIAL OF THE DEATH OF LAURA VICUNA” To celebrate this anniversary we have proposed to launch the Missionary Spirituality (Six-year Plan of the Mission Ad Gentes Sector)

Together with you we would like to initiate a process of reflection on the “Missionary Spirituality Project”, remembering that this proposal made by Mother General during the GCXXI has been welcomed by you with joy and enthusiasm. We hope that through the power of the Spirit, this seed may generate life, that is, a missionary presence that is always more authentic” Sr. Ciri Hernandez Letter to the provincials of the CICSAL 24 June 2003

The team is composed of one FMA from each province of the CICSAL Its birth ROSARIO ALONSO CIL CARMEN MAROTO ABB JUSTA PAVETTI PAR ADRIANA GÓMEZ ARO ANA MARÍA FERNÁNDEZ ABA FANNY SERRÉS URU

Rekindle in the communities the missionary zeal of the origins by rediscovering the experience of the first FMA missionaries who reached this part of the world Objective

The different phases of the Project FIRST PHASE: - Montevideo - Buenos Aires - Junín de los Andes August – September 2005 FIRST PHASE: - Montevideo - Buenos Aires - Junín de los Andes August – September 2005

Tappe del Progetto SECOND PHASE: - Bahía Blanca - Fortín Mercedes - Patagones - Viedma - Junín de los Andes October – November 2006 SECOND PHASE: - Bahía Blanca - Fortín Mercedes - Patagones - Viedma - Junín de los Andes October – November 2006 The different phases of the Project

Tappe del Progetto THIRD PHASE: - Santiago del Cile - Puntarenas - Dawson Island - La Candelaria - Rio Grande - Rio Gallegos October – November 2007 THIRD PHASE: - Santiago del Cile - Puntarenas - Dawson Island - La Candelaria - Rio Grande - Rio Gallegos October – November 2007 The different phases of the Project

Modality Through the use of documents of the period, further reflection on texts of a historical- missionary nature Moments of personal and group reflection to favour a “re-reading of relevant texts” Workshops that will help recall the origins and at the same time make a comparison with what is lived in our times Celebrations in historical places Visit to historical places that recall the origins of our Congregation Testimony of missionaries Visit to the “MEMORY CORNER” Reflection of mission ad gentes today of historical documents, under the profile of inculturation, of experience of God, of inter-cultural relations, of the Institute yesterday and today in the light of the GCXXI for a renewed vision of the Church

“They left with very few things... Their poverty did not frighten them... They were consoled by the thought of living MORNESE in AMERICA... They did not remain strangers: they immersed themselves to the new reality with eyes wide open in order to discover the needs of the young people, to recognize every opportunity to do good.”

125 years after the first missionary departure of the FMA, I, too, will travel to a few of the places in Patagonia and in the land of Tierra del Fuego during the month of April. They will be symbolic pauses to thank, encourage and at the same time to coninue to dream dreams which, bringing us back to the charismatic origins, will re-launch us toward new shores. Perhaps not always in expansion, but certainly in depth and in connection with today’s social reality. Mother Antonia Circ. Nº 840

Mary, missionary among missionaries, accompany and bless our Project