MOTHER YVONNE REUNGOAT VISITS U.S.

Celebrates FMAs’ World Gratitude Day in Western Province

(Bellflower, Calif. – April 29) – From April 15 to May 2, Sr. Yvonne Reungoat, Mother General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, has been in the United States for a visit to the province of Mary Immaculate (based in San Antonio) and the celebration of the FMAs’ annual World Gratitude Day, held this year in Bellflower on April 26. The festivity is held in a different FMA province every year.

This year’s celebration was attended by Sr. Chantal Mukase Ruzagiriza, a visiting general councilor, bishops, priests, Salesians, FMAs from across North America, representatives of the various FMA schools and other works, members of the Salesian Family, young people, and other friends of the Salesian Sisters.

After Mother Yvonne met with members of the various FMA provinces, the members of the Salesian Family gathering at the Hollywood Sports Park and offered to Mother Yvonne gifts to express their joy for that moment of sisterhood and to celebrate a solemn Mass, at which Auxiliary Bishop Marc Trudeau of Los Angeles presided and SDB provincials Fr. Ted Montemayor and Fr. Tim Zak concelebrated.

In his homily, Bishop Trudeau emphasized: “Everything we do flows from this altar of gratitude to the world that needs the life we can share. We show the world how grateful we are for what God has given us.

In the evening, everyone met in St. Thomas the Apostle Church (one of the FMA presences in Los Angeles) to hear a cantata on the life of St. Mary Mazzarello. Then the young people of St. Thomas Parish presented a scene from Mother Mazzarello’s life, representing the six continents with their characteristics, beauties, and problems, concluding with Mary Help of Christians’ entrusting to representative sisters the mission of taking care of the needs of today’s young people.

Finally, Mother Yvonne addressed those present, expressing the joy of being together as a Salesian and ecclesial family: “I have never been here before, but it seems that we’ve always known each other! You have a multicultural parish because you’re from many different countries. This is a sign of the fraternal unity that we’re called to live.” She stressed once more the example of Mother Mazzarello and quoted one of her letters: “Joy is the sign of a heart that loves the Lord very much. I want all of you to have a heart that loves Jesus very much. If you feel loved by Jesus, you’re happy—because there’s no greater joy than being loved by Jesus!”