Figlie di Maria AusiliatriceFiglie di Maria Ausiliatrice

Daughters of Mary Help of Daughters of Mary Help of ChristiansChristians

The The Institute of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Daughters of Mary Help of ChristiansHelp of Christians

traces its roots back traces its roots back to the passionate to the passionate dream of St John dream of St John

Bosco and St Mary Bosco and St Mary Mazzarello: to see Mazzarello: to see

young people happy young people happy in this life and in the in this life and in the

next.next.

At the age of nine At the age of nine Don Bosco had a Don Bosco had a

dream in which he dream in which he was encouraged was encouraged

to reach out to the to reach out to the young with young with

kindness and kindness and gentleness.gentleness.

This dream is This dream is considered extremely considered extremely

formative to his formative to his future work among future work among

the young.the young.

After struggling to obtain an education so After struggling to obtain an education so that he could follow the desire of his that he could follow the desire of his heart and enter the seminary, Don heart and enter the seminary, Don

Bosco soon found himself reaching out Bosco soon found himself reaching out to the young and the poor of Turin. He to the young and the poor of Turin. He

felt that he could identify with them, to a felt that he could identify with them, to a certain extent, because of the poverty certain extent, because of the poverty and struggles of his own childhood. He and struggles of his own childhood. He

soon understood that his life work would soon understood that his life work would be among them.be among them.

As Don Bosco’s work of As Don Bosco’s work of caring for poor and caring for poor and

abandoned boys grew,abandoned boys grew, he saw the need for a he saw the need for a religious congregation religious congregation of women to fulfill the of women to fulfill the same dream for young same dream for young

girls.girls.

St Mary Mazzarello was born on St Mary Mazzarello was born on May 9, 1837 at Mornese in the May 9, 1837 at Mornese in the

Alessandria region of Italy.Alessandria region of Italy.

Her childhood, though not as financially troubled as Don Bosco’s, was still marked by poverty and difficulty in obtaining an education. In some regards it was even harder for Mary to make a future for herself as women were not expected to do more

than be mothers and homemakers.

Mary helped her family every day in the vineyards Mary helped her family every day in the vineyards and was known as an efficient worker. She is and was known as an efficient worker. She is

said to have been stronger than the men.said to have been stronger than the men.

Mary eventually recovered, but the typhoid Mary eventually recovered, but the typhoid left her permanently weakened. left her permanently weakened.

Becoming a seamstress herself enabled her, along with her friend Petronilla, to begin

taking in girls from the streets and teaching them the trade.

When she was a young woman,

Mary Mazzarello joined the group of consecrated

lay women called the Daughters of the Immaculate, which was under the guidance of

the village priest, Fr Pestarino

On October 7, 1864, Don Bosco stopped On October 7, 1864, Don Bosco stopped at Mornese to see Fr Pestarino and had at Mornese to see Fr Pestarino and had his first meeting with Mary Mazzarello.his first meeting with Mary Mazzarello.

First ProfessionsFirst Professions On August 5, 1872, On August 5, 1872,

Mary Domenica Mary Domenica Mazzarello and Mazzarello and the first FMAs the first FMAs

made their first made their first vows into the vows into the hands of Don hands of Don

Bosco and Bosco and Bishop Joseph Bishop Joseph

Sciandra. Sciandra.

During her lifetime the work grew significantly…

…and on May 14, 1881, Mary Domenica Mazzarello died at

Nizza-Monferrato at the age of 44.

She left behind 26 houses and 166 sisters.

FMA in the United States

On July 16, 1908, the first four missionary Salesian Sisters

arrived in New York City. They settled in Paterson, NJ,

to begin their ministry with the children of Italian immigrants.

100 years of PresenceThis year marks one hundred years

since the arrival of the first four Salesian Sisters. Today we continue

to be actively engaged in ministering to the young and with the young,

especially the poor and marginalized.

““Give me Souls, Give me Souls, take away the take away the

rest!”rest!”

Reason

Religion

Loving-Kindness

The Oratory Model

Home School Home School

PlaygroundPlayground

ChurchChurch

Education is a matter of the heart. Only God is the TRUE teacher and we need to ask

Him for the keys.

It is a welcoming, active, witnessing presence

among the girls, a warm-hearted friendly sharing in their lives, their hopes

and aspirations.- FMA Constitutions

Guiding people towards an everyday holiness that is

possible in any state of life.

The serene and infectious joy which Mary Mazzarello cultivated among the Sisters and girls is a

characteristic and absolutely indispensable element in the Salesian way of doing things.

SpiritSpirituality uality

JoyfulJoyfulOptiOptimistimisticc

Youth Youth CenteredCenteredMariaMaria

nn

EuchaEucharisticristic

FamilFamilyy

Eucharistic

It is He who fires It is He who fires our our

soul with a love soul with a love

that compels others that compels others

to Him.to Him.

Love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

under the special title of

“Help of Christians”

A living friendship A living friendship

with Marywith Mary

Marian

Dedication to the Church, seen especially in the person of the

Holy Father.

PrayerPrayer

Our prayer, simple but deep, is vital to our life. It nurtures and sustains us in our consecration and ministry to the

young.

Its aim is to transform every moment Its aim is to transform every moment into one of communion with God and into one of communion with God and

others. others.

It helps us harmonize “Martha and Mary”, the contemplative with

the active dimension of our life. -Original Constitutions written by Don

Bosco

The first place in whichwe learn the basics ofcommunication and of relationships is thefamily because, in it,

love is givenand received.

Missionary Fervor Missionary Fervor

In the World

81 Provinces

In 89 nations

5 continents

1488 local communities.

Teaching in elementary schools,

high schools and college

Animating Youth Ministry

Assisting in parish animation and catechetical instruction

Directing summer campsDirecting summer camps

SALESIANS SALESIANS BRING BRING

CHRISTCHRIST

TO THETO THE YOUNGYOUNG

What attracted usWhat attracted us??Family SpiritFamily Spirit

Spirit of JoySpirit of Joy

Missionary SpiritMissionary Spirit

Charism for the Charism for the youngyoung

Love for Love for ChristChrist

A DREAMA DREAM