Religious Province Ma. Crescencia Pérez
Novena and Feast 2025 “Like Maria Crescencia We Walk With Hope”
On May 20th, with great joy and devotion, the city of Pergamino dressed up to celebrate the feast of Blessed María Crescencia.
In preparation for the feast, since April, the relic of the Blessed has visited the parishes and chapels of the city and some neighboring towns.
During the novena, the rosary was prayed and Mass was celebrated every afternoon with the participation of the various parish communities. In addition, the Jubilee Children was also held; it was a morning of prayer and reflection and charity bicycle touring.
Throughout this Novena and on the Feast Day, numerous pilgrims and religious sisters of our Institute from different parts of Argentina and neighboring countries visited the tomb of our beloved Sister Crescencia and participated in the Eucharistic celebrations and the procession through the streets of the city.
Let us continue to pray for her speedy canonization and that, like her, we may live our Christian lives as authentic pilgrims of hope.
Mother Clare Province
Fraternal Meeting Of Legal Representatives With Mother General And Advisor
On Saturday, May 24, 2025, at the Provincial House of the Daughters of the Garden in Córdoba City, the Legal Representatives of the Mother Clara Podestá Province of Argentina were convened for a fraternal meeting.
The nine current lay Legal Representatives, plus the three who will soon assume their positions, are a living testimony to the Congregation’s desire to live out the shared Charism: women religious and lay people. During this meeting, they were accompanied by the valuable presence of Mother General, Mother Gladis Eberhardt, and Mother Councilor Stella Hosman; Mother Provincial María Delia Russo; and Sisters from the various communities.
The opening Mass, held in the Chapel of the Provincial House and the Hortus Conclusus School, illuminated the hearts of all participants, encouraging them to reflect and agree on key aspects of the role and function of lay Legal Representatives, based on the current reality and the new challenges facing them at this moment in our history.
Legal Representatives are embarking on a path of redefining their role in all the Gianellian communities—which impacts all dimensions of educational work, and the Sisters—as a complex, and participatory challenge.
The sincere and enriching dialogue about the commitment to fulfilling their role and the constant, rapid, and sometimes conflicting changes underscored the need to hold these meetings and strengthen the practice with internally constructed documents that reflect the nature of the Legal Representative, to be shared as a support and guiding reading for daily practice. In the context of our Catholic schools, those present agreed to embrace the shared mission, based on the spirituality of communion, as an expression of the Church and the Charism of Vigilant Evangelical Charity, through adherence to the “being” of the Legal Representative, synthesized in five dimensions: evangelical, human, pedagogical, administrative, and management.
The various moments of analysis and reflection provided a glimpse into and encouraged everyone to treasure the evangelizing legacy of Saint Anthony Maria Gianelli, as a model of an authentic manager and mediator, who assumed a clear evangelizing identity, having Jesus Christ as base, foundation, and center, and Mary as his model and Mother.
St. Mary’s Province
2025 Juniors’ Annual Gathering A Journey of Faith and Fidelity
The 2025 juniors’ Annual Gathering, a trans-formative odyssey of spiritual growth, fellowship, and renewal, unfolded from April 30th to May 14th, 2025. Under the expert guidance of Rev. Sr. Lissy Parayil, the Juniors’ In charge, the participants embarked on a profound journey of self-discovery and devotion, navigating the depths of their faith and commitment to their vocation.
Over the course of 15 days, the participants engaged in a variety of activities carefully designed to deepen their formation and strengthen their commitment to their calling. These experiences, rich in spiritual nourishment and communal bonding, fostered a sense of community and solidarity among the juniors. As they walked this path together, they discovered the true meaning of faith, fidelity, and service.
The retreat, a highlight of the gathering, provided a serene and prayerful atmosphere for reflection and discernment. Through guided meditations, personal prayer, and the Eucharistic celebration, the juniors rejuvenated their spiritual fervour and dedication to their vocation. In this sacred space, they listened to the whispers of their hearts, allowing the divine presence to guide them on their journey.
On May 10th, the juniors gathered for the solemn renewal of vows, a deeply moving ceremony filled with grace and joy. With hearts overflowing with devotion, they reaffirmed their commitment to the Lord and the congregation. This sacred ritual, a testament to their faith and fidelity, left them spiritually enriched and inspired to continue their mission with renewed zeal.
St. Mary’s Province
Online Seminar on Leadership for Formators and Superiors
On 11th May, an enriching online seminar for Formators and Superiors was organized by Sr. Anjali, our General Councilor. The session was animated by Sr. Veronica, a Sister of the Bethany congregation, who offered valuable insights through a well-prepared PowerPoint presentation.
Focusing on the theme of “Shepherd Leadership,” Sr. Veronica highlighted the essential qualities of effective and compassionate leadership needed in religious communities today. A good superior, she emphasized, should be approachable, discerning, and capable of listening with empathy, while also firm in guiding the community with clarity and conviction.
The seminar was a meaningful opportunity for reflection, renewal, and growth in leadership.
St. Mary’s Province
A Journey of Grace: 25 Years of God’s Faithfulness
Even before any human gaze fell upon us, we were already seen and loved by a primordial gaze—the gaze of the One who formed us in our mother’s womb. The Beloved of our soul has never taken His eyes off us, beholding in us a beauty and goodness that only He can fully see. In His kindness, He has invested in our lives, constantly affirming our being and calling.
These past 25 years have been a sacred tapestry woven with threads of joy, challenges, growth, and triumph. Each experience and encounter has been like a brushstroke in the masterpiece of God’s love for us, shaping our deepening commitment to Him.
As part of this milestone, we – Sr. Jyothi Lakra, Sr. Smitha, Sr. Archana and Sr. Arpita – came together for a course on re-visioning consecrated life. It was a graced time of reflection, renewal, and rediscovery of our sacred vocation. The course offered deep insights into how we can continue to live out our consecration with love, compassion, and dedication, while also responding wisely to the changing contexts of today’s world.
We return from this experience with renewed hearts, enriched understanding, and practical guidance for navigating the complexities of consecrated life, remaining faithful to our core values and charism.
Sr. Smitha Madathettu
Mother Catherina Podestá Province
Jubilee Pilgrimage Of The “Nostra Signora Dell’orto” School (Udine)
On April 10, at the end of the Lenten season, our school organized a family pilgrimage to pass through the Holy Door of Madonna delle Grazie. We walked through the streets of Udine while praying and singing until we reached the sanctuary. With excitement and anticipation, students, parents, and educators crossed the Holy Door after making their profession of faith.
Father Michele Zanon celebrated Holy Mass under the tender gaze of the Virgin. The cross that we had carried through the streets illuminated us during the celebration, symbolizing the eternal love that touches the deepest wounds of human existence.
During the offertory, children presented money they had collected throughout Lent to be donated to Ukrainian orphaned children. This donation will allow these children to enjoy a seaside vacation in Lignano, far from the horrors of war.
We invoked the Our lady of the Garden, patroness of our school, and Saint Gianelli, convinced that our school can be the fertile ground described in the Gospel of the Sower.
We wish to cultivate life, become givers of life, and inhabit history with hope in Jesus and trust in Mary, who welcomed us into her great sanctuary. As Gianelli reminds us, she is a “tender and most loving mother, who seeks and desires our good.”
She is the one who leads us to the empty tomb for our encounter with the risen Lord, setting us on our journey as “pilgrims of hope.”
Mother Catherina Podestá Province
Today We Saw The Future Of The Church! Adolescents’ Jubilee
The Gianelli Institute in Rome opened its doors to welcome 300 young people from the Diocese of Asti, the birthplace of Pope Francis. What a beautiful sight to behold!
Our school, like every Catholic institution, serves as a “periphery” of faith—a vital outpost representing the future of humanity called to embrace human and spiritual values inspired by the Gospel.
These adolescents from Asti, already actively engaged in their parishes, had made their heartfelt choice for Christ. They expressed this commitment during the Eucharistic Celebration with genuine participation—their voices raised in song, their hearts lifted in prayer, their joy expressed in spontaneous applause.
The Provincial Superior welcomed them and thanked them for their powerful witness She spoke on behalf of all of us who strive daily to live and witness Evangelical Charity Vigilantly within the Church.
The priests who accompanied these young people and concelebrated the Mass expressed deep gratitude for our sincere, affectionate, and attentive welcome. In their prayers, they blessed us with good wishes and to have new and generous vocations!
Mother Catherina Podestá Province
The Day Of The Embrace At The Sanctuary Of Santa Maria Del Piano In Ausonia
On May 1, we were blessed to experience a day overflowing with hospitality, sharing, and profound emotion along with different disabled people from various parts of the Diocese of Gaeta. Known as “The Day of the Embrace,” this special gathering touched everyone’s hearts. The presence of these remarkable individuals enriched us all in ways words cannot fully capture.
Through this experience, we came to understand that truly paying attention to others isn’t always easy, especially when they differ from us. We often struggle to develop a “differently attentive” gaze—one that sees beyond apparent limitations to discover the unique beauty, richness, and harmony in each person. In their faces, we glimpsed the face of Christ himself, reminding us that every human life is sacred and worthy of our deepest love and respect.
