On Saturday, September 21, 2024, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, Superior General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (also known as the Salesian Sisters) arrived from Newark Airport at St. Joseph Provincial House in Haledon, NJ, accompanied by a police escort. Six motorcycle officers surrounded her van, ensuring a smooth and safe journey to the Sisters and women in formation who were eagerly waiting for her. Aspirants and novices held a homemade welcome banner, and as her vehicle passed through and cheers and bubbles filled the air. Though it was her first visit to the province, it felt like a homecoming for the Salesian Sister, who is known as “Mother” to over 10,500 Sisters in 97 countries.
From the moment she arrived, Mother Chiara’s warm and approachable personality was clear. Despite a long, early flight, her smile greeted each Sister, young person, and adult who approached her. Laughter and joy filled the room as everyone gathered in the chapel for formal introductions and prayer. As the 10th successor of St. Mary Mazzarello, Mother Chiara is a sign of unity for the Institute as she is entrusted with guiding the Sisters in the characteristic spirit of our Founders.
Young people from the Salesian Provincial Youth Council attended the weekend, representing schools from as far as Ohio and Florida. They had the opportunity to meet with Mother on Sunday, September 22, and asked her questions such as how did she discern her call to become a Salesian Sister and how is it possible to deal with the stress and anxiety of life with faith? Their excitement was evident as they listened attentively and then eagerly took selfies and videos with her. Some students even offered greetings in Italian. Mary Help of Christians Academy junior Laura LoPresti shared, "Meeting Mother Chiara was unforgettable. I was nervous at first, but her warmth made me feel comfortable and happy. She gave the best hugs and showed her love often."
Members of the Salesian Family, including the provincial of the Salesian province of St. Philip, Fr. Dominic Tran, also met with her later in the day. The big celebratory moment of the weekend was a Mass on Sunday and then luncheon held at Mary Help of Christians Academy during which friends and family of the Sisters came to meet Mother. At the main mass, students from Salesian schools sang in the choir and played musical instruments. Young women from Mary Help of Christians Academy also performed for Mother and her guests at the luncheon. Mother Chiara's simplicity and humility put everyone at ease.
In the evening, six young women were formally accepted as aspirants into the St. Joseph Province. They received their medals of Mary Help of Christians from Mother Chiara during the prayer moment. The ceremony was also live streamed for the families and friends who could not attend.
On Monday, September 23, Mother Chiara spoke with the FMA of the province who were divided into three groups based on their number of years of profession. She infused humor into her talks, while addressing serious topics with depth. Mother Chiara’s central message focused on staying faithful to the Salesian charism and living authentically. She noted the growing vocations in North America as a sign of the vitality of the Salesian charism. Sr. Virginia Dickey reflected, "Her visit was a gift from heaven. It felt like having Mary Help of Christians among us. There was so much joy, and our lay helpers were deeply moved when she embraced each one, offering blessings and prayers for their families." The Bishop of the Paterson diocese, Kevin J. Sweeney later celebrated Mass and joined the Sisters for lunch.
Mother Chiara also visited the Sisters in Montreal, Canada on September 24th and 25th. A special evening on the 24th was prepared for members of the Salesian family and the family and friends of the Sisters to meet Mother. She also stopped by the nursing home to visit one of our Sisters there. Mother then returned briefly to New Jersey and on Wednesday September 25th, addressed the students of Mary Help of Christians Academy. She then packed her bags for Rome to prepare for visits around Italy and Europe.