【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2012 年 8 月 3 日意大利羅馬訊】 ─ 母佑會已有一百四十年歷史了。1872年8月5日，亞歷山大省的小村莊摩爾尼斯鎮，11位的女青年獻身事主，產生了母佑會，現已成為遍及94個國家的國際性修會。

1872年8月5日，鮑思高神父身處摩爾尼斯鎮。他於前一天傍晚到達當地，向女青年解釋這儀式的重要性，並教導他們誦讀答句及發願經文，說：「現在你們已屬於一個修會大家庭了，它是完全地屬於聖母的；你們現在人數不多，缺乏資源，沒有得到人們的許可支持。勿讓任何事情擾亂你們。……如果你們持守純樸、貧窮及刻苦，修會的將來是美好的。……要時常緊記，你們的修會應成為鮑思高神父對偉大的天主之母感恩的一座生活紀念碑，並請你們以進教之佑的名銜呼求她（參閱編年史一305-306）。

鮑思高神父願意成立女修會，以補充他為男青年所作的教育事業。在共同創會人聖女瑪莎利羅，以及首批在摩爾尼斯聚集的女青年身上，令他看到他夢想得以實現的可能性。

現今（截至2011年12月），母佑會共有13,653名修女，分佈於94個國家的1,436個團體，遍及五大洲。一直以來，她們懷著一份切願，為來自不同國家青少年開展教育事業，促進全人教育及社會團結，共同計劃及發展涉及福傳、培育及「預防」教育（協助青少年脫離困境）的活動。

母佑會為尋求活出她們教育及福傳的使命，與合作者、志願工作者及青年領袖開展許多不同的事業，包括學校、職業訓練中心、家庭宿舍、街童工作、消閑俱樂部、志願服務、教理班、對土著的基本福傳工作、婦女權利工作、小額信貸服務及小型企業等……這些只是修女們部分的活動。

在很多國家，8月5日是選定為矢發初願和發終身願的日子。今年這日子對摩爾尼斯來說，尤其重要，因為有五名於羅馬進教之佑大學就讀的修女，在總會長查偉思神父，以及母佑會副總會長Emilia Musatti修女的陪同下，宣發終身聖願。

每個會省均以感恩及為聖召祈求來慶祝這140周年。

5th August 1872/2012: 140 years of service to the young

 (ANS - Italy –Rome, 3 August 2012) – The Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians has reached the age of 140. On 5th August 1872 in Mornese, a small village in the province of Alessandria, 11 young women consecrated themselves to the Lord and gave birth to what would become an international Institute present in 94 countries.

On 5th August 1872 Don Bosco was in Mornese. He had arrived the previous evening to speak to the young women, explaining the significance of the ceremony, teaching them to read the responses and the formula of the vows: “Now you belong to a religious Family”, he said, “which is totally the Madonna’s; you are few in number, you are short of resources and you are not supported by human approval. Let nothing disturb you. […] The Institute will have a great future if you keep yourselves simple, poor and mortified. […] Remember frequently that your Institute must be a living monument to Don Bosco’s gratitude to the great Mother of God, invoked under the title of Help of Christians.” (cf Cronistoria I 305-306)

Don Bosco wanted a female Institute which could complement the educational work which he was carrying out for boys. In Maria Domenica Mazzarello, who would be the co-foundress, and in the first group of girls which met in Mornese, there arose the possibility that his dream would be realised.

Today the FMA Institute numbers 13,653 sisters (as of December 2011) distributed in 1,436 communities in 94 countries of the five continents. Over the years they have kept alive a passion for the education of the young from many different cultures, the integral formation of the person, social solidarity, together with the planning and development of activities involving evangelisation, formation and ‘prevention’ (helping to keep young people out of trouble).

Schools, Vocational Training Centres, family homes, works for street girls, leisure clubs, volunteering, catechesis, works for primary evangelisation, work with indigenous people, works for women’s rights, micro-credit organisations and micro-enterprises … these are just some of the activities through which the FMA seek to live out their mission of educating and evangelising, together with a great many lay collaborators, volunteers and young leaders.

In many countries 5th August has remained the date for first temporary vows or perpetual profession. Particularly significant will be this year’s celebration at Mornese when 5 sisters, currently students at the Auxilium in Rome, will make their perpetual profession in the presence of the Rector Major, Don Pascual Chávez Villanueva and Sister Emilia Musatti, Vicar General.

Each Province will mark the event with celebrations of thanksgiving and prayers for vocations.