A great events in the history of Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. the 150th birthday of the foundation of the Institute which will take place in 2022 (05 août 1872-05 août 2022), is a great time to revisit our past and to get more involved, take a new beginning.

We are going to live 3 years of grace and renewal:

• in 2019, we prepare the XXIVe CG;
• in 2020, we celebrate and,
• in 2021, we will refresh it in the communities

The convocation of this General Chapter of 2020 invites us to a new impetus by living the theme proposed by the Institute: "Communities that engender life at the heart of contemporaneity", "Do whatever he tells you".

This theme has already been worked on during the IV Provincial Chapter, from 29 August to 1 September 2019 at Ivato. During the four days, 26 Sisters and 14 laypeople were present at the Chapter, who had the "Cana experience": to be lived in an atmosphere of prayer, reflection, listening, sharing, checking and searching for new ways.

Each capitular has the desire to seek the good development of our province, of our collaboration and of our mission, especially in journeying together with the young people towards holiness.

We thank the Lord who brings us together and who has helped us during this Provincial Chapter. We continue to praise Him for the wonders He is accomplishing in our province through Mary his humble servant.

We were able to relive and deepen the Last Supper at Cana: "They have no more wine," Mary said to Jesus: "Mary intercedes for us with her Son; Mary knows our needs, and she is interested in our daily life. We want the good wine of Cana to be present in our lives. The Lord is always there to help us through the intercession of His Mother. "Do whatever he tells you", on the other hand, is the word she addresses to us, servants of whom each of us is a part. In this, she invites us to assume our daily responsibility with joy and enthusiasm.

To encourage us to move forward,Charles Armand Randimbisoa, the SDB provincial at the opening Mass of this provincial chapter: "If there is water in each one of you, with the help of Mary, the Holy Spirit will change it into wine, a new wine that you will bring to everyone, especially to the poorest young people who expect from you the manifestation of God's love".

Thank you to everyone who has participated, the capitulars and especially to Sr. Bernadette Chongo Cola, the provincial of the FMA of our province Mary Source of Life, for the beautiful climate of animation during this provincial chapter and for all the beautiful words of encouragement for the future of our province. A thousand thanks also to the educating community of Ivato for the warm welcome and the services rendered and to all those who contributed to the fulfillment of this assembly. May Mary our mother help us to listen to what Jesus is telling us, to transform the water of our daily life into a wine of new pastoral and missionary fruitfulness.

Happy Pastoral Year to all!

Office of Social Communication.