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ALL FOR YOU
Sr. Maria Troncatti

2. A holy journey to the jungle

3. Who is this woman?

4. Sr.Maria Troncatti was born in Italy, at Corteno Golgi,
in the province of Brescia on 16th February 1883. Her
parents were Giacomo Troncatti and Maria Rodondi.
At her baptism she received the name Maria
Benvenuta.

5. She grew up in a large happy family working in
the fields, caring for her sisters and brothers
with warm affection.

6. One day she was lost in the mountains, as
she was looking after the sheep. Their
parents were searching but early morning
they found her in deep sleep.
Father asked her, “Were you afraid Maria?”
She answered “No, Papa. I still had the
grace of the Holy Communion which I
received three days ago in my heart. The
Lord took care of me”.

7. Every month Miss Buila, her teacher
received a Salesian Bulletin which she
gave to Maria to read. Maria then became
aware of the wonderful works in the
mission lands.

8. One day Maria said to
her sister Catherina,
“I like to become a
missionary and work
for lepers”.

9. After her 21st birthday she wrote to Fr. Michael Rua, the
successor of Don Bosco. The letter was passed to
Mother Catherine Daghero, the Superior General of the
Daughters of Mary help of Christians.
She reached Nizza Monferrato.

10. As time passed the
sisters thought whether
she was normal and
happy to become a
religious.
She was suffocated in Maria was confused.
the midst of the rules “I am nothing . How
and regulations of could a poor mountain
this new life. girl succeed?”

11. One day Mother General took her for a walk
in the vegetable garden and told her jokingly,
“Do you see the pumpkins? They are so big
and beautiful because they are watered by the
tears of the postulants” and left her in the
garden and went away.

12. The Parish Priest of Corteno asked her,
“Where is your enthusiasm? Where is your
usual cheerfulness?” She was challenged
and she resumed her usual nature.
12

13. “Lord I want to be
yours for ever. Jesus I
have left all that I held
dearest to serve you
and sanctify my soul.
Yes, I have left all.”
This was the prayer of
Sr. Maria.

14. On 12th September 1908, she became
a daughter of Mary Help of Christians.
She was assigned to be a
cook in Rosignano
Monferrato. She was then
transferred to Varazze,
where she remained for ten
years.

15. “Simplicity, readiness and constancy in fulfilling
one’s own duty is God’s will for us. We have to
accomplish all our duties.” That’s what she told the
girls.
15

16. Italy faced the first
World War in 1915.
“Lord if you save me I will
She miraculously escaped
go as a missionary to work
from the flooded water of River among the lepers.” She
Teiro. It was then that Sr. Maria kept her promise.
prayed.

17. Marina a little girl prophesied on her death
bed, “Sr.Maria you will go to Ecuador”.

18. “When we depart we
must leave our relatives
and country peacefully.
Jesus walks ahead of
us making, the thorns
less piercing but He
wants us to follow him
with courage.”

19. After a difficult
journey on horseback
they reached
Chunchi.
She treated the poorest
with medicines and with
much love..

20. Chunchi was only a preparation
for the Mission in the Amazon
jungle.

21. They arrived at Mendes. There
they experienced the adventure
of an operation on the chief’s
daughter.
The operation was successfully
done in the name of Mary Help of
Christians.
They received their freedom to
enter the mission.

22. They arrived at Macas.
Bishop Comin, before leaving
them said, “Take an interest
on the Shuars. The Holy see
has entrusted them to me.
They are my beloved flock”.

23. Sr. Maria as a community animator
looked after the people and their
needs. She was for all a
‘Madrecita Buena’.
Sr. Maria diagnosed, offered
remedies for illnesses, dressed
wounds, acted as surgeon,
pharmacist, obstetrician and
dentist.

24. At the beginning of the new school
year, two shuar pupils entered the
class with the children of the
colonists. It was something
extraordinary in those times.
Barriers, separation and prejudice,
had collapsed. It became a
multicultural school today.

25. In 1940, 64 boys and girls
went to school, received
religious instructions
and sacraments.

26. The law of the forest allowed for polygamy and it was difficult
to oppose the tradition.
Patience and confidence in the action of the Holy Spirit bore its
fruit. On December 20,1930, the first Christian marriage was
celebrated.

27. The Upano river, flooded so suddenly and violently. On
the other side the immense forest stretched out, dotted
with shuar settlements. Would it be feasible to set up a
stable mission there? That was her preoccupation.

28. An opportunity came.
A shuar delegation
presented an official
request to the
missionaries at
Macas, to set up a
mission centre in
their territory.

29. When she finished her
term as an animator of
Macas, she was
entrusted with the new
mission of Sucua.

30. During the night of January
15,1938, a serious fire
broke out possibly caused
by the colonists. The
missionaries showed
forgiveness but everything
had to be rebuilt.

31. The shuar wanted a reprisal and
they came to the mission
brandishing their traditional
weapons. Sr.Maria thwarted their
plans.“We taught you to love
and pardon offences. If you
really love me, lay down your
weapons at my feet.” she said.
They obeyed her. The dry stick
really had flowered.

32. There were constant new
arrivals at the residential
school. Poor girls without a
family or those who have
been illtreated had to run
away from home in
desperation. For Sr.Maria
they were gifts.

33. In 1944 the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Salesian
mission in Eastern Equador was celebrated. The young Bishop
Domenico Comin had asked the Pope Benedict XV: “Is it not like
watering a dry stick to work among the Shuar?”

34. Sr. Maria proposed the
formation of Christian nurses.
Fr.Juan, the Director of the
mission accepted the
proposal. Thus each mission
centre in the area had its
nurse. Women became ever
more aware of their potential.

35. Sr.Maria was the
community
animator, nurse
and catechist. She
was able to build
up an atmosphere
of loving affection
and intense
spirituality.

36. Sr.Maria’s great
dream was to build
a hospital for the
poor. The Salesian
Fr. Natale Nova,
whom she had
convinced
undertook the
construction.

37. The Shuar people were gradually
becoming aware of the rights.
The ministry recognized and gave
the approval. On October 22nd
about 70 centres assembled for a
conference. Its objectives were
economic development and
ethnic self awareness.
.

38. On August 5th, 1969 Sr.
Maria went to Macas for the
Feast. She said to Sr.Piorina,
“The Purissima told me to
prepare myself because
something serious is going
to happen to me very soon.”

39. On August 25, 1969, Sr.Maria
left from Sucua for her spiritual
retreat with two young sisters.
A few minutes after takeoff, the
plane crashed into a banana
plantation. She was the only
fatality. Her offering had been
accepted.

40. As the funeral cortege entered the
road to the cemetery,a rainbow
appeared among the clouds. It
lasted until the end of the burial. It
was a luminous sign of the Father
for the one who had loved without
measure.

41. She was kept in the
Parish cemetery.
Sr. Maria Troncatti, is an
incomparable interpreter
of the goodness of
Christ.

42. On November 24th,
2012 the Servant of God
Sr. Maria Troncatti will
be beatified in Macas -
Ecuador.

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THANK YOU LORD