Today, August 1, we, the Daughters of Jesus, joyfully celebrate the birthday of our Superior General, Graciela Francovig, fi. The day began with the Eucharist, presided over by Fr. Osvaldo Vivar Martínez, O. de M., General of the Mercedarian Fathers, who—by a beautiful coincidence—celebrates his birthday on the same date. This was followed by a fraternal breakfast, which we also shared with Fr. Osvaldo.
The celebration continued as a community during lunch and afterward, together with the provincial superiors, who are gathered in Rome these days.
To celebrate is to say, “Thank you for being you.”
The opening prayer at Mass included a reflection by Henri Nouwen on the deeper meaning of celebrating a birthday:
“Birthdays are meant to be celebrated. I think it’s more important to celebrate a birthday than to celebrate passing an exam, getting a promotion, or winning a victory. Celebrating a birthday means, in fact, telling someone, ‘Thank you for being you.'”
Based on that idea, this entire celebration was intended to thank Sister Graciela for her constant presence in the life of the Congregation and her daily dedication—with the grace of the Holy Spirit—to loving, guiding, and sustaining it in fidelity to the charism received from Saint Candida Candida. We also prayed for strength and courage for the new paths that the Spirit may reveal to her, patience in the face of difficulties, and peace in discerning God’s will.
A Message of Fraternity for the Provincial Superiors
In his homily, Fr. Osvaldo Vivar Martínez also addressed with affection the Provincial Superiors of the Daughters of Jesus gathered in Rome, acknowledging with admiration their evangelizing mission through education, accompaniment, and evangelizing service. He recalled that leadership service, in the manner of the Daughters of Jesus, requires a free and trusting heart, and he summarized it in three key points: openness to discernment, unity in diversity among provinces, and close care for the sisters, especially in times of frailty or aging. All of this, she said, is guided by the flame of the charism that Mother Candida left behind, which can be expressed by the phrase: “Where there is no love, put love, and you will draw forth love.”
She had a special greeting for Sister Graciela, celebrating the fact that they share the same birthday and wishing her a year filled with health, peace, and that joy which—she said—she knows how to spread to the entire community.
A Day of Thanksgiving
After the Mass, the community shared breakfast with Fr. Osvaldo. Later, during lunch and the meal’s after-dinner conversation, the community, the General Government, and the Provincial Superiors continued to celebrate and give thanks—with great warmth, gratitude, and expressions of closeness and affection—for the gift of life and the self-giving of our sister Graciela.
We make that expression our own: Graciela, “thank you for being you.” Today, the entire Congregation joins in that gratitude: thank you, Graciela, for your service and your dedication to the entire Congregation, keeping Mother Candida’s charism alive. Happy birthday!
