The diocesan Bishop Héctor Julio López Hurtado SDB presided at the ceremony which opened with the greeting of the Mother General, Sr. Eulalia Marin and a presentation of the life of the Servant of God by Sr. Carmen Estupiñán. Then the diocesan tribunal for formally established composed of Fr Aldo Aldana, Episcopal Delegate, Fr Carlos Arturo Garcia Oriano, Promoter of Justice and Mrs Ana Myriam Herrera, Notary.
Then in the parish church of Agua de Dios a solemn Mass was said in the presence of many Sisters of the Congregation, members of the “Luigi Variara” Secular Institute and various representatives of the Salesian Family, clergy from the diocesan seminary and a good number of the faithful.
The Postulator General for the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Family Fr Pierluigi Cameroni was present for the whole ceremony and in his message of greeting asked Bishop López Hurtado that the chapel of the Institute of the Daughters of the Sacred Hearts where the remains of Blessed Luigi Variara are laid to rest and where those of Mother Anna Maria are also preserved, might be recognised as a eucharistic sanctuary at diocesan level.
Born at Oicatà, Colombia, on 24 September 1883, Anna Maria Lozano moved with her family in 1897 to the leper colony at Agua de Dios, when her father contracted leprosy. Here the young woman became fascinated by the charism of Fr Luigi Variara and decided to enter and become part of the Institute of Sisters which the apostle of the lepers was founding for the spiritual assistance and care of those suffering from the disease.
Elected Superior General at 23 years of age, she became the disciple closest to the founder, the heir, but also the one responsible for handing on the genuine spirit of the Institute, and making it grow and remain faithful to its origins. She served as Superior for many terms – a total of 55 years, (1907-1919; 1922-1925; 1928-1968), before dying on 5 March 1982, at 98 years of age.
Published 10/06/2011
