As part of the preparations for the National Missionary Meeting, scheduled for May 2026 in the city of Córdoba, the relics of Saint María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, popularly known as Mama Antula, began a tour of various dioceses in Argentina. This itinerary, which began in September 2025 from the headquarters of the Pontifical Missionary Works of the Diocese of Chascomús, aims to visit eight pastoral regions, strengthening the spiritual and missionary life of the communities.
A pilgrimage with multiple purposes
The journey of the relics seeks to fulfill three main purposes. First, to encourage spiritual preparation for the National Meeting of Missionary Groups. Second, to make known the life and work of Saint Mama Antula, proclaimed patroness of the missions in Argentina, whose existence was marked by itinerant preaching of the Gospel. Finally, the journey aims to strengthen the bonds of synodality between parishes, chapels, schools, and congregations, promoting the unity of the Church in its evangelizing work.
Next stop in Necochea
This weekend, the relics are in the seaside town of Necochea, which belongs to the Diocese of Mar del Plata. Public veneration is taking place at the parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, located on Calle 6 between 83 and 85, opposite Plaza San Martín in Villa Díaz Vélez. The faithful have the opportunity to participate in two special Eucharistic celebrations: on Saturday, January 10, at 8:30 p.m. and on Sunday, January 11, at 8:00 p.m.
Legacy of a pioneering saint
Saint María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa was born in Santiago del Estero in 1730. From a young age, she collaborated with the Society of Jesus in organizing spiritual exercises. After the expulsion of the Jesuits, she undertook a journey on foot to Buenos Aires, where she spent two decades preaching the message of Christ. In 1795, she founded the Holy House of Spiritual Exercises in the capital, an institution that is still active under the care of the Congregation of the Daughters of the Divine Savior. She died on March 7, 1799, and her remains rest in the Church of Our Lady of Mercy in Buenos Aires.
On the path to sainthood
The process of canonization of Mama Antula advanced significantly with the approval of two miracles. The first, validated in March 2016, allowed for her beatification and involved the inexplicable healing in 1904 of the nun María Rosa Vanina, who was suffering from acute cholecystitis with septic shock. The second miracle, which led to her canonization, consisted of the complete recovery of an Argentine man who suffered an ischemic stroke with multiple hemorrhagic infarction, resistant septic shock, and multiple organ failure, a medical condition considered irreversible. Her proclamation as a saint consolidates her figure as a model of missionary dedication and spiritual strength for the Church in Argentina and the world.
Original source: www.aciprensa.com (published on January 9, 2026)
Photo: Celso Costa on Unsplash
