Italy - Marian Day 2019 – ADMA's 150th anniversary

08 October 2019

(ANS - Turin) – Meeting to "Share grace" under the gaze of the Help of Christians was the much-felt experience of over 600 participants in the ADMA Marian Day, which was held in Turin on Sunday 6 October with the presence of the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime. Not only were thanks expressed for the 150 years of ADMA's history, but one also experienced the first Italian national meeting with numerous members from different regions: besides Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta, Liguria, Lombardy, Tuscany, Abruzzo, Puglia, Sicily. A day prepared by the ADMA Primary of Turin with the guidance of President Renato Valera.

The youth of ADMA shared ADMA'S origins with a curated and highly appreciated show, presenting snapshots of the presence of Mary Help of Christians in the life and mission of Don Bosco, in the construction of the Church of Turin and in the foundation of the Association of Devotees of Mary Help of Christians.


The Rector Major shared some of the contents of the Letter written for this special year, "Entrust, have trust, smile", emphasizing how the Association's current experience highlights "the beauty and complementarity between the various states of life in a perspective to be welcomed and valued also in a vocational key: priests, consecrated men and women, and lay people who share a journey of faith and Salesian apostolic commitment. He also underscored how "the Salesian charism in the animation of the family returns to its origins and the family in the encounter with the spirit of Don Bosco acquires dynamism and evangelical joy and experiences how the Family and Youth Ministry should be opened one to the other and walk together." He also urged to promote ADMA: "We promote the opening of this Association in places where it is not yet present, with pastoral creativity, even if 150 years have passed since its foundation. Mary Help of Christians will do the rest."

A powerful moment of "sharing of grace" were the experiences of the family of Domenico and Letizia of ADMA Valle d'Aosta who narrated how, following Domenico's suffering a severe aneurysm, Mary's help was experienced through a network of friendship, solidarity, closeness on the part of many families. The story presented by Maria Russo, Salesian Cooperator, pediatrician, who shared the human and Christian story of her grandmother Maria, a "small and simple woman", who in difficult personal and historical situations did not shut herself off, but made life blossom in a gift of love and help for many: even the door of her house was always open to everyone until the end. Also, the story of Sister Luigina Silvestrin, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, who shared how grace has accompanied her since she was a child and brought her to the choices of life and to live her vocation in joy and in communion.

In the afternoon, in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, was the much-participated Eucharistic celebration presided by the Rector Major, during which 55 aspirants shared the joy and grace of joining the ADMA and the Salesian Family.

This truly special Day has placed in our hearts that we can all share the grace we have received in our lives with our brothers and sisters: the grace of faith, the grace of being part of a big charismatic family that sustains us, the grace of living under the mantle of Mary, the grace of being accompanied by the Spirit, the grace of the small and great miracles we witness in our lives, the grace of small daily resurrections with the commitment to share this grace in our families, communities, oratories, workplaces, in the places where we live.

 

 

 

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