Poland – National Congress of Association of Mary Help of Christians

10 May 2023
Photo by Andrzej Gojke

(ANS - Rumia) - On Saturday, May 6, 2023, the National Congress of the Polish Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) began in Rumia. The event kicked off with the unveiling of the miraculous picture of Mary Help of Christians of Rumia, accompanied by a Hail Mary uttered with the fervor of all participants, which recalled the first Hail Mary uttered by Don Bosco with Bartolomeo Garelli in Turin. Among the many guests, of note was the presence of members of various groups of the Salesian Family, welcomed by Mrs. Katarzyna Majda, president of the ADMA of the Province of North Poland (PLN), based in Piła.

Also present were: the Provincial of PLN, Fr. Tadeusz Itrych; Ms. Anna Rastawicka, Coordinator of the beatification process and witness in the cause of the Cardinal Primate of Poland Stefan Wyszyński; various Daughters of Mary Help of Christians; as well as pilgrims with their animators: from the Krakow Province, Fr. Łukasz Krysmalski; from the Wrocław Province, Fr. Krzysztof Bucyk; from the Warsaw Province, Fr. Adam Wtulich; and then Delegations from Kobylnica, Piła, Szczecin, Bydgoszcz, Słupsk, Dębrzno, Dębno, Czewińska nad Wisłą, Różanystok, Łódź, Szczyrk, Twardogóra, Oświęcim, Kielce, Tanowo and Pychowice, as well as some guests residing in Rumia and several "Knights of Mary" (Wojownicy Maryi).

Opening the proceedings, the pastor and custodian of the Shrine, Fr. Rafał Burnicki presented the history of the Salesian work and the Shrine in Rumia.

Then, Ms. Anna Rastawicka, Secretary of the late Card. Wyszyński, in her lecture, "Virgo Auxiliatrix - Virgin Help of Christians in the Teaching of the Blessed Primate Cardinal Wyszyński," emphasized that Mary was for the Primate, in her own words, "Strength and Perseverance, Light and Support, Consolation and Hope and Constant Relief, a true Virgin Help of Christians."

After the conference, the newly elected President of the ADMA of the Piła Province, Ms. K. Majda, expressed her gratitude for so many years of zealous work to spread the glory of Mary Help of Christians to Ms. Małgorzata Ankowska-Przewoźniak, whom the PLN Provincial also honored with an artistic souvenir. After that, the celebration of Mass, presided over by Fr. Itrych himself, took place.

Still to follow was a Marian service entitled: "Contemplating the image of Mary Help of Christians." And at the end of the day, participants were able to delight in listening to the concert "Rosarium Beate Mariae Virginis," performed by the artists of the group "Les Femmes."

Also important, as always, were the times of relaxation and informal dialogue at break and meal times, during which participants shared their views and experiences related to the Marian apostolate.

At the conclusion of the work, all were blessed with the invocation of the Name of Mary Help of Christians, and the invitation to participate in the ADMA World Congress scheduled to take place in Fatima in 2024 was renewed.

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