ADMA in Bielorussia

My name is Sr. Veranika Blizniuk. I come from Belarus and I belong to the EEG Visitation. I am religious for 26 years. Since 2017, I am the Spiritual Animator of ADMA in the city of Smarhon in Belarus. For a few years, now I have been guiding ADMA in my area.

In the 4 countries of EEG (Belarus, Ukraina, Russia and Georgia), the Association is present only in Ukraina - in Odessa and Lviv and in Belarus - Smarhon. Also, in Belarus a year ago, Salesians started the ADMA Families in Baraulany. It is difficult to say how the groups work in Ukraina, because of war.

The ADMA group in Smarhon developed in 2017. At the beginning, we FMA proposed to some women who were helping us on different occasions to try to create a group of people who want to grow in devotion to Mary Help of Christians already well known in our Salesian parish. We did the year of formation despite the fact that I myself had to learn about the ADMA.

On 24th May 2018 during the solemn Eucharist, 23 people were welcomed into the Association of Mary Help of Christians. This is the first ADMA group in our country. In September 2018, we had spiritual exercises for ADMA during which we chose the local ADMA Council. On 24th November 2018, our group received the aggregation to the Primary Association of the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Turin Valdocco. On 24th May 2019, 8 more new people were welcomed into the group, and in 2021 - 1 more. Today we have 19 members and 5 aspirants who want to be members of ADMA and actively live the spirit of the group.

Our journey in the group takes place at two moments each month: 1) every second Sunday of the month - the formative meeting on the proposals on the website, 2) on the 24th - the Eucharist, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the rosary. We also have two important moments - the participation and leading of two novenas in the parish church: to the Immaculate Conception and to Mary Help of Christians. In addition to these moments, we actively participate as a group in parish feasts, especially during Eucharistic processions. We willingly help prepare the festivities in the oratory and in the preparation of the various meetings of the Salesian Family. As an apostolate there are a few members who during the school year help the FMA with formative meetings of the girls in the Girls' Club and as educators during the holidays in various outings with the boys.

In the year 2020, the group was invited to the parish of Mary Help of Christians in Baraulany (near the capital of Minsk) to make ADMA known. We made the presentation in the parish church. And today after two years, there is the ADMA-Family group led by the SDBs.