FIRST ADMA DAY AT KOLKATA

Calcutta (India). On the 24th August 2024, at the headquarters of the provincial house (INC) in Calcutta Dum Dum, the first ADMA DAY was celebrated, to honour Mary Help of Christians, patron saint of the Salesian Family, on the day of the monthly remembrance, and to promote the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) among the faithful.

The day began with the Eucharistic Celebration presided by Fr. Joseph Manipadam, SDB , National Delegate for the Salesian Family. During the Celebration, through the welcoming ritual and after the homily, 20 new members, coming from Auxilium Ranchi, Auxilium Barasat and Auxilium Dum Dum made their promise, becoming part of the ADMA family. The Delegates welcomed them with a garland of flowers and the Provincial, Sr. Leelamma Palliparambil,FMA, handed them the ADMA kit.

After a break, the cultural programme began, with the introduction and warm welcome to Fr. Joseph Manipadam, the FMA Provincial and all the Delegates of the different ADMA groups. Sr. Stella Davis,FMA, Provincial Delegate for the Salesian Family and ADMA, presented a report on the activities carried out by the four ADMA groups (Ranchi, Gobra, Barasat and Dum Dum).

The theme of the first ADMA day was the Dream of Don Bosco at the age of nine, in the Bicentenary year. So each group presented a performance on the Dream, while the theme of the cultural programme was ‘A Dream which makes one dream’.

In his message, Fr. Joseph Manipadam underlined the significance of the ADMA and Mary's role in Salesian spirituality. The interactive dynamic, in the form of a quiz on the message, helped the members deepen their devotion to Mary Help of Christians and to renew their commitment to the mission and values of the Association.

In the afternoon, ADMA members of Mazzarello Ranchi and Auxilium Dum Dum went on pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Bandel. The FMA and participants prayed the rosary inside the church and, despite the incessant rain, visited the terrace where the miraculous statue of Our Lady is kept. The purpose of the visit was to deepen devotion to Our Lady and to encourage spiritual growth through pilgrimage and prayer.

At the 9th International Congress of Mary Help of Christians, which has just ended in Fatima, Portugal, the General Councillor for the Salesian Family, Sr. Leslie Sándigo, FMA, expressed the invitation to multiply the ADMA groups in the communities of the congregation, in order to spread the love for Mary Help of Christians.