MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS: FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD TO FATIMA

From last November to February 2024, the meetings of the provincial delegates and members representing the different groups of the Salesian Family from the different regions in which the Congregation is organised around the world were held.

These meetings are part of the animation carried out by the world delegates of the Salesian Family and have the following objectives: to share and reflect on the reality of the Salesian Family in the Region; to deepen the contribution that our charismatic identity is called to offer in a changing world; to promote a renewed relationship between the Salesian Family and Youth Ministry; to live an experience of communion and spirituality that strengthens the mission and shared formation; and to specify the steps for the Region's journey on the basis of reflection and good practices.

We wanted to make use of these meetings to invite all members of the Salesian Family to participate in the 9th International Congress of Mary Help of Christians that will take place from 29th August to 1st September 2024, in Fatima (Portugal). As a concrete and symbolic sign, a small statue of Our Lady Help of Christians was brought from the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco to each meeting, which was blessed and donated during the celebration of the Eucharist to a member of the ADMA from each Region, with the intention that Mary could bring together a good group of members of our family from the region in which it is located, and at the same time be able to lead the pilgrimage to Portugal this summer.

The ADMA dreams that these seven small statues placed all over the world can be brought to Fatima to symbolise the communion to which Mary invites us to live as Salesian Family of all continents, members of one universal Church and our local realities.

"The whole Salesian Family is and feels like a Marian Family, born from the maternal solicitude of the Immaculate Help of Christians. All the Groups, in fact, express this conviction in their constitutional texts" says Article 37 of the Salesian Family's charismatic letter. Let us therefore make use of this Congress to live in our lives what we profess.

See you all in Fatima.