Fatima (Portugal). The IX International Congress of Mary Help of Christians, organized by the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), ended on 1 September 2024 in Fatima with the theme, “I will give you the Teacher”, which gathered about 1400 members of the Salesian Family Groups from almost 50 Countries around the world, an opportunity to deepen the Salesian mission and devotion to Mary Help of Christians, Mother and Teacher.
The days were marked by intense moments of prayer and Eucharist, reflection, testimonies, and artistic moments, as well as visits to the places of the apparitions of Our Lady to the three shepherds of Fatima. The reflections, given by Fr. Andrea Bozzolo, Rector Magnifico of the Pontifical Salesian University of Rome; for the theological part, by Fr. Juan José Bartolomé, SDB, degreed in Theology and Doctorate in Sacred Scripture, for biblical one; and by Sister Adriana Silva, FMA, Director of the Institute of Mary Help of Christians in Montevideo, Uruguay, for the educational one, accompanied the participants to better understand and contemplate Mary, Mother and Teacher of every Christian.
On 30 August, Fr. Andrea Bozzolo revisited the Dream at nine years in a theological key, as a symbol of the vocation and mission of the Salesians, divine revelation that profoundly shaped the life and mission of Don Bosco. The presence of Jesus in the dream, who points to Mary as Teacher, reveals how Don Bosco’s mission is an invitation to transform the impossible into the possible through faith and obedience. Finally, Fr. Bozzolo stressed that true education and transformation must take place through sweetness and charity, not through repression and punishment.
The biblical reading of St. John, proposed by Fr. Juan José Bartolomé on 31 August, put at the center “Mary of Nazareth, teacher in the art of discernment”, model of faith and obedience to the will of God, who helps the Christian in existential discernment, having herself lived what John Paul II calls the “pilgrimage fidei” or a journey of deep maturation in the faith, in the darkness of daily discernment through unlikely witnesses, as the shepherds at the Nativity, or unknown, as Simeon in the presentation to the Temple.
On the same day, Sister Adriana Silva, emphasized Mary as a model for the young and underlined that the Dream at nine years is the icon inspiring the identity and mission of the entire Salesian Family. She highlighted that the contemplation of reality is the attitude to be taken in education, as Pope Francis says, “The world needs young people and contemplative educators, in the style of Mary.”
Alongside the reflections, participants were accompanied by the vivid image of some witnesses. The first, Alexandrina da Costa, was presented by Maria Rita Scrimieri, Salesian Cooperator, as a “soul” that offers itself as a victim for the salvation of souls to Jesus in the Eucharist, who asked her to bring His message to the Pope with the request to consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. After experiencing the visions of the Passion of Christ, Alexandrina lived for thirteen years only on the Eucharist until her death. Maria Rita summarized her mission, “Alexandrina lived to make the world know the love of God and Mary.”
Then followed the personal testimony of Maria Junifer Maliglig, ADMA President in the Philippines, Northern Province, full of hope and certainty that with the help of Mary, it is possible to overcome all challenges and trials. Filippa Andrade, the director and founder of the choir for the Sunday Eucharist at the Salesian School in Estoril, Portugal, told several stories – even painful – about her life, in which she truly felt the love and presence of God.
Expressing a strong Marian devotion, Mons. Maksym Ryabukha, Auxiliary Bishop of Donetsk, Ukraine, conveyed a message of humility, hope, and endurance in trial, but also of deep faith and devotion that remain steadfast despite the war. “With the grace and protection of Mary, no one from the Oratory has yet been wounded or killed,” the bishop said.
Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni, Postulator of the Causes of the Saints of the Salesian Congregation, concluded the testimonies presenting figures of Saints whose lives were characterized, as for Don Bosco, by dreams, such as the Servant of God Luigi Bolla, Blessed Eusebia Palomino, and Blessed Alexandrina da Costa.
Various moments lived in the Salesian Family spirit gladdened the days: the musical “Children of the Yes” offered by the young people from the group “Art & Sal” of the Salesian Youth Center of Funchal; the prayer in music of some young people of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians of Turin, led by Fr. Maurizio Palazzo, SDB, responsible for musical animation of the Basilica, as well as the Good Nights.
Fr. Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, in the Good Night of 29 August, at the opening of the Congress recalled, “If we are here, it is because Our Lady has brought us here! We bring with us our brothers and sisters and believe this by living it! The initiative is not ours. Where we arrive, there always precedes us the heart of God and the intervention of Mary, who, as at the wedding of Cana, indicates what to do and how to do it, “do whatever He tells you.”
Giving the Good Night on 30 August, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, Superior General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, emphasized Mary’s “gaze” on Johnny in his dream at 9 years of age: “The maternal intervention of Mary accompanies Don Bosco to understand God’s plan for his life and the Salesian Work. Within this horizon, the role of Mary becomes central. We entrust ourselves to Mary, Help and Educator, in this holy place where her presence shines out more than ever before, so that she may give us the strength of creativity, the courage to dare, confidence in her presence that guides us in our youth mission. With her powerful help, the ‘miracle’ of the transformation of wolves into gentle lambs can happen today”. (Complete text)
On 31 August, Mother Chiara, together with Sister Leslie Sándigo, General Counselor for the Salesian Family; Sister Marta Riccioli, Visiting Counselor; Sister Lucrecia Uribe, World Spiritual Animator of ADMA; and the Provincials of Portugal and Spain, also had a meeting with the 60 FMA participants at the Congress.
Fatima also allowed to place the Congress in the broader perspective of the Church, as evidenced by the conference, “Fatima: history and message”, presented by Fr. Carlos Cabecinhas, Rector of the Shrine since 2011, who invited to reflect on how the apparitions of Mary lead not only to her Immaculate Heart, but also to the essential of the Christian faith: adoration of the Trinity, primacy of God, urgency of conversion, and the fundamental role of the Eucharist and Penance, inviting to a renewal of faith in a time when religious indifference is rampant. The participants in the Congress also fully experienced the grace of those holy places, with the Eucharistic celebrations and Reconciliation, the Way of the Cross, the Rosary, and the procession with torchlights together with the pilgrims.
In the final intervention of 1 September, Fr. Stefano Martoglio highlighted the centrality in Don Bosco’s experience of the deep sense of devotion and presence of Mary and invited to make them their own in daily life. Recalling the phrase of Don Bosco – “Mary is present and walks with us and is happy with us” – which he repeated in Nizza Monferrato in 1885, he said: “Mary enlightens us and guides us to grow as children of God. If we do not perceive the Presence of God and Mary in our lives, our heart is left to chance and is in danger.” He added that “Don Bosco has transmitted throughout his life his devotion to the Virgin Mary, so in our journey we must anchor ourselves to the mantle of Mary in order to walk.”
At the end of the Eucharistic Celebration to close the Congress, Fr. Gabriel Cruz, ADMA’s World Spiritual Animator, announced the venue for the next edition, which will be held in 2028, in the Philippines.
Photos: Flickr Maria Auxiliadora 2024
