Turin (Italy). From 4 to 7 July 2024, in Valdocco, Turin, about 40 members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) Primary Families participated in the first round of the Spiritual Exercises led by Fr. Gabriel de Jesus Cruz Trejo, World Spiritual Animator of ADMA.
“Your Word is a lamp for my steps” is the theme of the retreat, illustrated by the preacher deepening “the intimate bond between prayer and the Word” of which Mary is the outstanding Teacher, underlined by Pope Francis with a year dedicated to prayer in view of Jubilee 2025.
The focus was on the title that accompanied the itinerary, “I will give you the teacher,” at the end of the formative year and close to the Marian Congress of the Salesian Family to be held in Fatima, Portugal, from 29 August to 1 September 2024. It is dedicated to the Bicentenary of the Dream at 9 years, milestone of the Salesian Charism. Father guided with faith and passion “the family of ADMA families” to understand the itinerary of the Exercises along the three main steps of lectio divina: lectio, meditatio, actio.
Fr. Gabriel was supported by the presence of Sister Lucrecia Uribe, FMA, World Animator of ADMA, who actively participated in the four days of retreat, accompanying the participants with enthusiasm and dedication.
An important moment of this pause was the witness of life that some couples shared with the assembly, making evident the journey of faith that is lived in families. Another significant space was the sharing of one’s own prayer experience at the end of each day.
The Exercises ended on 7 July, leaving in the members of the ADMA family the strong desire to remain united in prayer, bringing into daily life lectio, meditatio, and actio, accompanied by the three key words of Mary’s prayer: Fiat, Magnificat, Stabat.
