Celebrations of the Feast of Mary Help of Christians in Viet Nam

By Br. John Phuoc SDB

Vietnam, 24 May 2020 -- The Feast of Mary Help of Christians this year coincided with Sunday of the Ascension. Some Salesian communities in Vietnam had their celebrations on May 23, other on May 24 together with the solemnity of the Ascension, and still others on May 25 together with the whole Congregation.

Fortunately, the coronavirus lockdown and social distancing in Vietnam had been cancelled by the government weeks ago. Therefore the faithful from some Salesian parishes such as at the pre-novitiate, novitiate, post-novitiate and Don Bosco Xuan Hiep were able to attend the celebrations in large numbers.

The celebration included the procession of the statue of Mary Help of Christians, a floral offering to Mary with dances, programs in honor of Mary Help of Christians and holy mass. At the end of the mass there was also a traditional activity carried out by Don Bosco himself in his time that was the burning of the letters to Mary which had been written before and after receiving her answers.

The program in post-novitiate with the theme “Guiding Star” was special because it was also the chance for the brothers of the third year philosophy to express their gratitude to their superiors, professors, benefactors and especially their parents and family before they leave for their practical training in different Salesian settings.

As Don Bosco wished, the Salesians in Vietnam always take the opportunity, particularly on the feast of Mary Help of Christians, to spread the devotion to Mary Help of Christians among the faithful especially to young Christians.

The photos you see were taken from the celebrations of different Salesian communities in Vietnam: pre-novitiate and Tan Thinh parish, post-novitiate and Don Bosco Da Lat parish, and Don Bosco My Thuan Technical School.

Don Bosco said: “The feast of Mary Help of Christians should be a prelude to the eternal feast that we will celebrate one day together in heaven” (Don Bosco - Letter from Rome - 1884). May our Mother Mary Help of Christians grant us the grace we need to continue our journey in this world so that one day we all together celebrate the feast with our Mother in heaven.