Dumaguete, the Philippines, 24 March 2019 -- The Salesian presence in the southern city of Negros Island, Dumaguete, goes back to 1986, when the Salesian Congregation took over the former CICM school of St Louis started in 1967 (now SLSDB - Saint Louis School of Don Bosco with 1500 students), Rector Fr Wilbert Dianon and 5 confreres). The Salesian Family until now comprises only SDB, Alumni of Don Bosco (Past Pupils - Bosconians) and ADMA (Association of Mary Help of Christians).
The ADMA was started in 1989 by Fr Tarrosa among well-wishers of the incipient Salesian work in Dumaguete. At first members, held their monthly meetings on the 24th of each month (in memory of Mary Help of Christians) in the Grade 3 classroom of our school. Mrs. Demetria M. Locsin (97 years) is among the most senior ADMA members in Dumaguete and still keeps the Bible donated by their first spiritual advisor, Fr Mariano F. Tarrosa, SDB. The fourth group of the Salesian Family, founded by Don Bosco in 1869, helps their members to be more deeply involved in the Catholic community, contribute with their consistent prayer life and service also to the mission for the young.
Today the ADMA members hold their weekly meetings on Saturday in the Salesian community chapel with the Eucharist followed by sharing. It's nice to see also the younger generation who join the senior citizens in this Salesian Family group. During a short interaction during the Dumaguete community extraordinary visitation, the ADMA members watched the 2019 Strenna Video 'Holiness For You Too!" and got in touch with the present World ADMA Association movement, expressed especially in the celebration of 150th anniversary of foundation (April 8, 1869) and incoming 8th International Congress of Mary Help of Christians (Buenos Aires, Argentina: 7-10 November 2019).
Resources:
- 8th International Congress of Mary Help of Christians (2019, November, Buenos Aires)
- International ADMA animation - formation materials:
- Monthly ADMA ONLINE available in 5 languages:
