By Fr Ramoncito Padilla, SDB

The Association of Mary Help of Christians in East Timor had their three-day First National Congress (1 to 3 May) in Fatumaca with the presence of the World Spiritual Animator (Delegate) of the ADMA and Postulator General, Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni. 133 Association members with their 20 SDB and FMA local animators representing 10 centers all over Timor came for the special event. The Congress took place on the occasion of the Bicentennary of the Birth of Don Bosco and the 150th year of the Institution of the Liturgical Feast of Mary Help of Christians. The Congress was meant to be an encounter of fraternity and of communion according to the family spirit of Don Bosco and under the special protection of Mary, our Help. This was also an encounter of formation in order to know well the Regulations of the Association and live them with fidelity and coherence, and thus deepen each member’s identity as members of the said Association.

On the 1st day of May, Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker, after the traditional Timorese welcome to Fr. Cameroni and all those who came, the Congress was officially opened by the National President of the ADMA in East Timor, Madam Fatima Belo, who spoke briefly about the history of the Association founded in Timor by the great Spanish Salesian missionary, Fr. Alfonso Maria Nacher some 35 years ago. From a humble beginning of a few women devotees of the Blessed Mother, it is now an ecclesial movement and moral force in society with around 1000 members doing their apostolic work not only as a major group of the Salesian Family, but as servant-leaders in the 3 Dioceses of Timor in communion and fidelity with the other ecclesial groups.

After the invocation to the Holy Spirit and to Mary Help of Christians, without further ado, the conferences began, which was to continue for the next two days. The conferences dealt mainly about the points found in the Handbook of the Regulations of the Association of Mary Help of Christians, already translated into the Tetum language of East Timor. After every session, there was a group work and discussion on questions raised by Fr. Cameroni himself on certain issues based on the Handbook.

On the first evening, the Congress participants had a Marian procession to a beautiful Grotto of the Blessed Mother after the evening Eucharistic Celebration in honor of St. Joseph the Worker presided by Fr. Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, Provincial. On the second day, the Eucharistic Celebration was in honor of Mary Help of Christians, presided by the National Delegate of the ADMA, Fr. Manuel Ximenes. Later on, there was an evening Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Taize style. Before the night prayers and good-night talk by the World Delegate, there was a literary-musical program enjoyed by all before going to rest. On the last day, Fr. Cameroni also gave a morning conference about Don Bosco and Mary Help of Christians, pointing out that we cannot speak of Don Bosco and his immense amount of apostolic work especially among the young, without Mary Help of Christians. There was also opportunity for the sacrament of reconciliation for all, and after the Eucharistic Celebration for the V Sunday of Easter, new members made their promise and were accepted to the association, the new officials of the Association were installed, the document of aggregation was given to each groups of the Association, and the communion between the Sanctuary of Mary Help of Christians in Fatumaca and the Sanctuary in Turin was also recognized.

During the Congress, following the articles of the Regulations, there were several matters that were given importance for the ADMA groups to consider, and for the life and fidelity of each member. It was pointed out that today the family is the center of the world’s efforts, and it is also ADMA’s first place of apostolate. Youth pastoral is incomplete without the Pastoral of the Family. Knowing that Don Bosco started the devotion of Mary Help of Christians to defend the faith and spread love for the Blessed Mother, the ADMA members, by virtue of their baptism, must also dedicate themselves to the study of the faith, its defense and the spreading of the devotion to Mary, especially under the title of Help of Christians. The members must be convinced also of the importance of the Eucharistic devotion, so that they also may be Eucharistic persons (Eucharist celebrated – Eucharist lived).

The vocation to be ADMA members are nourished precisely by these two devotions, and by the reading of the Word of God. Mary’s example and presence also offers the way to sanctity, and enthusiasm in the apostolate according to the charism and spirit of don Bosco. Together with the other Groups of the Salesian Family we believe, that the devotions to the Eucharist and Mary (according to the Dream of the Two Collumns of Don Bosco) will sustain our life and love. The formation of the all the members, both new and old, is very important, and each member must be accompanied in the formation process especially by the president and the local council, who have an important role and responsibility in the life of the Association. They must ensure the quality and continuity of the formation process for the fidelity of each member, and follow with keen interest, “charity and truth” the members who are beginning to lose their identity. A member can also be a member of other groups in the Church and society, but these groups must be limited to just two or three, so as to maintain and be faithful to his or her identity as ADMA member, and so that his or her life may be transformed in this Association, and thus he may help also in the transformation of society. Among the activities of the Association, the spiritual exercises were also insisted upon for the member’s spiritual growth. Mary’s attitude and example (expressed in her FIAT, STABAT and MAGNIFICAT) must also inspire every member’s attitude and behavior. This First Congress have three lines of action as a result: each group must evaluate its activities and see the motivations behind all these activities, the quality of formation especially for those wanting to be members and attention to the Family where the Preventive System of Don Bosco can also be practiced (dialogue, God’s presence, affection and respect).

May our presence in the world of today be characterized by the joy of the Gospel.

After the activities of the third day, each group returned to their places of origin, renewed and ready to face the challenges that will confront the Association.