Our Own Correspondent
Among the official events of the Bicentenary of Don Bosco is also the 7th International Congress of Mary Help of Christians organized by ADMA. The previous Congress was held in Poland, Czestochowa Sanctuary in 2011. About 1200 non Italian participants are already registered. Among them are also according the recent communications some EAO participants from CIN province (Salesian family – 150 members, 3 SDB), FIN (15 ADMA, 1 SDB), GIA (15 ADMA, 1 FMA, 1 SDB), ITM (Timor Leste 5 ADMA, 1 SDB), THA (Thailand 15 ADMA, 1 SDB) and VIE (1 SDB).
What is ADMA?
It’s an Association of Mary Help of Christians, founded by Don Bosco in 1869 and re-founded in 1988 through the initiative of the Rector Major Fr. Egidio Viganó. ADMA is the only group of the Salesian Family with the headquarters in Torino – Valdocco, Salesian Mother House. In the official books of ADMA (since 1900) are registered about 700 active ADMA local centers worldwide. After the recent relaunching of ADMA there are quite few very interesting animation materials available online thanks to the pro-active commitment of the ADMA spiritual advisor Fr. Pier Luigi Cameroni since 2007 available on the official site Simple and practical monthly newsletter, ADMA online is available in seven languages old editions and recent editions.
What are the main aims of the Association?
“To encourage the worship of the Blessed Sacrament and the devotion to Mary Help of Christians” (Don Bosco, Association of the Devotees of Mary Help of Christians, San Benigno Canavese, 1890, page 33).
“Don Bosco established the Association of Mary Help of Christians connecting it with commitments easily fulfilled by most common people, to the spirituality and the mission of the Salesian Congregation” (SDB – General Chapter 24, n.80 - 1996).
“It offers a way of sanctification and of apostolate” (MB 7, 334) according the Charism of Don Bosco (MB 7,334 & ADMA Regulations 2).
Whyis the ADMA not so much spread in the majority of the EAO provinces?
The Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco is the center from which the mission is spread all through the world, was for Don Bosco the cohesive center of all his institutions, a source of grace and a sanctuary for the world. The Association, with its devotion to Mary Help of Christians, is one of the most effective examples of promoting faith within the working class. This motherly and working presence of Mary lays at the foundation of the Association and is the inspiration for all those who work for God's Kingdom.
Most of the EAO centers and members of ADMA are based in the two Catholic countries – in the Philippines (since 1935, thanks to Mons. Piani, SDB) and in Timor Leste (since 1964, thanks to Fr. Nacher).
However in most of the other 20 countries of the EAO the ADMA is still in the initial stages, born relatively recently thanks to some zealous SDB or FMA. Probably the syndrome of ‘diaspora Church or small Church’ with a strong Marian devotions going back to the beginnings of Legion of Mary (Colomban Missionaries) or Perpetual Help devotion (Redemptorists) and many more local devotions being in place before the arrival of Don Bosco is the main ‘psychological factor’ for being rather hesitant and ‘shy’ to start the ADMA.
The comment of Fr. Pier Luigi Cameroni is simple: The Marian devotion is part of the Salesian Charism DNA, hence in spite of the different local situations we are called to make the expressions of Salesian Charism as complete as possible. Incoming celebrations of 7th MHC International Congress is a good occasion to launch one of the ‘three white love’ of Don Bosco!
Forgotten part of Valdocco – Documentation Center of Marian Devotion
For the visitors of Valdocco there is one special center (not very much known or visible part of the Mary Help of Christians Shrine) in the Crypta of the Basilica (http://www.donbosco-torino.it/eng/page16.html). Exactly 100 years ago was started a modest Museum of Devotion to Our Lady as part of the First Centenary of Mary Help of Christian celebrations. After the recent renovation it’s called ‘Salesian Center of the History and Documentation of Devotion towards the Mother of God’. For the East Asia – Oceania pilgrims it’s quite interesting due to one large hall with many images and statutes of Mary sent to Valdocco from various EAO early missions in China, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam. The EAN participants of the 7th International Congress of Mary Help of Christian in Turin are invited to share also some East Asian Marian devotion piece of arts not yet present in this Center.
