Rome (Italy). On 18 April 2026, the 157th anniversary of ADMA, the Association of Devotees of Mary Help of Christians is celebrated. It was founded by Don Bosco to promote veneration of the Most Holy Sacrament and devotion to Mary Help of Christians. It was canonically erected at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Turin on 18 April 1869, by Blessed Pius IX.
“To celebrate today, 18 April 2026, means looking back at that seed planted by Don Bosco one hundred and fifty-seven years ago, with the gratitude of one who knows that this intuition has lost nothing of its originality and relevance,” writes President Giuseppe Tufano in a letter addressed to the members of ADMA.
He then continues by recounting the birth of the Association:
“To trace our origins, we return once again to Turin, in 1868. Don Bosco had just completed the extraordinary undertaking of building the Sanctuary of Valdocco. That ‘magnificent and lofty church’, as he himself described it, had come into being without funds, yet amidst a shower of graces. ‘It is Mary who built her own home,’ he would tirelessly repeat. Nevertheless, Don Bosco knew full well that Mary did not wish to remain confined within a temple of stone, however splendid it might be. She desired to dwell in the heart of the people, amidst the struggles of families and the hopes of the young.
Thus, on 18 April 1869, just one year after the consecration of the Basilica, Don Bosco signed the founding charter of the Association of Devotees of Mary Help of Christians. It was his way of nurturing the devotion of ordinary people, of transforming the enthusiasm of a feast day into a steadfast journey of faith.
But why did Don Bosco feel the need to found the ADMA specifically? The answer lies in his heart as a shepherd. He saw the dangers threatening the faith in an era of great change, and he felt the urgency to protect the little ones and the simple. He desired the ADMA so that we might be united, united in prayer, and united in love for the two pillars of his dream, Jesus in the Eucharist and Mary Help of Christians. And how relevant these considerations remain if we pause to reflect on what is happening around us and in so many parts of the world!
For Don Bosco, being a member of ADMA means committing oneself to imitating Mary in her openness to God and in her service to her brothers and sisters, especially the poorest and most abandoned young people. The Association is tasked with radiating light where there is darkness, offering everyone an accessible and joyful ‘path to holiness.’
Looking at the reality of who we are today, we cannot help but be amazed. That small group born in Turin has grown into a majestic tree embracing the five continents, with 800 local groups in more than 50 Countries. Wherever a Salesian heart beats, there is an ADMA group praying and working. The vitality we have experienced at the International Congresses of recent years is proof that Mary continues to work miracles.”
The President concludes with an appeal:
“The future of ADMA lies in the hands of each one of us and of every group. We are called today more than ever, to be guardians of the family and attentive to intergenerational relationships, particularly with the young. In a world that is often fragmented, ADMA must be a place of welcome, where everyone can find support and grow, feeling loved by a heavenly Mother who never betrays.
On this 157th anniversary of ADMA, we recall the words of our charism, which urge us to bear witness to the gift of faith in our daily lives, in the family, at work, and in our social relationships.”
L’associazione è un’ottima opportunità per l’educazione della gioventù.