San Paolo (Brazil). The province meeting of the Devotees of Mary Help of Christians Association (ADMA) was held in the SDB Province of Mary Help of Christians in São Paulo on September 15, 2018.
The meeting was organized by the ADMA group of Lorena and brought together about 250 members of the American groups: Guaruja, Sorocaba, Pindamonhangaba, Campinas, Araras, Araraquara, São Carlos, Itaquera (SP), Santa Terezinha (SP), Lapa (SP), Retiro Bom (SP), and São José dos Campos in addition to the 3 groups of Lorena.
The day began in an atmosphere of communion and sharing, followed by prayer led by ADMA of São Carlos, on the picture of Mary Help of Christians of the Basilica in Turin.
The Provincial, Fr. Justo Ernesto Piccinini, welcomed the participants, underlining the importance of this moment for ADMA and exhorting perseverance in the mission entrusted by Don Bosco. He thanked Fr. Narciso Ferreira, head of the association, and the ADMA group of Lorena for their work in preparation for this special moment.
The first conference was given by Fr Mauricio Tadeu Miranda, who highlighted how “God had the initiative to manifest Himself to humanity. The human response to God’s initiative is faith. This helps us to recognize Him in every person and the answer to this free and personal proposal is called faith. Mary, the Mother of God, helps us to walk towards Jesus with constant steps in the Faith.
Group sharing followed in the light of some questions:
1) How to promote devotion to Mary Help of Christians with proposals for young people and children in the animation of ADMA?
2) What keeps us from walking in ADMA and fully assuming our role?
3) What are the signs of life and hope that we experience in our ADMA groups?
In the second conference, Fr Mauricio continued his reflection on Mary’s faith in God: “Faith must be professed (proclamation, catechesis), celebrated (sacraments, prayer, liturgical feasts) and witnessed (concrete gestures in the family and in community). This is the call to which ADMA must respond firmly.
The Mass was presided over by Fr. Narciso and concelebrated by Fr. Edson Castilho, Fr. Milton Rezende, Fr. Tertius Rodrigo, and Fr. Tetuo Koga. Fr. Narciso stressed the challenges and proposals of Marian devotion for the Salesian community that should enrich young people who ask us to walk with them, accompany them in situations they must face, welcoming them with joy, as Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello did.
The meeting renewed the importance of the apostolic activity of ADMA in the Salesian Family in favor of the young.
