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ADMA
| ASSOCIATION OF MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS
|
ADMAonLine | Monthly Message: December
24th, 2008
| T Version |
Mary
is the golden thread in God's will
The whole life of
Jesus and Mary was aimed at fulfilling God's will. " In
entering into the world, Christ says : You did not want neither
sacrifice nor offering, instead you have prepared for me a human
body. You did not appreciate neither victims nor sacrifices for
the remission of sins. Then I said . Here, I come - as it is
written in the roll of the sacred book - to accomplish your will".
(Eb. 10, 5-7). The whole life of Jesus has been a continuous
fulfilling of his will according to the Father's wish. Jesus
is the obedient son, who listens to the Father and accomplishes
His will.
Due to this obedience,
that brought Him up to death, we have been redeemed and turned
capable, as the Apostle says, to " offer your bodies as
a living sacrifice, holy and accepted to God; and this is your
spiritual cult. Do not conform yourselves to the ideas of this
century, but instead transform yourselves while renewing your
minds, so that you will be capable of discerning God's will,
what is good, appreciated by him and perfect in his form (Rom
12, 1-2).
Mary as well, lived
her pilgrimage of faith in the light of those words spoken at
the moment of the Annunciation: " Here I am, the servant
of the lord, may be fulfilled what you have said about me"
(Lk.1, 38). These words are the starting point of this divine
adventure of Mary. The Angel has just revealed God's project
suited for her: to be the mother of the Messiah. Before approving
her yes She wanted to be sure that was really God's will, and
once understood that this was what He wanted she did not hesitate
to fully accept it.
From that moment
on, Mary continued to completely trust herself to God's will,
even in the most painful and tragic moments. Because She accomplished
not hers but the will of God, because She trusted thoroughly
what God was asking her. All generations call Her blessed (see
Lk. 1, 48) and She fully realized herself up to the point of
becoming the Woman par excellence.
We too, when we pronounce our "yes" to God, we give
birth to the Word in us. " Who is my mother and who are
my brothers?" Then stretching his hand towards his disciples
He said. " See, here are my mother and my brothers; because
the one who accomplishes the Father's will in heaven, this is
for me a brother, a sister and a mother" (Mat. 12, 48-50).
Our yes to God's will concretely signify to do good, entirely,
every moment, the action that God's will be demanding from us.
We have to be there in that work, putting aside all other activities,
forgetting the thoughts, the desires, the remembrances, the actions
that have other finalities. While facing every God's will whether
painful, joyous, indifferent we must be able to repeat with Mary
" May happen to me what you have said", or as Jesus
taught us in the "Hour Father": " may your will
be done".
God's will is a
golden thread, a divine story that covers all our earthly life
and goes beyond; it stretches from eternity to eternity. In the
mind of God first, and on this life later on, and lastly in Heaven.
But, in order to fully accomplish God's plan, God himself is
asking our approval, in the same way He required it from Mary.
The word that He has pronounced on us, will take shape only in
this manner. The outcome of this journey will be the gradual
and exiting discovery to see with the eyes of our soul a golden
thread that binds together happenings and things and accomplishes
a wonderful embroidery: the plan of God on each one of us. The
peace of God will abide in our hearts and we will become witnesses
of this peace, so much needed in the world today: a river of
peace and of hope, that will overflow from our heart to all those
we will be able to encounter on our path.
Fr. Pier Luigi Cameroni , Spiritual Animator
Let
us pray Immaculate Mary and Mary Help of Christians
ACT OF WORSHIP OF BENEDICT
XVI TO MARY IMMACULATE
IN PIAZZA DI SPAGNA - Rome
Oh, Virgin Immaculate,
in this moment I would like to put under your protection especially
the "small ones" of this city of ours: the children,
mainly, and mostly those seriously sick, the street children
and those who undergo difficult familiar settings. Watch over
them and make them experience through the love and the help those
who live besides them the warmth of the love of God!
Mary, I put under your protection, the elderly who are abandoned,
the immigrants who find it hard to get involved in the new society,
the family groups who find it hard to match their income, and
the persons who do not find job, or those who have lost their
job so much needed to go ahead.
Mary, teach us, to be in agreement with those who find it difficult
to overcome the various social differences; help us to grow a
more vivid sense of the common good, of the respect of what is
public, to spur on us to feel the city as a property belonging
to everybody. Help us to fulfil in us our task aiming at building
a more righteous and friendly society.
Mary Immaculate , who are for all a sign of clear hope and consolation,
allow us to be drawn by your immaculate innocence. Your Beauty
- Tota Pulchra, we sing today - is for us an assurance that the
victory of love is possible; the more, that is a reality; that
gives us the knowledge that grace is stronger than sin, and therefore
that it is possible to be redeemed from any kind of slavery.
Yes, Mary, you are helping us to believe with more trust in goodness,
to bet on something that is given as a gift, on service, on the
non-violence, on the strength of truth; you encourage us to stay
awaken, not to fall into temptation of easy evasions, to face
the reality, with all its problems, with courage and responsibility.
This is the way you did, young woman, called to risk everything
just on the Word of the Lord.
Be a loving mother for our youth, so that they may be able to
be "the watchers of the morning", and donate this virtue
to all Christians, so that they may turn to be the soul of the
world in this not easy season of our history. Immaculate Virgin,
Mother of God and our Mother, Salus Populi Romani, pray for us
!
INTENTIONS FOR THE APOSTOLATE
OF PRAYER - JANUARY 2009
General : So that the family may always be the place of source
of charity, of personal growth and for the spreading of faith.
Missionary : So that the different Christian religions, aware
of the necessity of a new evangelization in this period of deep
changes, may put more endeavour in the announcing of the Good
news and in tracing the path versus a full unity of all Christians,
with the idea of offering a more credible witnessing to the Gospel.
SPARKS
OF LIGHT
We would like to present in the next issues of ADMAonline, in
full Agreement with the 2009 strenna, the different groups of
the Salesian Family, emphasizing the Marian dimension of their
charisma. Let us start with the Salesians of don Bosco with some
words addressed to the Rector Major, Fr. Pascual Chavez.
1. How does Mary
help us in the renewal path of our Congregation as stressed by
GC26 ?
Mary helps us in
the renewal movement of the Congregation as seen by the GC26,
in the first instance because She is the real guide. This has
always been the assertion of Don Bosco and of his Successors.
In the second place, because the GC26 has a strong commitment
to start again from Don Bosco, and this is possible as long as
we make as our own the aspirations and convictions of our Father,
of which Mary is a very important structure. In the third place,
because the GC26 has to produce as a fruit the spiritual rebirth
and the apostolic endeavour, at the base of which Our Lady is
found, as it was for the primitive Church and as it happened
for the Congregation.
2. What was the
role of Mary Help of Christians in the history of your vocation?
In my personal life,
Mary played a very important role mainly from the very first
start of my arrival at the Salesian institute, and in a more
precise way after my arrival at the aspirantate. In Mexico we
have a very strong Marian identity due mainly to the great devotion
to Our Lady of Guadalupe, and on the other hand due to the first
contact with the Salesians . The devotion to Mary, under the
title of Help of Christians, started developing little by little
till it became an essential element of my Salesian life
3. How can we
bring the devotion to Mary in the difficult places of work and
in the Family?
A great Pope as
Pope Paul VI, from Brescia, used to say that an authentic Marian
devotion must be based on the knowledge of the person of Mary
and we are able to recognize it through the testimony that the
Evangelists left of Her: they talked very little, but very well.
She was a believing woman, this is the greatness of Mary.
In the second place:
we should not only know Her, but we must also love her. To love
because She gave us the blessed fruit of her womb, the most precious
gift, since it is Jesus who saved us and therefore she is a woman
that already takes part in the glory of Resurrection. She is
alive. Therefore she is not like a mother whose photo we carry
in our wallet, like a remembrance especially after her departure.
This is a Mother
who is alive and continues to take part in our history. Don Bosco
used to say to his boys: "Our Lady is walking in our courtyard".
Mary was for Don Bosco a vivid experience. We must love her especially
for this: She has donated to us Her son and She is alive. And
She continue to lead our life. How does She help us ? To become
every day more the sons of God and brothers to others, to be
a "good neighbour" to the others.
The third thing
is that we must try to imitate her in this quality of service
to the others.
You have asked me, how can we witness the devotion of Mary in
the family and in the place of work? Underlying before anything
else the fact of being men and women of faith. When a woman listening
to the eloquence with which Jesus was speaking, said "blessed
the womb who carried you and the breast that fed you" what
did Jesus answer?
He answered: "Blessed
are those who listen to the Word of God and keep it". The
greatness of Mary was not the physical maternity but her faith
and this means that each one of us has to show himself as a man
or a woman that believes and then a man or a woman that helps
the others especially those mostly in need with great understanding.
It is not the question
of words and speeches but it involves attitudes. In fact Mary,
as soon as they tell her that her cousin Elisabeth is about to
give birth to a son She leaves everything behind and She goes
to be her maid. She becomes the mother of God while serving .What
does Mary do at the wedding of Cana ? Instead of saying "I
stay here to be served as a lady" She was instead very attentive
to see the needs of that couple and tell them that the feast
could not be spoiled because there was no wine. If we learn to
be men and women who believe, men and women ready to serve, it
is the best thing to live in a family and in the place of work
with this Marian quality. It is easy, it is all.
STRENNA
2009
Let
us strive to turn the Salesian Family as a vast movement for
the salvation of youth.
"The kingdom
of God can be compare to a small seed of mustard, that a man
gets and scatters in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds,
but, once grown, it is the biggest of all and it becomes a tree,
so much so that the birds of the sky come on it and make nests
among its branches " (Mt 13, 31-32)
150 anniversary
of the foundation of the Salesian Congregation. The Salesian
Family yesterday and today. The seed has become a tree and the
tree a wood.
Family
chronicle
ADMA PRESENTATION
Monday Nov. 24.
Upon the invitation of the Superior of the Special Piedmont and
Valle d'Aosta region, Fr. Stefano Martoglio and of his Vicar
Fr. Sergio Pellini, the spiritual animator Fr. Pier Luigi Cameroni
explained to the 40 Rectors the history, the spirit and the action
of the Association.
In a very fraternal
spirit the Rectors showed interest and attraction. Our speech
can be read in the section "Archives". Similarly, Saturday
December 13, upon the invitation of Provincial Sister Gabriella
Scarpa and of Sister Marisa Canobbio, The ADMA Association was
explained in Milan to the Superiors of the FMA Province Sacra
Famiglia.
A special thank
you is given to Mrs Tina Savignano, member of the ADMA Primaria
council, who in her native village of Solofra (AV) promoted the
traditional Feast at the youth center. During this occasion a
solemn celebration was held with great Marian and Salesian fervour
involving the whole Christian community.
ADMA Arese (MI) -
Saturday
Nov. 22 the ADMA group of Arese (MI) celebrated a very special
day in the Salesian house of Nave (Br). Mr. Francesco Passoni
and the spiritual animator Fr. Mario Ronca, a Salesian, together
with their president, decided to spend the whole day to learn
more about the contents and the spirit of the Association and
its Rules. Under the guidance of the animator Fr. Pier Luigi
Cameroni we have been helped to understand better the sense of
belonging to the Association and to know the actual developments
and lines of action. In the solemn Eucharistic celebration each
member received the Constitution of the Association.
Of great significance
were the meetings both for the young Salesians and of the Salesian
community, who welcomed us with great brotherhood, both with
the local ADMA group with whom we shared a moment of prayer and
joy. As a result of the well planned visit and the joy of the
participants is the fact that after the meeting four persons
asked to be allowed to enter the Association, another sign that
Our Lady never stops to help us and to astonish us.
ADMA OF CORDOBA
( ARGENTINA ) -
The ADMA president MRS. Estela De Recio
and the spiritual animator Fr. Aldo Tobares SDB, have sent to
us a report on the ADMA life at the provincial level, related
to the year 2008. It is a help to all our groups to take care
of the provincial and national method of coordination regarding
the Association.
Annual target: projection of the section of the whole Province,
formation of the commissions and their renewal, revision of the
data. Most of all we have to note that a promotional work regarding
the feeling of belonging and the grouping system has been given
attention in the places where the activities are held.
Yearly reunion of
the presidents of the locals groups in the Salesian Work of San
Juan . Due to some reasons some did not attend, nevertheless
the encounter has allowed the possibility to clarify the presence
of ADMA, especially regarding the importance in the province:
the work in the different places is constant, often it overtakes
the capability and the number of the associates. The absence
of youth members in the Association places some worries. The
animation of the councillors varies according to the duties involved.
The same has to be said regarding the getting along with the
formation of the different sections. As a conclusion, it was
decided to ask , through different initiatives, the ADMA participation
suggesting an ADMA for children, for young students. Regarding
this proposal the rectors and Councillors were informed.
Visit to the local
groups: the provincial animator Fr. Aldo Tobares met with ADMA
Tucuman, taking the occasion of the renewal of the local Council.
Activity with the Salesian Family: meetings were held in Cordoba
and in Cuyo. The participation of the ADMA members and the sharing
of their different responsibilities was noticeable. Beside other
activities took place. Pilgrimages, formation encounters, renewals
of the promises to Mary and giving out of the medal, spreading
of the calendar of Mary Help of Christians and ADMA Bulletin.
The most studies themes on catechesis and formation were those
reflecting the popular religiosity and the trust to Mary. As
a particular sign of communion is the spreading of ADMAonline.
REGIONAL ADMA
OF SICILY -
The encounter of the regional local chapters
ADMA of East Sicily, were held in Taormina on Nov. 30 2008. A
clear sunny day welcomed the participants ( about 200) and everything
went on so smoothly. The ADMA Catania were present together with
those of Calatabiano, Caltagirone, Taormina , Floridia, Pozzallo,
Gela . The intervention of the various local presidents regarding
the theme presented by Fr. Edoardo Cutuli (regional animator
was interesting: how to develop ADMA groups and turn them into
a significant biblical and Marian experience. Various interesting
experiences and witnessing of Christian life emerged. To be a
part of ADMA implies to live according to the model of Mary,
to be humble and have the heart full of love for our neighbour.
Mary watches over our steps, she is our support in time of difficulties,
she encourages us when we encounter problems, she educates us
how to love her Son.
The day experienced
then an important moment when we got connected by phone with
Fr. Pier Luigi Cameroni, world animator. Sister Carmelina Cappello
(Regional Animator) decided to call on him because we desired
to feel his presence. The meeting ended up with the greetings
both by Fr. Concetto Pennisi, as well by Luigina Ciaramella,
Regional President. She wished a Happy and Holy Christmas hoping
to see each other soon again. (Luigina Ciaramella - Regional
President).
FROM THE NORTH-EAST
SALESIAN BRASIL
A new ADMA center: The ADMA of Jaboatao ha sent a group, accompanied
by novices Rafael and Paulino, to the community of Gadalajara,
in the Parish of Paudalho-Pe for the establishment of a new ADMA
center in that community. It is worthy to notice that the parish
has already Mary Help of Christians as Patroness and that they
accepted very willingly and with interest and fervour the group
from Jaboatao, well disposed to create a new ADMA group and to
venerate in this way our Mother Mary Help of Christians. The
Jaboatao group will help till when the group will be able to
manage by itself. (Salesian novices Josè Rafael Ferreira,
animator of ADMA- Colonia and Josè Paulino de Godoy animator
of ADMA-Lote 56
ADMA -SPAIN
In the month of November Fr. Eleuterio Lobato, Spain ADMA spiritual
moderator, met with the Spanish Coneference (provincials from
Spain and Portugal ) with the aim of showing to the Provincials
of this region, the path of ADMA. We underline these features:
1. The formative work of the
Association saw its development through the spreading of the
duties assigned at the International Congress held in Mexico
city (August 2007). The necessary helps needed for such an activity
were prepared and taken into consideration with the means of
communication of the Association.
2.
The preparation
of the VII National Congress of Mary help of Christians in Spain,
that will take place in the month of May of 2009 in Alicante
- El Campello. The topic of the Congress will be "Mary,
a yes to God and to the man of today". It will be a happening
of the Salesian Family under two aspects: the first because we
really are in the year dedicated to the Salesian Family and the
Congresses of Mary Help of Christians advertised by ADMA are
aimed at all groups of the Salesian Family; second reason because
the ADMA specific purpose regarding the Salesian Family is really
to promote the Marian dimension of the Salesian charisma. A group
of youth has been invited to participate!
3. Instruction to the delegates
of Youth Pastoral group.
4. To value and potentiate
the relationship with ADMA Primaria of Turin, in the person of
the spiritual Animator Fr. Pier Luigi Cameroni who took part
to the gathering of the National Committee last June.
5. Yearly plan of formation:
submission of the topics in view of the National Congress; proper
use of the different ADMA Bulletins spread at the provincial
level.
6.
Notification
on the life of the Association with some news of particular importance,
among which the First Assembly of the ADMA groups of the province
of Siviglia held last April 27 (3000 participants), the declaration
as Minor Basilica of the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians de
la Trinidad located in Seviglia. Under this perspective we understand
the renewed appeal made to the different provincials to give
more appropriate attention to the pastoral activity of our shrines,
as places devoted to evangelization , to the renewal of faith
and the propagation of the devotion to Mary Help of Christians.
Another significant event was the crowning of the image of Mary
Help of Christians in Cordoba . In addition we are preparing
the Centenary of ADMA of the FMA located in S.Vincente in Siviglia
that will take place next February 14.
7.
Topics under
study: updating of the archives and of the statistics; renewal
of the local Councils, Meeting at the national level of the local
delegates, a youth Congress of ADMA ? " Las capilla domiciliarias".
8.
"Advices"
to the Provincials: to animate, to support, to assist, to follow
the journey of the Associations in their own provinces; to properly
describe the duties of the Delegates-Animators both at the local
as well provincial level; verify if the local Delegates feel
encouraged by the Rectors of the institutes and if the lay collaborators
are encouraged so that they participate to the ADMA Activities;
Attention to the formation of ADMA Councils and of the Lay Lady
collaborators.
We give our appreciation
for the marvellous work done in Spain in favour of ADMA, a group
that lives with enthusiasm the Salesian Spirit spreading the
love to Mary Help of Christians ant to the Eucharist, that economically
sustains the Salesian Missions, promote the social commitment,
collaborate with the local church, practices charity, accomplishes
his mission while living the Rules, gives support to the work
of Salesian Family, prays for the vocations…
Spain - Leon
Provincial
encounters of the Salesian Family. During the
days on November 15 in Ourence and 22 in Leon the second edition
of Provincial day of Spirituality of the Salesian Family took
place. The idea was to go back to Don Bosco in order to start
again from him and discover the paths to turn the Salesian family
into " a huge movement of people devoted to the salvation
of youth". The chosen topic was "Mary in Don Bosco
and in the Salesian charisma". 75 people attended every
meeting, representing the various Salesian Family groups.
The animator was
Carlos Llata, from the Vitproa community, teacher at the Theology
School of North Spain. The outcome was highly positive due to
the hospitality of the different houses, to the marvellous involvement
of the participants, longing to learn how to live, the ability
of the preacher, the life together, the prayer. We find joy in
learning that the Marian feeling is bursting in the Salesian
Family ! (Fr. Martinez Eusebio - ADMA animator of the Province
of Leon ).
ADMA HEADQUARTERS:
ADMA / Santuario di
Maria Ausiliatrice
Via Maria Ausiliatrice 32
/ 10152 TORINO-VALDOCCO / ITALIA
Tel.: 0039-011-5224216 / Fax.: 0039-011-52224213
E-mail: adma.torino@tiscali.it
THE President OF ADMA:
Signora CHIOSSO GIUSEPPINA (incarico
fino a 2010)
E-mail: giusy.chiosso@yahoo.it
Spiritual Animator
of ADMA:
Don Pier Luigi CAMERONI / Istituto
Salesiano
Via
S. G. Bosco 1 - 25075 NAVE - BS
TEL.
030-2530262 - FAX 030-2533190 / CELL. 3401452349
E-mail: pcameroni@salesiani.it
Internet Website: www.donbosco-torino.it/eng/adma
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