Mary Help of Christians Celebrations 2024

With contributions by Province Treasurer Fr. Richard Alejunas, SDB; Mrs. Rosina Di Felice, Salesian Cooperator; Ms. Jennifer Passerino, P’15, ’20, Director of Events & Public Relations, Don Bosco Prep, and Ms. Chioma Okoye, Communications Director, MHC Center

This year’s feast of Mary Help of Christians took place on Friday, May 24. Four of our communities shared how they celebrated our Lady. Here’s what they had to say.

CHICAGO

Viva Maria! On Sunday, May 19, the St. John Bosco-St. James Parish community held their annual outdoor Marian procession through the streets of their local Chicago neighborhood.

The event was sponsored by the community’s two ADMA groups. Over 200 people joined the Rosary walk and then enjoyed the outdoor lunch at the Fiesta María Auxiliadora.

The festive moment also celebrated the May and June ordination anniversaries of Salesian Frs. Richard Alejunas, James Berning, Kris Cepil, Paul Chu, Juan Pablo Rubio, and David Sajdak.

ETOBICOKE

St. Benedict Parish had a very joy-filled celebration for the feast of Mary Help of Christians. Members of the Salesian Family gathered for a multilingual Living Rosary in Italian, French, Spanish, Tagalog (Filipino), Tamil (Indian) and English. Solemn Mass and fellowship followed.

RAMSEY

On Thursday, May 23, the Don Bosco Prep (DBP) community gathered for the Solemnity Mass of Mary Help of Christians. The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Jim Malloy, SDB, and concelebrated by the other priests of the DBP community. The junior class was also celebrated presented with pins to signify their roles as the new school leaders.

TAMPA

“Our Blessed Mother walks among us.” These words are often echoed around the Mary Help of Christians Tampa community, but even more, so as we celebrated the feast of our patroness. This year’s Mary Help of Christians Festival was celebrated on Sunday, May 26; it consisted of a campus-wide Mass, Rosary procession, May Crowning, and festivities that followed.

The celebration began with a serenade to our Blessed Mother. Both little ones and adults dressed up as their favorite saints and processed into the chapel for Mass. As it was the feast of the Most Holy Trinity, Fr. Franco made an observation in his homily that Mary is the masterpiece of the Trinity. He conveyed his beautiful conviction that our Blessed Mother’s profound relationship with each of the Three Persons-in-One God demonstrates the personal invitation to each of us to enter into this great mystery.

The Rosary procession around the campus directly followed the Mass. Representatives from different ministries took turns leading the procession and decades of the Rosary. The procession ended with the crowning of Mary Help of Christians and a few joyful exclamations for our Blessed Mother!

For the rest of the afternoon, parishioners and friends enjoyed a lakeside picnic, took a dip in the pool, and, most importantly, shared the fellowship of our Salesian Family. May we all continue to journey with Our Blessed Mother as she walks among us! Mary Help of Christians, pray for us!