Mary Help of Christians Celebration - Day 2
Friday, May 23, 2025
On the second day of our celebration of Mary Help of Christians, our community gathered in prayer and reflection, beginning the evening with the Rosary. This sacred time helped us center our hearts and minds in the presence of Our Blessed Mother.
We then gathered around a bonfire, a powerful and symbolic gesture reminding us that, with Mary, we carry the fire of faith. Just as a flame must be tended to stay alive, so too must our faith be nurtured and sustained—and Mary, in her maternal care, helps us keep that flame burning brightly as she draws us closer to her Son, Jesus.
Throughout the evening, participants reflected on the profound and tender relationship between Mary and Jesus—a bond rooted in sacred trust, obedience, and unconditional love. Mary stood faithfully beside Jesus in His most painful moments, even at the foot of the Cross. Her enduring presence is a reminder of the strength, sacrifice, and compassion found in authentic, self-giving love.
Mary is not only the Mother of Jesus—she is our spiritual mother, too. She offers us protection, comfort, and the wise guidance we need to grow in our faith. In her, we find the perfect balance of gentle care and courageous strength.
Together, we explored powerful themes through personal reflection:
Personal Growth and Faith Through Nurturing Relationships
Sacrificial Love
Seeking God’s Nurturing Presence
Grace and Acceptance
These themes invited us to consider how nurturing figures—whether biological, spiritual, or communal—have shaped our understanding of love, faith, and identity. In Mary, we continue to find a model of grace, strength, and motherly devotion.
As part of our devotion, participants wrote personal petitions to Mary. We also gathered intentions that had been collected throughout the year from the St. Dominic Savio parish community. All of these prayers were reverently offered to Our Lady by placing them in the fire, a gesture of trust and surrender.
We concluded the evening in a spirit of unity and prayer. Margarita Hernandez, president of ADMA-Y, shared the traditional Salesian "Good Night," offering participants a final message of peace, encouragement, and renewed devotion to Mary, Help of Christians.
