By Judy Alvarez

Every May 24th, the Salesian Family celebrates with joy and thanksgiving the Feast of Mary Help of Christians. As a family, many also prepare for the celebration through the Worldwide Novena to Mary Help of Christians, May 15-23.

The Salesian headquarters in Rome have prepared resources to unite the Salesian Family in prayer and deepen our devotion to Mary Help of Christians. Inspired by the 2024 Strenna: “The Dream that Makes You Dream: A Heart that Transforms Wolves into Lambs” and the spiritual writings of St. Louis Grignion de Montfort, our Rector Major, Cardinal Angel Fernandez Artime, will offer reflections on “the secret of Mary” that can foster holiness for the entire Salesian Family.

Each day a special video and text will be available online to facilitate our nine-day journey. The video will feature insights from the Rector Major on the Marian focus of the day, stories from youth that confirm the relevance of Don Bosco’s dream, and a final prayer, including Don Bosco’s prayer to Mary Help of Christians for special graces. This shared novena as Don Bosco’s family will help us realize Mary Our Help as a sure guide and model for life.

The videos will be available in Italian, English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese on the ANSChannel language channels on YouTube and on TELEGRAM SDB.ORG. Each video will be visible one day in advance, beginning May 14th. Booklets will also be available that day in Italian, English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese on the Congregation’s website, www.sdb.org.

Those needing a brief printable version of a Novena to Mary Help of Christians can downloaded a PDF here: http://www.donboscowest.org/resources/novena-prayers

For a meaningful presentation on how Don Bosco and the Salesian Family have developed a deep devotion to Mary Help of Christians, visit the following link on this website:

Before, During and After Don Bosco: Devotion to Mary Help of Christians, by Fr. Carlos Bosio, SDB