Dear Salesian Family and Salesian Young People:

Greetings from the Provincial Office, where I have been self-quarantined for over a week now. I had COVID symptoms and tested positive on Friday, May 13. Feeling better after at least five days of self-quarantine I again got tested on Wednesday, May 18. Lo and behold, I am still positive. For those who heard and have reached out, thank you for your prayers and concerns. Please continue to pray for me and my quick recovery. And please be careful and take care of yourselves. You are all in my prayers.

In my message on May 6, I spoke of the Salesian saints we celebrate during this month. I would like to correct an error on my part: May 29 is the celebration of Blessed Joseph Kowalski, a Salesian priest who suffered martyrdom in Auschwtiz in 1942.

We are in the midst of the Novena to Mary Help of Christians (May 15-24) and I hope that you have had the opportunity to celebrate this year’s novena, which has been entrusted to the Salesian Cooperators and produced by “IME Communicazione srl.”

The spiritual proposal for this year’s novena focuses on Mary’s maternity, who welcomes and protects everyone under her mantle. The Rector Major writes that Mary listens to the world, its requests for help, its struggles, and then the wraps it in her mantle and protects it, comforting it in her embrace.

I include here the link to the trailer to the novena. In the same link  on YouTube you should be be able to access the daily videos for the novena from May 15-24.

Let us ask Mary Help of Christians to intercede for our world, especially for the gift of peace. May God bless you all. Happy solemnity of Mary Help of Christians on May 24!

Sincerely in Christ and in Mary,