{"id":21360,"date":"2025-05-22T23:00:33","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T06:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/?p=21360"},"modified":"2025-05-23T13:09:13","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T20:09:13","slug":"2025-feast-of-mary-help-of-christians-in-turin-with-the-rector-major-and-the-salesian-general-council","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/2025\/05\/22\/2025-feast-of-mary-help-of-christians-in-turin-with-the-rector-major-and-the-salesian-general-council\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Feast of Mary Help of Christians in Turin with the Rector Major and the Salesian General Council"},"content":{"rendered":"

(ANS – Turin)<\/strong> \u2013 Every year, the Feast of Mary Help of Christians reawakens the heart of the global Salesian family. From the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin-Valdocco, a powerful wave of grace and spiritual energy radiates to Salesians and their communities across the world. This year will be no different, as the celebrations on May 23 and 24 promise a rich program of events, honoring a deeply rooted tradition that draws thousands of faithful to Turin each year. What makes this year particularly special is the active participation of the new Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, along with all the members of the newly elected Salesian General Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday, May 23 \u2013 The Vigil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celebrations begin early on Friday with four morning Masses (at 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, and 10:00 a.m., UTC+2). At 5:00 p.m., the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians will lead the Rosary, guided by Fr. Juan Carlos P\u00e9rez Godoy, Councillor for the Mediterranean Region. That will be followed at 6:00 p.m. by a Mass presided over by Bishop Alessandro Giraudo, Auxiliary Bishop of Turin and Susa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 7:00 p.m., the “Night Prayer Marathon \u2013 Twelve Hours with Mary”<\/em> begins. The basilica will remain open all night until 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, welcoming all pilgrims who wish to spend time in prayer with the Virgin of Don Bosco. The first Mass of the feast day, at dawn, will be celebrated by Fr. Rafael Bejarano, General Councillor for Youth Ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The basilica will stay open through the night for anyone who wants to come close to Mary,”<\/em> said Fr. Michele Viviano, Rector of the Basilica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following First Vespers led by Fr. Attard at 7:00 p.m., volunteers from the basilica will animate the Rosary. At 9:00 p.m., a unique feature of this year\u2019s vigil will take place: a meditative musical moment titled “With the harp, we pray to Mary,”<\/em> with harpist Francesco Cassone and readings by RAI presenter Paola Riva. This will lead into the Penitential Liturgy at 9:30 p.m., presided by Fr. Silvio Roggia, General Councillor for Formation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Salesian youth of Turin-Crocetta will guide much of the vigil, culminating in a Midnight Mass celebrated by Fr. Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The night continues with Eucharistic adoration and reflections led by youth groups from the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) of Piedmont and Aosta Valley, the Sisters of Mary Morning Star, and over 150 young members of the “Youth Ardent for Mary”<\/em> (GAM), who are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their founding\u2014right in Valdocco\u2014by Salesian Fr. Carlo De Ambrogio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, May 24 \u2013 Feast of Mary Help of Christians<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The feast day itself will be filled with celebrations. After the early morning Mass with Fr. Bejarano, two more Eucharistic celebrations will follow: at 8:00 a.m. with Fr. Jorge Crisafulli, General Councillor for Missions, and at 9:30 a.m. with Fr. Leonardo Mancini, Provincial of the Salesians in Piedmont, Aosta Valley, and Lithuania (ICP).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Solemn Mass at 11:00 a.m. will be celebrated by Cardinal Roberto Repole, Archbishop of Turin, and will feature the basilica\u2019s choir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the afternoon, at 3:00 p.m., comes the traditional blessing of children, led by Fr. Hector Gabriel Romero, Councillor for the Salesian Region of the Southern Cone of America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 3:30 p.m., another highlight of the day will be the spiritual conference titled “Through Mary, We Encounter Christ,”<\/em> led by Monsignor Marco Frisina, a renowned biblical scholar and composer, who will also preside over the 5:00 p.m. Mass accompanied by the basilica\u2019s choir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 6:30 p.m., the Youth Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Attard, animated by the choir of the “Michele Rua”<\/em> Oratory of Turin-Monterosa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, at 8:30 p.m., the day\u2019s festivities will close with the traditional procession of the statue of Mary Help of Christians through the streets of Valdocco. Accompanied by hymns, prayers, and meditations on “The Seven Words of Mary in the Gospel,”<\/em> the procession will move through the newly restored Piazza Maria Ausiliatrice and nearby streets before returning to the basilica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The closing Mass will then be celebrated by Monsignor Giacomo Martinacci, Rector of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Consolation, one of Turin\u2019s most important Marian shrines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, May 31 \u2013 Closing the Marian Month<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The month dedicated to Mary will conclude on Saturday, May 31, the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with a special evening event. At 8:30 p.m., the Rosary will be prayed, followed at 9:00 p.m. by a Marian concert by the “Coralit\u00e0 Vucese” choir, directed by Maestro Vittorio Guerci.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Live Online Coverage of the Main Celebrations in Turin for the Feast of Mary Help of Christians 2025<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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(ANS \u2013 Rome)<\/strong> \u2013 As usual, this year\u2019s Feast of Mary Help of Christians will be celebrated in Valdocco, Turin, with a rich and evocative series of celebrations which will accompany the faithful of the Salesian Basilica and the devotees of Mary Help of Christians from dawn to dusk. For those who cannot be physically present but wish to participate with their hearts in the celebrations, live online broadcasts of the main celebrations will be available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In particular, the following will be accessible via streaming on the ANS YouTube channel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n