The month of May and especially the Feast of Mary Help of Christians was the centre of the very full programme organised to celebrate the centenary. The festivities which began last year on 8 December will conclude in December this year.
On 20 May, the day of the inauguration, pupils from the local schools took par in a special event ”A symbolic embrace of the sanctuary”; as holding hands they formed a circle round the church singing and praying. On 23 May about 160 members of the Salesian Youth Movement from various local Salesian centres took part in a prayer vigil in honour of Our Blessed Lady.
On Sunday 24 May there was a solemn procession of Mary Help of Christians through the streets of the town. Taking part in the celebrations were various civil and religious authorities including: Mr. Julio Cobos, Vice President of the Republic of Argentina; Mr. Celso Jaque, Governor of the Province of Mendoza; Mr. Adolfo Bermejo, Officer in Charge of the Department of Maipú; Archbishop José María Arancibia, of Mendoza, who presided at Mass; Fr Natale Vitali, Councillor for the America South Cone Region; and Fr Leonardo Palazzo, Salesian Provincial of Córdoba (ACO).
Other initiatives are planned for the coming months to celebrate the centenary of the sanctuary of Mary Help of Christians in Rodeo del Medio.
Published 01/06/2009
