(ANS - Ciutadella) – On Friday 23 May, the City Council of Ciutadella organized an official act in honour of the Virgin Mary and of thanksgiving to the Salesian community. The event was held in the Gothic Hall of the Municipal Offices. It was attended by the Honourable José Ramón Bauzá, President of the Government of the Balearic Islands, accompanied by all the political and religious authorities of the island of Menorca, and by Fr Angel Asurmendi, the Salesian Superior of the Province of Our Lady of Mercy.

Ciutadella is on the island of Minorca, one of the Balearic Islands. It boasts a long tradition of Marian devotion. The devotion to Mary Help of Christians dates back to 1836, when the then Bishop of Menorca, Fra' Juan Antonio Diaz Merino, asked the Holy See to allow the celebration of the Office and Mass of Mary Help of Christians, to help the Church to cope with the social and political difficulties that were besetting the diocese. This was the first time in the whole of Spain that this devotion was authorized.

In 1893, Fr Federico Pareja opened the first Spanish shrine dedicated to Mary Help of Christians. When the Salesians arrived, six years later, they found a land already planted and fertilized. All they had to do was to add a little water to enable them to reap the fruits of a devotion that was already deep-rooted. The fruits were substantial and numerous throughout the twentieth century.

Coming to the present day, 24 May last marked the 50^th anniversary of the crowning of the image that dominates the Shrine and the proclamation of Mary Help of Christians as Principal Patroness of the city.

For the occasion, the Salesian Family of Ciutadella  organized a series of cultural, religious and recreational activities. Noteworthy among these are the installation of a commemorative icon, the issue of a stamp, the publication of a video clip with original music, as well as various exhibitions and concerts in the sanctuary.

The main celebrations took place on Saturday 24 May.  The day began with the recitation of the Rosary at 7.00 a.m., followed by a procession with thousands of the faithful who accompanied the image of Mary Help of Christians from the Shrine to the Cathedral of Menorca. Among those taking part was Fr Cristóbal López, who from 7 June next  will be the new Superior of the Salesian Province of Spain–Mediterranean which is under the patronage of Mary Help of Christians.

In the afternoon Bishop Salvador Giménez Valls, Bishop of the diocese,  presided at Mass in the Cathedral. All the parishes in the city participated and the church was packed to the full. The choir of the Chapel of David sang, with baritone soloist Joan Pons. In the evening, the image was  brought back in procession to the shrine, accompanied by a Musical Group of Ciutadella and it was welcomed by the Choir of the Shrine.  

Published 28/05/2014