(ANS – Fatumaca) – The Association of Mary Help of Christians in East Timor had their three-day First National Congress (1 to 3 May) in Fatumaca with the presence of the World Spiritual Animator (Delegate) of the ADMA and Postulator General, Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni.

By Fr Ramoncito Padilla, SDB

133 Association members with their 20 SDB and FMA local animators representing 10 centers all over Timor came for the special event. The Congress took place on the occasion of the Bicentennary of the Birth of Don Bosco and of the Institution of the Liturgical Feast of Mary Help of Christians. This was an encounter of formation in order to know well the Regulations of the Association and live them with fidelity and coherence.

On the 1st day the Congress was officially opened by the National President of the ADMA in East Timor, Madam Fatima Belo, who spoke briefly about the history of the Association founded in Timor by the great Spanish Salesian missionary, Fr. Alfonso Maria Nacher, SDB, some 35 years ago. From a humble beginning of a few women devotees of the Blessed Mother, it is now an ecclesial movement and moral force in society with around 1000 members doing their apostolic work not only as a major group of the Salesian Family, but as servant-leaders in the 3 Dioceses of Timor in communion and fidelity with the other ecclesial groups.

The conferences dealt mainly about the points found in the Handbook of the Regulations of the Association of Mary Help of Christians, already translated into the Tetum language of East Timor.

During the Congress, following the articles of the Regulations, there were several matters that were given importance for the ADMA groups to consider, and for the life and fidelity of each member. It was pointed out that today the family is the center of the world’s efforts, and it is also ADMA’s first place of apostolate.

Moreover, the formation of the all the members, both new and old, was underlined as very important, and each member must be accompanied in the formation process especially by the president and the local council, who have an important role and responsibility in the life of the Association.

After the Eucharistic Celebration for the V Sunday of Easter, new members made their promise and were accepted to the association, the new officials of the Association were installed, the document of aggregation was given to each groups of the Association, and the communion between the Sanctuary of Mary Help of Christians in Fatumaca and the Sanctuary in Turin was also recognized.

This First Congress have three lines of action as a result: each group must evaluate its activities and see the motivations behind all these activities, the quality of formation especially for those wanting to be members and attention to the Family where the Preventive System of Don Bosco can also be practiced (dialogue, God’s presence, affection and respect).

Published 05/05/2015