(ANS – Rumia) - On Friday, October 12th, Mons. Sławoj Leszek Głódź, Archbishop of Gdańsk, presided over the coronation of Mary Help of Christians in the church of Rumia, the object of deep devotion on the part of the local population. The Salesians of the Province of "St. Adalberto", members of the Salesian Family and devotees of Mary Help of Christians awaited this moment for 12 years.

The solemn ceremony took place to mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Salesians in Rumia, in the region of Pomerania. Present at the celebration were Provincials Fr Marek Chmielewski, from Piła, and Fr Sławomir Łubian, from Warsaw, some former Parish priests of the Church, priests who grew up in the parish, representatives of municipal authorities, members of the Salesian Family and a huge number of followers and devotees to Mary from all over Poland and abroad. The Mass was concelebrated by 116 priests.

The crowns – similar to those depicted in the picture of Mary Help of Christians, Turin – were designed by a well-known artist in Gdańsk, Mariusz Drapikowski, who also made a robe decorated with amber and bright colours donated to the sanctuary of our Lady of Częstochowa at Jasna Góra. They represent the votive offering by which the priests, parishioners and the same artist wanted to express their thanks to Mary for the many graces received.

The same picture of Mary Help of Christians is a votive offering: commissioned by the Salesians of Rumia to Fr Władysław Sułecki an artist of Jaroslaw, and offered by local tannery workers, miraculously escaped the collapse of one wall of the complex, still under construction, in which they were assembled.

The coronation ceremony, broadcast worldwide through the Polish television channel "Trwam" and Radio Maryja, was a demonstration of how the framework is honoured by the faithful who pray continually, experiencing graces such as healings, conversions, the re-discovery of one’s vocation or surrender of addictions.

Published 16/10/2012