Letter from the Director
Dear Friends of Mary Help,
December 9, 2024
We celebrate the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a feast that is intimately connected to the story of our salvation. A young woman, Mary of Nazareth, was invited by God through the angel Gabriel to the mother of the Savior.
Did she understand all this? I don’t believe so. But she said, “Yes” because she trusted in the God to whom she was singularly devoted as a young Jewish woman. She did have foreknowledge of the triumphs and trials of her life. She moved ahead in a spirit of faith.
This is one of the lessons that this feast, and this Gospel (Lk 1:26-38) teaches us. God calls us – in many and diverse ways – and we are invited to say “Yes” to his invitation.
Today is also a most significant day for the Salesian world. On this day, back in 1841, God, in the person of the young homeless vagabond, Bartholomew Garelli, invited Don Bosco to begin, in a formal way, his ministry with young people. That “chance” meeting between boy and priest was the beginning of a relationship that changed both their lives. Don Bosco’s ministry grew over a period of time and now includes the education of young people in 136 countries. An army of priests, brothers, sisters, Cooperators, past pupils, teachers, friends strive to be signs and bearers of God’s loves to millions of young people – and those not so young!
Don Bosco entrusted all his work to the care and intercession of Mary. On this feast of Mary, may she pray for us as we educate and evangelize around the world – and right here at Mary Help Center.
Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us!
Fr. John Serio, SDB