Father Ronaldo Pedroso, parish priest of Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Maypajo, Caloocan City, will celebrate a High Mass Sunday, May 23, at 9 a.m. in celebration of the Feast of Mary Help of Christians (Maria Mapag ampon sa mga Kristiyano) on May 24.
About 100 persons will be allowed inside the church. On Monday, May 24, a healing mass will be offered at 11 a.m. in honor of Mary Help of Christians.
The special prayer to Our Lady Help of Christians will be recited in holy masses today, May 23, which is also observed as Pentecost Sunday.
The Church encourages the faithful to observe the day with special acts of devotion and thanksgiving prayers to the Blessed Mother, to pray the Holy Rosary in union with Pope Francis with the special intention of praying for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to make an act of consecration to Mary Help of Christians.
In 2018, Pope Francis approved the canonical coronation of an image of Mary Help of Christians in Pangasinan. Former Papal Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia led the solemn rites at the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist in Dagupan City.
Saint John Chrysostom was the first to use this Marian title in the year 345 in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. John Bosco also propagated Marian devotion under this title.
In 1572, during the expansion of the Islamic Ottoman Empire intended to invade Christian Europe, Pope Pius V invoked Christian armies and its ultimate victory was attributed to the intercession of Mary under this title.
Ultimately, Pope Leo XIII granted a canonical coronation to the Marian image bearing the same title on May 17, 1903, which is now permanently enshrined at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin, Italy.