María Auxiliadora procession turns 125 in Lima and Crowd accompanies her

A large number of faithful devotees accompanied the procession of María Auxiliadora, in the district of Breña in Lima (Peru), which this year turns 125 since the Marian image first came out in procession in the city in the year 1900.

“For me, Maria Auxiliadora is the mother who has accompanied me since I entered school because I have been 11 years at home and is part of my life,” says news Astrid Álvarez, former Salesian former.

For his part, Fr. Román Olesinski, pastor of Mary Help of Christians highlights that “it can be seen that devotion is very large, the Virgin attracts, it is the mother and when it is the feast of the mother, the children come together.”

A miracle of María Auxiliadora

Ana María Véliz, an 80 -year -old parishioner who was in the procession of May 24, the day of Maria Auxiliadora, shares the testimony of a miracle in her life, worked by the intercession of the Mother of God.

With her rosary in hands, Ana María recounts that “I was also dying so many years ago. When doctors in Europe told me that I had no salvation because I had given me such great leukemia. They gave me two months of life. I returned to Peru, 15 days of life. The doctors here made a joint and could not do anything.”

“But I leaned down with the few forces I had. I raised my hands up, invoked God, I began to pray: ‘My life is for my God.’ Without a medicine, here I am, 80 years of life,” he added.

A little history

The San Francisco de Sales Salesian College of Lima, the first center that made the procession of María Auxiliadora, also turns 125. The Study Center is located next to the Marian parish.

On the other hand, the Basilica of María Auxiliadora was inaugurated in 1921 in thanks to God for the centenary of the independence of Peru (1821). Something that is little known is that Don Bosco, the Holy Founder of the Salesians, prophesied this Salesian work and dreamed that he would be facing two rails.

David Franco, historian of the Salesian Congregation of Peru, tells Ewtn News that “a curiosity is that at the head of the house of Breña, for many years rails passed that was the tram that connected Lima with Magdalena.”

The 2025 procession of María Auxiliadora

One of the most significant moments of the celebrations this year was when the image of Mary Help of Christians met that of the Lord of the Miracles of Breña. In an unusual gesture, both followed in procession together until the San Pablo parish.

The image of María Auxiliadora reached its basilica on the shoulders of the members of the 2000 Jubileo promotion. 25 years after leaving the Salesian school, its members gathered again for this beautiful tradition.

Then the priest left the parish with the Blessed Sacrament to bless the people and everyone worshiped Jesus Eucharist.

Finally, the image of Maria Auxiliadora entered the temple in the midst of fireworks, with a church fully crowded with faithful.