The event will mark a milestone in the city’s history, as it coincides with the centenary of the blessing of the image, created in 1923 and originating from the Salesian workshops in Sarriá, Barcelona.

The process of requesting canonical coronation had been officially approved by the Bishop of the Diocese of the Canary Islands and announced by the Rector of the Salesians in Las Palmas, Fr José Antonio Perdigones Bautista, during the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in 2024. The final approval of the Decree of Coronation took place on 24 September 2025, with its public reading during the Eucharist presided over by the same bishop at the parish of Santa Catarina d’Alessandria, run by the Salesians in Las Palmas.

The conferral of this honour represents a recognition of the deep-rooted devotion of the people of Gran Canaria to Our Lady Help of Christians, as well as of the exceptional educational, social and pastoral work that the local Salesian Family – primarily through the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians – has been carrying out in the archipelago for over a century.

A journey of spiritual, cultural and charitable preparation

The Salesian community has launched an extensive programme of preparation for the event, combining religious, cultural and social initiatives. Among the first stages are the unveiling of the official poster, created by Cordoba-based painter Juan Manuel Ayala Pérez, and the first performance of the processional Auxiliadora Salesiana Coronada march, composed by Adrián Blanco Jaramillo.

Furthermore, the ceremony will be accompanied by a Coronation Hymn, with lyrics by José Luis Yánez Rodríguez and music by Eduardo Purriños Armas, which will accompany the main events of this historic celebration.

True to Don Bosco’s charism, the coronation will also include a significant element of solidarity. Indeed, to mark the occasion, donations are being collected for the campaign run by the Salesian Bosco Global NGO: “Providing educational, psychosocial and learning support to vulnerable refugee children in Lebanon”, in aid of the Ángeles de Paz Salesian School.

And as a gesture of institutional recognition, the sponsors of the Coronation will be the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and the Diocesan Caritas.

Calendar of events

The programme of events leading up to the coronation begins in the coming days and includes various celebrations that will bring the image to the faithful and to various locations across the city: This journey goes beyond the mere liturgical sphere and is intended as a collective tribute to the presence of Mary Help of Christians in the lives of thousands of young people and families in the Canary Islands over the course of more than a hundred years of history.

• 19 April: Procession of Mary Help of Christians, starting at 11.30 am, from the Salesian Parish of St Catherine of Alexandria in Las Palmas.
• 24 April, at 5.00 pm: transfer of the image of Mary Help of Christians to the Parish of St Dominic de Guzmán in the Vegueta district, following the 4.15 pm Mass.
• 25 and 26 April: Extraordinary Adoration in the Parish of St Dominic (Vegueta).
• 27–29 April: Extraordinary Triduum at the Parish of San Domenico (Vegueta). Each day of the Triduum will begin with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, continue with the recitation of the Rosary, and conclude with the Eucharist.
• 30 April, at 6.00 pm: Procession of the image of Mary Help of Christians to the Cathedral of the Canary Islands, with evening Rosary led by the Parish of San Domenico (Vegueta).
• 2 May at 5.00 pm: Solemn Pontifical Mass of Coronation. At 7.00 pm, Procession from the Cathedral to the Salesian Institute.
• 10 May: Eucharist of thanksgiving for the Coronation of Mary Help of Christians, at 1.00 pm in the Salesian parish of St Catherine of Alexandria, presided over by Bishop Hernández, Auxiliary Bishop of the Canary Islands.

Source: Salesianos.info