This course is the final formation stage as planned by the CSFPA. The aim is to experience charismatic identity, and envisages a pilgrimage to the places where Don Bosco lived and worked. At the end of the course, the pilgrims also drew up a personal synthesis that allowed them to design a proposal for educative, pastoral and communicative involvement that accords with the area of mission in which they carry out their activity.
The course began on 30 April in Valdocco and ended in Rome on Sunday, 28 May. Over these weeks the participants visited several significant locations, including Annecy, a substantial source of Don Bosco's educational model thanks to the figure of St Francis de Sales, and then Colle Don Bosco, Capriglio, Castelnuovo Don Bosco, Mondonio, Buttigliera, Chieri, Mornese, Nizza Monferrato, Genoa, Turin, Assisi and Rome.
During their stay in Turin, in addition to visiting the significant places of the Salesian charism and various social saints of the 19th century, the participants had the opportunity to celebrate the Feast of Mary Help of Christians together with the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, and the Salesian Family.
Finally, the participants concluded their pilgrimage in Rome in places that brought Don Bosco closer to the Pope and became fundamental for the consolidation of the Congregation itself. This journey in the footsteps of the Founder has allowed the pilgrims to renew their spirit and gain first-hand experience of how Don Bosco is thought of in places that keep alive the circumstances of the poorest young people who are no longer migrants from within Italy, but migrants from other countries.
These weeks, therefore, were a time of rich community life with intense daily work, new Salesian discoveries and profound experiences of prayerful reflection, which has had an impact on the minds and hearts of the participants. This experience will help all those involved to understand the challenges of today's young people, and make the Salesian charism relevant for today among and with these young people.
