Don Bosco House Museum opens: "A precious pearl that will testify to Don Bosco's greatness"
(Turin, October 6, 2020) – The 27th General Chapter asked the General Superior of the Salesian Congregation, the “Rector Major”, and his Council, to take over the Salesian sites and make them something special for the Salesian world. That consignment gave rise to a new reality: the Don Bosco House Museum, which was solemnly inaugurated in Turin-Valdocco with three days of events this past weekend.
Instead of the "Don Bosco's rooms - Camerette", where one could see Don Bosco's presence in Valdocco, today visitors can now get to know Casa Pinardi, the first settlement of Don Bosco's Oratory, in detail. “Here, in these corridors, 11 people have passed that today the Church recognizes as venerable, blessed or saints: this means that Valdocco was a school of humanity and holiness and we want to transmit this heritage to the world,” said the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime at the press conference to present the new museum.
The Rector Major also announced that, to enhance Valdocco as the custodian of Salesian historical memory, the most important documents of the origins of the Congregation will be transferred from the Central Archives to the Don Bosco House Museum.
Also at the press conference, the art critic Vittorio Sgarbi, a past pupil of the Salesian institute in Este, spoke. “There are various types of saints. In many the human dimension is sublimated by canonization, while Don Bosco remains human, it is difficult to call him St. John Bosco... ” As for the new exhibition “with effective solutions,” he observed: “There are no Tiepolo, Picasso or Giotto, but a story: the story of life, education, books read, holy cards, worship ... ”
The second day, Saturday 3 October, was instead dedicated to institutional authorities. In addition to the Rector Major, Anna Laura Orrico and those responsible for the architectural works and the museographic and museological projects also took part. The rich parterre of prominent figures saw the presence of the Ambassadors of several Latin American countries strongly marked by the Salesian presence, such as Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, Guatemala, Brazil, Mexico and El Salvador.
Finally, Sunday 4, after the Solemn Eucharist presided over by the Rector Major in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, the "Don Bosco House Museum" was opened to the public.
“We have tried to represent this long journey of youthful holiness, starting from 1846, inside the Don Bosco House Museum ... The Salesian community of Valdocco is pleased to make this precious pearl available to all of you and the world will testify to the greatness of Don Bosco,” said Fr Cristian Besso, head of the museum project, together with the Director of the Museum, Stefania De Vita.
The Rector Major then carried out the symbolic cutting of the ribbon, flanked by Mother Yvonne Reungoat, Mother General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and by his predecessor at the head of the Congregation, Fr Pascual Chávez.
Photos and videos of the events are available on ANSFlickr and ANSChannel.
Please circulate
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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RMG – The missionaries of the 155th Salesian Missionary Expedition: Guy Roger Mutombo Mutshi, from the Vice-Province of Africa Congo Congo (ACC) to the Province of Southern Italy (IME)(ANS – Rome) – The final word from the new Salesian missionaries comes from Congolese Guy Roger, a missionary in the Province of Southern Italy. "My plans and dreams for my missionary life are to live in communion of spirit and action with my Salesian brothers in IME for the salvation of poor and abandoned young people, according to the heart of Don Bosco and to the greater glory of God".
EDITORIAL
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Myanmar – Tragedy of Innocent Children in the midst of Armed Conflicts(ANS – Naypyidaw) - Myanmar finds itself immersed in profound grief and anguish as innocent lives, particularly those of children, continue to be mercilessly lost in the enduring armed conflicts. Families are left devastated by the tragic loss of their loved ones while the relentless violence shows no signs of abating. This week, a heartfelt plea from Myanmar reached our community, shedding light on the heart-wrenching death of a young girl Juliet in a military airstrike, prompting a unified call for prayers and action.
EVENTS
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Italy – Presentation of the volume "Giovanni Bosco, Predicazione"(ANS – Rome) – Last Friday, 22 November 2024, at the UPS, the Salesian Historical Institute (ISS), in collaboration with the Don Bosco Study Centre (CSDB) at the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) in Rome, presented the volume Giovanni Bosco, Predicazione. Introduzione, testi critici e note a cura di Aldo Giraudo e Massimo Schwarzel. (= ISS – Fonti, Prima Series, 18). Rome, 2024. The symposium involved numerous scholars who were able to illustrate the originality and specific value of this new text on St John Bosco.
SPECIAL REPORTS
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United States – INT’L MIGRANTS DAY: Salesian Missions highlights educational programs that empower migrants(ANS – New Rochelle) – Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and the international community in honoring International Migrants Day. The day is held each year on Dec. 18 to recognize the efforts, contributions and rights of migrants worldwide.
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
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A BIG HEART LIKE THE SHORES OF THE SEATHE MESSAGE OF THE VICAR OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Fr Stefano Martoglio, SDB
A new time is given to us: from the Heart of God to the heart of humanity, mirrored in the great heart of Don Bosco.
Dear friends and readers, in this December issue I address you with my best wishes for a new year! We find ourselves in a new time that is given to us to live with intensity and with "newness of life," which I make my own, as a propitious and opportune wish. I am speaking of the gift that the Holy Father has given us in recent days: his Encyclical letter Dilexit Nos on the human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ.