In this situation, through the Salesian Family network, not less than four different groups of the Salesian Family of CIN Province have volunteered to help the Salesian Family members in Italy. Thanks to the indication of the Vicar of the Rector Major, all “benefactors” were directed to the epicenter in Lombardy.
The following messages came from China province lay people living the spirit of Don Bosco:
“Some people here in China province are talking about collecting donations and sending them to the Rector Major for fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. What do you think - surgical face masks are the best to send...?” (Macao)
“Our friends are asking, how can we help the people who suffer in Italy (home place of Don Bosco). Which ways to help is better, sending medical supply, such as masks, etc., or money instead?” (Hong Kong)
“I have just received a call from my friend, who would like to donate 10,000 surgical masks to the Salesians and the medical staffs in Italy, but he does not know where is the channel and asks for my assistance. Can you help?” (Taiwan)
Another group of Don Bosco Alumni writes to the Rector Major: “The pandemic has brought us together as never before, as we are working closely with the Salesian China Province in Hong Kong in procuring emergency equipment for the Salesian confreres, as well as teachers and students in the local schools: items such as surgical face masks and hand sanitizers, which are now considered indispensable in containing the spread of the virus. In taking up what essentially is a mundane task, we also realise that we are called, as past pupils, to participate in the great work of making Don Bosco’s dream come true… As a token of our solidarity with the Salesians at the headquarters in Rome, we are working out ways to dispatch to you a modest consignment of surgical facemasks, which we hope will be useful in protection against cross-transmission of the disease. Please let us know if you need these or other emergency materials and we will try our best to help.”
On the other side of this show of solidarity is the Milan-Lombardy Salesian Family: Fr Giuliano Giacomuzzi, Salesian provincial of Milan province (ILE-Italia: Lombardy and Emilia) who replies to our China province Salesian Cooperators and Don Bosco Alumni from his heart: “Dear friends, many thanks! This generosity warms our hearts and helps us to be strong in this moment of history when we all feel more fragile!”
