Accompanied by the Councillor General for the Salesian Missions, Fr Guillermo Basañes, they left Rome on 17 September to visit the Salesian House of Genoa-Sampierdarena, "the second Valdocco". After the Eucharist and a fraternal meal with the Salesian community they went on to Mornese, where they visited the places associated with Mother Mazzarello and reflected on the feminine dimension of the Salesian charism.
On the afternoon of Sunday 18 September they arrived at Colle Don Bosco to reflect on two stages in the life of Don Bosco: from childhood to early adolescence in the Becchi, Capriglio and Castelnuovo, and the period of his studies in Chieri. From tomorrow, 22 September, they will reflect on the early years of his priesthood and the years since the founding of the Salesian Society. This unit will be crowned by the conferral of the Missionary Cross next Sunday 25 September in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians.
"This experience of the charism here in Piedmont is not only about visiting the places where Don Bosco lived. If that were the case, it would only be tourism,” says Fr Alfred Maravilla, Course Coordinator. The missionaries are encouraged to reread the Memoirs on site in order to understand better the charismatic elements in the life and experience of Don Bosco. This process is crucial because the Salesian missionaries are bearers of the charism of Don Bosco wherever they are sent."
