A long and engaging Monday which began in the historic centre, from St Joseph's Cathedral, where the 300 children registered for the second edition of the "Oratorian Olympics", accompanied by 150 young entertainers, received t-shirts to participate in the Olympics and to colour the route designed for the March of Peace. Each colour chosen to represent a continent: the "Blues" in Oceania, the "Yellows" in Asia, the "Greens" in Europe, the "Reds" in America and the entertainers with white t-shirts next to Africa.

Afternoon opened with the words of Nicola Della Gatta, Councillor for Culture and Tourism, who greeted the young people asking them to "pray that all wars cease". In recent years, the communities of this territory have welcomed over 500 Ukrainians, so much we have done and much more can be done. This splendid march is the sign that you young people can play a fundamental role and, also in this way, be metaphorically next to the many young people who suffer in other wars in the world.

Fr Luca Corazzari also recalled the reason for the march: "Peace is a journey, it is not achieved with a snap of a finger, to reach it you have to work hard. Saint Paul said that Christ is our peace, he falls from heaven but he needs someone on earth to pick it up by opening his hands. Peace begins in the homes of each of us." After the moment dedicated to prayer there was the lighting of the Olympic torch in the presence of Mayor Francesco Menna and Deputy Mayor Licia Fioravante. The many young people with their colourful t-shirts created a sort of human rainbow which, starting from St Joseph's Cathedral, traveled through the streets of the centre until reaching the Salesian Oratory. 

To welcome the 450 young people present, the Rector of the Salesian work, Fr Alvaro Forcellini,  in charge of the Oratory, Fr Massimiliano Dragani, the Mayor Francesco Menna together with the afternoon presenter, Fabio Falcone, a figure inextricably linked to the Oratory between music and sport. The afternoon was also dedicated to the opening and blessing, by Fr Nicola Florio (director of the Chieti-Vasto Diocese's Youth Ministry Office), of the new playing fields, which have undergone a major makeover in recent weeks. The Olympic torch was lit by professor and coach Marco La Verghetta (member of the technical staff of the Italian Paralympic shooting team) and Pasquale Granata, the first Salesian to have brought basketball to the Oratory and the city in 1971.

“Like so many who are here today" the words of Mayor Menna "I too was born on these fields (…). Years and figures that have built us as people of tomorrow, so many are the memories that bind me to this oratory that in all those who have attended it have formed an invisible shield made of honesty, friendship, brotherhood, prayer and much more and that you will take with you throughout your lives. You are the men of the future, worked to make you loved as Don Bosco said."

"The world in which we live" Fr Florio said "is confused and is losing many points of reference, the many people who are here are wonderful news for the future. Young people, adults and grandparents, being together is great! This oratory is an institution for the whole territory." 

The presence of Pasquale Granata prompted many to participate in the inauguration of the fields: "On these fields I have always had a ball at my side, here I have been for eighteen years growing twenty-two generations. At that time there was the PGS and that acronym from then to today I have always liked to give many other meanings. We have written many things on these walls, we can still read ‘A sport for peace’, put there in 1990, and every time I come back here it is an emotion, I will remain forever linked to this place."

Fabio Falcone, moderator, praised Granata and then, addressing Fr Dragani, continued: "The process for the opening of the new fields has been very long but seeing the work completed and the many presences today fill me with joy. Many have helped us; I thank the mayor, Fr Nicola and above all Pasquale Granata. An immense thanks goes also to the many benefactors who have made possible the modernisation of the oratory".

With the "Oratorian Olympics" and the inevitable "Trisport", the Oratory will now be a beginning of September full of celebration, commitment, spirituality and an infinity of contagious joy.

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