He proclaimed the word too these young men  and won them all over. “Who are we? Why are we here?" he pondered during a meeting in 1959. And he replied: “For one simple reason. I bet you'll never guess! We are here because we love you... We love you, because you are young, not for any other reason. We love you. And there is an even more beautiful and touching reason. We say this to you quietly, in confidence, with our hearts: because you have not always been fortunate, you have suffered and you are still suffering. We read it in your serious eyes, in your face as teenagers already riddled with suffering. Dear friends, life has been hard for you. We understand you. It wasn't always or all your fault. We would have done much worse in your place. Perhaps some of you may have been a little guilty. And who has never made a mistake in their life? But more guilty ones are those who are able and should, but have not helped and loved you enough. We are here tonight to make a dutiful act of reparation, that is, to ask you for forgiveness for all those who have hurt you, who have not loved you, who have not given you a fraternal hand. We are here to solemnly promise you that we will all do what we can, to prevent this from having to be repeated for you and for the other young men we can approach."

Fr Pawłowski commented on Fr Quadrio's words, telling how Fr Quadrio's priestly and educational witness marked his vocation story and his educational ministry among young people, even difficult ones, such as in the Roman prisons of Rebibbia or in the prisons in Poland. For him, Fr Quadrio is a model and a friend who inspires his whole life and his mission as a Salesian priest.

On Sunday 20 in the parish church of Vervio, Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, Postulator General of the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Family, presided at the Eucharist and, inspired by the Word of God for the day, presented three figures of holiness of the Salesian Family, all originally from those parts, who lived the style of Jesus: service.

-        The Venerable Fr Giuseppe Quadrio whose ordination holy picture presented a true program of spiritual and apostolic life: ‘Pray, brethren: O high and eternal priest, whose humble servant you have made vicar of your love, grant him a priestly heart similar to yours: forgetful of self, abandoned to the Holy Spirit, extensive in self-giving and merciful, passionate about souls for your love.’

-        Blessed Maria Troncatti (1883-1969), a native of nearby Corteno Golgi (Brescia) and a missionary in the Amazon jungle in Ecuador among the Shuar Indians, recalling her extraordinary charity and caring motherhood for Salesians, to whom she spoke confidently, and as a mother would. Many of them testified: "If I am a priest, a Salesian, I owe it to her". And she instilled this love for priests and consecrated persons, including sisters: "Do not wait for them to ask, for they will not do so; prepare for them what they need". One of the missionaries of the time, Fr Giovanni Vigna, left us this testimony about Sister Maria Troncatti: “She is the very embodiment of evangelical simplicity and shrewdness. With what exquisite motherhood she conquers hearts! She finds a solution to every problem, one that is, in the light of the facts, always the best. She never forgets that she has to deal with weak and sinful beings. I saw her treat human nature in all aspects, even the most miserable:  she treated them with the authority and kindness that was spontaneous and natural in her. What surprises me is that in everything and always she remained exquisitely feminine. More than that I would say – a virgin, the mother.”

-        Finally, the Servant of God Fr Carlo Braga (1889-1971), a native of Tirano, missionary in China and founder of the Salesian presence in the Philippines. Fr Cameroni recalled how one of the young missionaries of the 155th Salesian Missionary Expedition, Krešo M. Gabričević from the Province of Croatia (CRO), spoke of Fr Braga as a model of a great missionary whose lifestyle he wants to follow: "A model I wish to follow is the Servant of God, Carlo Braga, known as the ‘Don Bosco of the Philippines’ for his unique ability to embody the Salesian spirit in a different cultural context. His extraordinary humility and adaptability allowed him to build deep relationships with the people he served, respecting local traditions and bringing the message of Christ with joy and simplicity. He was able to combine education, faith and service with a heart open to all, without ever losing his closeness to the young and the poorest. Fr Braga not only taught, but also learned from the people with whom he worked, transforming his mission into an authentic exchange of love and trust.

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