The Saint Jean Bosco church, in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, is classified as an Art Deco building and ‘heritage of the 20th arrondissement’ and offers extraordinary beauty to all those who, after climbing the steps of the portico, pass through its large red door. This parish church is also the national shrine dedicated to Don Bosco, the patron and friend of young people, and the St Francis de Sales Province of France and Southern Belgium (FRB) wanted to welcome many young people from the diocese and beyond, to enable them to take a significant step in their journey of faith and holiness through contact with St John Bosco.
Naturally, the Sanctuary of St John Bosco is open to all passers-by and the curious visiting the 20th arrondissement of Paris. But the Salesians in the community, sometimes accompanied by young people from the Salesian Youth Movement in particular, make themselves specifically available to welcome groups of children and young people for 2 hours, 4 hours or an entire day, allowing them to experience various activities that help them grow in their faith journey. These groups of young people come from the network of Salesian works of the FRB Province, or from diocesan chaplaincies or other religious associations that are inspired by or have chosen Don Bosco or Dominic Savio as their patrons.
The Shrine's activities respond to an essential part of the parish's pastoral project: ‘to be a community present to society and young people in the manner of Don Bosco’. They enable young people who come to Paris to have a strong experience of faith, thanks to the beauty of the place, according to the Salesian ‘RAP’ formula: Reflection, Animation, Prayer. The Salesians propose moments of play, fraternity in small groups, witnessing, visits, celebrations...
And thanks to the activities proposed at the shrine, young people can discover
• the figures of Don Bosco, Dominic Savio, Michael Magone, Mamma Margaret, Mary Help of Christians, Mary Domenica Mazzarello;
• the church of St John Bosco itself: an Art Deco style church and heritage of the 20th arrondissement, with an artistic-catechetical guided tour;
• the relevance of the Salesian charism, particularly in relation to the Association d'Education Populaire, which welcomes young people and families from the neighbourhood on a daily basis for school support, street entertainment, literacy, sports, etc.
Different approaches are available depending on the age, availability and expectations of the groups. The National Shrine of Saint John Bosco is an ecclesial reference point for young Christians from Paris and the surrounding area, enabling them to leave their mark on the church. ‘The tree of dreams blossoms with many coloured clouds filled by all the young people who express their dreams there, after hearing the story of the 9-year dream of little John Bosco,’ says Fr Xavier Ernst, SDB, pastor of the Don Bosco shrine and recently appointed Provincial of FRB, in a vivid image.
On a purely artistic level, the Saint Jean Bosco church is one of the most ornate in Paris: wall paintings, frescoes, mosaics, stained-glass windows and statues combine and enrich each other, from the floor to the vault, according to a scheme designed around 1933 by the Paris atelier of the Mauméjean brothers, and in a style that art historian Simon Texier has described as being balanced between ‘art deco Gothic’ and ‘neo-Greek Gothic’.
‘For lovers of contemporary sacred art, even a ‘simple’ visit to the church is a must.... Everyone will be amazed by this Parisian jewel,’ Fr Ernst concludes.
