The celebration had already begun on the afternoon of Thursday 30the with the concert of the 12 bells (including 4 new ones), which rang together for the first time, rung by the "TO Bells Association." After this artistic-musical moment, ample space was given to devotion and liturgical celebrations, with the Rosary led by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the evening Mass, presided by Bishop Alessandro Giraudo, Auxiliary Bishop of Turin, and the First Vespers of the feast, presided over by Fr Martoglio.

The day before the feast closed with the Prayer Vigil to Don Bosco animated by the novices, which had as its theme "Don Bosco's Oratory: Workshop of Hope." Divided into two parts, this moment of spirituality sought to pay tribute to the ability of the Father and Teacher of Youth, through his example, to encourage his boys to a life of prayer and tenacity in trials: before making way for Eucharistic adoration and time for confessions, the novices portrayed a particular episode in the saint's life, the one that took place in July 1846, when Don Bosco fell seriously ill and was about to die, but all his Oratory boys prayed and committed themselves with sacrifices and offerings to obtain his recovery.

The day of Friday, 31 January, was marked by numerous Eucharistic celebrations (four in the morning, two in the afternoon and one in the evening), as well as other significant moments, such as the blessing of boys and girls at Don Bosco's casket, a time of Eucharistic adoration, Second Vespers in the Basilica and the distribution of some 7,000 Don Bosco figurines to the faithful who crowded the work.

Following a well-established pattern, the celebrations involved various Turin entities active in the area, particularly with young people: the first morning Mass was presided over by the Superior General of the Cottolengo, Father Carmine Arice; the second, addressed to religious, by Father Fabio Malesa, a Consolata missionary, who also offered a reflection between the Founder of the Consolata, Blessed and soon-to-be canonised, Joseph Allamano, and Don Bosco; the third was officiated for the youth of the Salesian schools of Valdocco, and was presided over by the Delegate of Youth Ministry of the Piedmont and Aosta Valley Special Circumscription (ICP), Fr Alberto Goia - at the end of this celebration, as a tribute to Don Bosco, more than 1,200 sandwiches were distributed to young people; then, at the end of the morning, ICP Provincial, Fr Leonardo Mancini, celebrated Mass for the Salesians.

"After the 5 p.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop Emeritus of Biella, Bishop Gabriele Mana, the day culminated in the great and solemn concelebration at 6:30 p.m., addressed especially to the youth of the Salesian Youth Movement from all over the world, with the Vicar of the Rector Major as main celebrant," reported Fr Michele Viviano, Rector of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin, Italy.

“If we are here, it is because has Don Bosco brought us here,” began Fr. Martoglio in his homily, emphasizing the special value of celebrating the feast in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin. He then highlighted some characteristics of Don Bosco’s spirituality: first and foremost, his great trust in Providence. “Throughout his life, Don Bosco believed in God as his Shepherd… Don Bosco lived by this, and Our Lady taught him so.”

Another trait he emphasized was “Don Bosco’s humanity, which was an expression of his faith (…) And the greatest expression of his humanity was his being a man of hope, a man who knew how to convey and give life to hope.”

Finally, the Vicar of the Rector Major underlined how deeply Don Bosco believed that the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven are the smallest. This is why he was so committed to education. “His was a heart in love with God, dedicated to everyone, especially the young, the poor, and the marginalized… so that all could have an experience of God and be led to Heaven.”

The day then included a final celebration, presided over by Fr Andrea Bisacchi, for the volunteers of the Youth Missionary Service (SERMIG), in the presence of the founder himself, Ernesto Olivero. And Don Bosco's feast had a further appendix on Saturday, 1 February, with a concert in the basilica by the 60-strong choir of young people from Turin's Cavour High School of Music.

"Throughout the day of the 31st, as well as in the celebrations of the previous days and also on the following Saturday, we saw a great participation of people and a lively enthusiasm, and it was perceived clearly once again how much people still love Don Bosco," Fr Viviano concluded.

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