How can we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Valdocco Basilica of Mary Help of Christians?

By Our Own Correspondent

Turin, Italy, 12 December 2017 -- Next 9th June 2018 the whole Salesian Family will remember the 150th anniversary of official inauguration and consecration of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin - Valdocco.

The Salesians of the Special Circumscription of Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta (ICP) have prepared a rich calendar of events that started last December 6, 2017. Indeed there is series of events (cf.resources) that are both religious and civil, since the Basilica is not only a Salesian asset, but also civic and universal asset.

This Shrine - Basilica was built by St John Bosco as a monument to the Virgin Mary, with the title HELP OF CHRISTIANS, as the Mother Church and spiritual centre of Salesian Congregation and the whole Salesian Family.

Not many of the AustraLasia readers would be able to make a pilgrimage on the of occasion 150th anniversary. However we can take this opportunity to benefit from the rich charismatic documentation gathered by Fr. Artur Lenti (cf. Resources) to understand better the mind and heart of Don Bosco.

Indeed when we talk about the Basilica of 'Mary Help of Christians', it lead us to the Marian dimension of our Charism, to the ADMA (Association of Devotees of Mary Help of Christians), to the journey of faith when we follow with Don Bosco Mary as the first disciple-missionary of Jesus.

Let's make the best of the 150th anniversary of Her Basilica in Valdocco in our houses and in all provinces of our EAO region in this Jubilee Year!

Website: http://en.donbosco-torino.org/

Resources available on the Boscolink:

• Program for the Jubilee Year
• Fr. Artur Lenti: Chapter 3, Vol. 5 (Don Bosco History and Spirit) 'Mary Help of Christians'.

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