By Mila Wuthrich, ASC

Cebu, Philippines, October 13, 2015 - More than fifty Salesian Cooperators, few aspirants and two Salesian Sisters and Salesian Novices gathered on October 13, 2015 at Don Bosco Formation Center Chapel, Lawaan, Talisay City – Cebu to honor Blessed Alexandrina da Costa on her death anniversary. Alexandrina is a mystic from Portugal who survived without food, only receiving the eucharist for thirteen years. She was a Salesian Cooperator.

The Eucharistic celebration was presided by Fr. Orly Borres, SDB. He also prepared a tarpaulin image of Alexandrina, the one used in Portugal thus putting a new touch on the occasion. Towards the end of the mass, the pilgrims, Ronnie and Chita Laburada, Eve and Susana Aliganga, and Mrs Paz Maniego gave each of the Salesian Cooperators a gift, a souvenir picture of the Blessed they bought when they visited Balazar. That pilgrimage in Portugal was a side trip when they joined the bicentenary birthday of St. John Bosco in Turin, Italy.

Potluck dinner followed with food sharing from the different centers. Ms Eve Aliganga could not forget the Portuguese songs, when she shared their group encounters with a Salesian Cooperators in Balazaar, Portugal. She even ended up inviting everyone to visit Balazaar, just one and a half kilometer from Fatima.

They are the first Filipino pilgrims to visit the tomb of Blessed Alexandrina.

Blessed Alexandrina along with Mamma Margaret were presented by then Rector Major Pascual Chavez as models during the 3rd World Congress of the Salesian Cooperators at La Pisana, Rome. Alexandrina was a victim soul who offered her sufferings for the Salesian Mission especially the salvation of the young. Such offering of life is the challenge Salesian Cooperators everywhere are called today.