By Don Bosco Past Pupils of Cuorgné
Piedmont, Italy, 5 January 2016 - One of the two Salesian protomartyrs, Saint Callistus Caravario (1903-1930) was born in a small town of Cuorgné near Turin. He lived 21 years in Italy and 6 years in the missions, between Shanghai - Macau - Timor Leste and Shiu Chow. Due to the high profile of Mons. Louis Versiglia, who was martyred together on February 25, 1930 - Callistus was always in his shadow.
Fr. Nicola Faletti, SDB (99 years old and still in very good health) is a typical Piedmontese Salesian. He spent last 40 years in this town near Ivrea (his Salesian community) promoting the memory of the Cuorgné born holy martyr with the help of local Don Bosco Past Pupils and Salesian Cooperators. Especially after the canonization (Callistus is the last on the list of 120 Saint Chinese martyrs) in 2000 many fellow citizens and parishioners of Cuorgné contribute to the devotion of St. Caravario.
During past few years the Cuorgné Catholic community welcomed quite few groups of the China province Salesian Youth Movement. These pilgrimages contribute to the development of visible memory of the Saint - in the former Salesian Institute ('Morgando' - President of the DB Past Pupils Mr. Silvio Cinotto) is open a dignified photo exhibition of both China Salesian martyrs, in his native house (Via Trento) will be soon ready another exposition and in the parish of St. Dalmazzo is active a Confraternity of St. Callistus Caravario.
Thanks to the enthusiasm of Fr. Faletti there is a very close coordination and exchange between Oliva Gessi (birthplace of St. Versiglia) and Cuorgné. And the Past Pupils pray and believe that the person and story of their Saint 'compaesano' will become more known around the Salesian Congregation.
In the EAO region the Vice-province of ITM is entrusted to the protection of St. Callistus Caravario since 1998. Our Saint was member of the first not-so-successful missionary expedition to Dili-Timor Leste in 1927-1929. We pray that the enthusiasm of Fr. Faletti will bring more missionary spirit among the younger Salesian generations in Timor Leste and beyond!
Materials about St. Callistus Caravario are available on the BOSCOLINK
