Chieri, ten years of Don Bosco life

By Fr. Eligio Caprioglio, SDB
Chieri SDB community rector

Chieri, Italy, 22 September 2016 -- Three years after being transferred from Ivrea (former Missionary Aspirantate) to Chieri (city of 35.000 where Don Bosco spent 10 years of his student life and formation) I’m happy to journey also with the 147th Salesian Missionary expedition as their bus driver. During the one week long pilgrimage to Salesian Holy places this group of 18 new missionaries they arrived also to Chieri.

Our Oratory is now really in the ‘explosive’ situation of wonderful growth. Young people who spent at least one week of summer activities this year were about 600, compared to 140 youth of 2014. Now is a time of registration for the catechism class. The trend is following – 39 in 2014, 162 in 2015 and we hope to go beyond the 200 line in 2016-2017. Thanks to God our Oratory animators are more stable and mature. God willing, this will be a wonderful school year. We hope!

There were 41.543 pilgrims to Don Bosco places in Chieri during the DB200 Anniversary year! It’s a huge number for this small city. We are happy to offer hospitality in our Oratory to any group that comes. Imagine, just few months ago there was a group from Spanish diocese of Getafe for a 4 days period, to eat and sleep – obviously in our school and oratory! The girls were sleeping in the school classrooms and boys in the Oratory.

Yes, we didn’t forget the Oceania (Solomon Islands) appeal - Come, help us! - of Salesian Mission Day 2016). Our small group (myself and three Oratory animators) would travel to Don Bosco Tetere for two weeks next November 2016. We are happy to reach out also in the EAO region!

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