Echo of the first Salesian Family Spirituality Days at Valdocco

By Our Own Correspondent

Turin, Italy, 21 January 2018 -- The 36th Salesian Family Spirituality Days held for the first time at Valdocco, made a history, for the number of non Italian participants, for the involvement of many volunteers of Piedmont-Val D'Aosta province from many groups of the Salesian family, but especially through the deep touch with the Holy Places of Don Bosco.

From the EAO region participated only two groups: two SIHM (Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) Sisters from Thailand and eight Caritas Sisters of Jesus from Japan, Korean, PNG and the Philippines accompanied by their Mother General, her Vicar and the Councilor for the Missions. One of the Caritas Sisters shared their feeling: "We are back to Rome, we are grateful very much for the family spirit, everybody make us always feel at home. It was a wonderful experience although we didn’t understand well the talks (in Italian or Spanish). The atmosphere at Valdocco was very special, different from the one in la Pisana in the past. It's really a Holy Land for Salesian Family."

The simple fact that you walk around the porticos and playgrounds of Valdocco, that you pray in the Pinardi chapel or in the St. Francis de Sales Church or you assist the Eucharist in the monumental Basilica of Mary Help of Christians (celebrates this year 150 years of its blessing on June 9, 1868) helps the participants to meet Don Bosco and somehow touch his spirituality. Good number of the participants actually visited Valdocco for the first time and their was good opportunity of guided visit around the Citadel of Valdocco.

The Valdocco SDB communities became already international with the presence of French, Polish, English, Spanish and Portoghese speaking Salesians from four continents. And the Project of Salesian Holy Places, relaunched in 2014-2015, offers every year some new opportunities of retreat, guided pilgrimage, youth event or SDB/FMA ongoing formation.

Each Salesian Province around the world is invited to send their confreres not only for the pilgrimage or organize Salesian Youth Movement event in Valdocco - Chieri - Becchi, but also to send some delegates to this annual Salesian Family Pentecost. Welcome to the 37th SF Spirituality Days 2019, January 10-13 in the Mother house of Valdocco!

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