By Cl. Anthony Pun, SDB

Oliva Gessi, Italy - On February 13, 2016 the whole China province and probably also the EAO region will remember the arrival of the first 6 Salesian missionaries to Macau and also as foundation of the first SDB community in whole East Asia-Oceania Region.

Taking advantage of the Christmas break one student of CIN province embarked on the pilgrimage on the footsteps of St. Louis Versiglia. First stop over was today in Oliva Gessi, a small village near Pavia (diocese of Tortona) with a family size population of 183 souls.

After a warm welcome by the parish priest Fr. Emmanuele, the mayor of Oliva Gessi Mr. Beppe Ascagni and a small core group of the local community followed a Eucharist in the parish church of St. Martin and family sharing in the Oliva Gessi community center.

The native house of Mons. Versiglia is changed during past 30 years into a humble memorial hall with many documentation about the holy martyr. The small but very vibrant Catholic community is growing in attachment to their 'paesano' especially after the Canonization in 2000.

Lets pray, that the living memory about our founding missionaries will help us to witness faithfully to the Gospel also today!

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