By Fr. Egidio Deiana, SDB
the rector of Don Bosco's Basilica at Colle Don Bosco
Colle Don Bosco - Chieri - Valdocco, Italy - The 2015 crowds of the Don Bosco Bicentenary Pilgrims in the Holy places of Don Bosco in Italy are already over. We can ask together with those who are in charge of the Holy places - what is the wisdom and fruits from past years of preparation and celebrations of Don Bosco 200th Birthday.
Probably the right answer is: "Don Bosco is more known and loved all around the world and Don Bosco is closer to many people who visited his holy places!"
According the estimate of chief-guide at Colle Don Bosco, the Rector of Don Bosco's Basilica Fr. Egidio Deiana, there were about 30 groups from the EAO region provinces that went during the 2015 Jubilee Year at Becchi. Probably the most organized and well prepared were the small but frequent groups from Japan, the largest was the China province Salesian family group and the most interesting the Don Bosco Past Pupils group from Timor Leste.
Fr. Egidio notes: "There is a huge difference between the groups coming from specific provinces: from the 'very well prepared and equipped groups' up to the 'easy going, no system groups. That means that only some provinces moved ahead without improvisation to discover our charismatic roots. It calls one question: Is Don Bosco really known and loved by the Salesians? Unfortunately I have witnessed many passionate and motivated lay people who are better motivated than the Salesian confreres!"
Fr. Egidio shares a dream about better preparation of provincial guides to the pilgrim groups and taking seriously the enormous charismatic heritage offered in these holy places for the formation of all Salesian Family members.
Indeed the DB200 brought hundreds of new pilgrim groups (20 large groups every day during the peak of the season or average of 8 groups coming for retreat every weekend), development of many multilingual materials (printed or video tools) for the pilgrims, growth of alternative itineraries of Don Bosco and some important Salesian Saints of missionaries around Piedmont region. Last but not the least also the local population of Piedmont is waking up in appreciating Don Bosco and his Salesians - their fellow citizens with many local based events or initiatives (exhibits, festivals).
Giving thanks to God for the manifold fruits of the Bicentenary we recognize the need of GC26 invitation: To love Don Bosco - to know Don Bosco - to study Don Bosco - to pray to Don Bosco and to make known Don Bosco!
On the Boscolink is available the standard Guidebook to the places of Don Bosco published in 1988 by Aldo Giraudo and Giuseppe Biancardi in the English version.
