By Falefa Elia SDB

Colle Don Bosco, Italy, 19 September 2024 -- As I stand in Colle, in the very place where Don Bosco was born and began his mission, I continue to be deeply moved by his life story. Under the guidance of Fr Alfred Maravilla SDB, he led us into a deeper understanding of the life, struggles, and journey of our founder from a young age. Listening to and visiting the places where he grew up has moved me deeply. Firstly, his experience of the absence of a father figure, secondly the struggle that was faced by his mother, the tension between he and his elder brother Anthony and then searching for places to work and study. From all these struggles, Don Bosco always tries his best to attend the Sacrament of the Eucharist and find time to pray, listen to his Spiritual Guide, and most importantly, allow the Grace of God to move him.

We have visited many places because his life was moving, searching, and attending the Sacrament of the Eucharist regardless of the places he stayed. Another moving and emotional experience that I have had here, is the distance that he traveled, knowing that he walked from place to place. For instance, we visited the Moglia farm and saw the distance that he walked every morning to mass. Additionally, the distance that it took to get to school from home to Castelnuovo and many other places that he stayed.

As I contemplate these experiences, they challenge me so much and remind me of my childhood story. Not to compare it with Don Bosco’s life story but to be mesmerized by how a painful and challenging experience can turn out to have a positive ending because everything that has been done was dedicated to the will of God. Every sad and hurtful experience of the past can be turned into a joyful result when we live in the grace of God.

And so my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, if I ever want to tell you something it will be this: never be afraid to allow ourselves to be lost in the grace of God, for it is that grace of God that made Don Bosco yearn and be willing to be guided by Fr Calosso, Fr Cafasso, and many others. That grace makes him thirsty for the Sacrament of the Eucharist and it is that grace of God that made our Founder embrace his struggles from a young age to become the best version of himself that God wanted him to be for the Church and especially the young people. And so dear friends, allow yourself to be lost in that state of grace, allow yourself to be blinded by that race and be boosted by it. Therefore, everything that we do will bring true joy to all people especially the joy of the Gospel to the young people.

Blessing to you all.

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