austraLasia #2070

Pilgrimage in full swing and played out against interesting backdrops

TURIN: 24th February 2008 -- It is Sunday 24th and the GC26 members are in Piedmont - Valdocco and Colle Don Bosco-Becchi mainly. Tomorrow will be the celebration of Sts. Louis Versiglia and Callistus Caravario, proto-martyrs of the Salesian Family, significant especially for CIN and ITM (Caravario spent some time in Timor).
    How best to follow this Pilgrimage?  At least four steps, we suggest: (1) the entire itinerary is available, in English, from the GC26 English site most easily accessed through www.sdb.org. (2) On the www.sdb.org home page, follow a photographic 'tour' of same  through FOCUS (3) Keep an eye on ANS which publishes news and a video as they come to hand.  (4) of course, austraLasia!
    Yesterday the Chapter members, after leaving Rome at 5 a.m got to Turin in time to visit the Church of St Francis of Asissi, where the Ecclesiastical College or 'Convitto' used be (it is no longer), and where Don Bosco claims the Bartholomew Garelli encounter took place in the sacristy of the attached (and still existing) St Francis of Assisi Church. This was 'the beginning of the Society' in charismatic terms, so the obvious first stop - Mass there. FOCUS has a pic of the facade of the Church. 
    Today Chapter members are at Valdocco, visiting every aspect of that foundational presence, including a very lively 'festive oratory'.  In the afternoon they all head out for Colle Don Bosco. You can follow all this photographically (not with Chapter members included however - we collected the photos beforehand under more tranquil circumstances!).  Tomorrow they visit the Consolata, just five minutes or so walk from Valdocco, where the Cardinal Archbishop of Turin, Poletti, will remind Chapter members of the two Salesian martyrs and will challenge them to 'do what he tells you to do', a reference to the encounter between Jesus' mother and the 'head waiter' at Cana. But more on that tomorrow.
    All of this is being played out against an interesting real-time backdrop or two, which highlight aspects of the Salesian charism. Today's L'Avvenire, (and for that matter last night's Telegiornale), an Italian popular daily owned by the Italian Bishop's Conference but widely read along with Corriere della Sera and the like, runs a story on how the Salesians are dealing courageously, and in straightforward 'politics of the Our Father and with emphasis on education' response to an alleged Mafia extortion racket in Palermo. Briefly, it's a case of 'pizzi' (not pizza!). 'Pizzi' are requests for money from anything that appears to be a business around Mafia-controlled areas; all part of the 'protection' racket.  The 'business' in question is a Salesian oratory-theatre, one of four major Salesian presences in Palermo, where the Salesians are very well appreciated for their work with Sicily's poorest and most abandoned.  But as the Rector of the community pointed out, people are quite mistaken if they think the Theatre is a business.  It is purely educational (and quite possibly runs at loss, but he didn't say that!!). It remains to be seen how all this plays out where the Mafia don't take kindly to direct and public rebuffs. Bear them in mind prayerfully over these days.
    Meanwhile, Cardinal Bertone, as the Vatican Secretary of State, is making a visit to Cuba at a very interesting time in that nation's history. His visit has no political intent, and simply coincided with the dramatic moment of Castro's part resignation (he remains head of the Communist Party but not the nation).  Our Cardinal Secretary of State did not quite get a plusquam optime from Robert Mickens' report card in a recent Tablet article.  Mickens is in the process of finalising an article on the Salesians and the General Chapter possibly for publication in the next week or two. It remains to be seen what the report card will offer.
    Overall, the two quoted events, highlighting a courageous stance for the poor and with the Pope, while Chapter members return to Don Bosco's place of origin, may help us to tune in to the Chapter as it begins to unfold.  Readers realise, no doubt, that the Chapter as such as not yet begun. Tuesday and Wednesday see reports from Departments and Regions, then a Retreat, and only on 3rd March will Fr Cereda, Moderator say 'Let the show begin' or words to that effect.
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 AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific.  It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome.  For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2008 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there.  Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org

Title: australasia 2070
Subject and key words: SDB General, GC26 Piedmont
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2070