3006 Don BOsco Day celebrations
austraLasia #3006

Celebrating Don Bosco's Day
OUR REGION: 1 February 2012 -- The question came from a young Salesian in Practical Training, after he offered what they had done (see further on below): "I wonder how the other (formation) houses in the Region celebrate Don Bosco's Feast Day?"
   
We know that at Clifton Hill in Melbourne, they were celebrating it with a Final Profession (at nearby St Margaret Mary's, a Salesian Parish also), of Bro. Yongsik Kim Benedict, from Korea. Hopefully our tireless Fr Will, who is busy now as Rector of our large school at Sunbury, will post some further details on this in his excellent SNAP News. Any number of Australian Salesians will also have celebrated anniversaries of profession on this day. Not sure if other provinces in the Region 'employ' 31 January for that purpose.
   
And from Canlubang, Philippines, the following creative approach:

We had the academy on the eve of the Solemnity (last night, Jan 30). The hall was packed with seminarians, young people, Salesian Cooperators, FMA sisters and their aspirants, prenovices and novices. A group of students of theology who came all the way from Paranaque caught up just in time for the opening of the show! I attached the poster with this message.

The story happens in 1888 when John Bosco passes away and the angels who are manning the "processing zone" receive the news of Don Bosco's impending entry to the pearly gates. As what is customary, the angels have to check their records as to whether Don Bosco deserves to be admitted.

As the story unfolds, personalities whom Don Bosco has met on earth are eager to welcome Don Bosco to heaven: the three boys, Garelli, and even St. Francis de Sales and Mary Domenica Mazzarello have to" pull some strings" so that his entry is facilitated.

In between the scenes, the audience were treated to some episodes of Don Bosco's life: his dream at nine, his meeting with Dominic Savio, his encounter with Bart Garelli and even the 'resurrection' of the boy Charles.
  
And then, stepping outside our Region for a moment, but still very much in a formation setting (this one from the Novitiate in the US), the following link will take you to a celebrational post-reflection on Don Bosco's presence via the Casket. Well worth a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mOEzq_RCl4