To the Rector of Pio College (Montevideo) Fr Luigi Lasagna

E V, 2563

Advice and encouragement - arrival of personnel for the new year - describes the visit of the Archbishop of Buenos Aires to Italy – faculty Fr Bodrato and Fr Cagliero to grant dimissorial letters

Marseilles, 16 July 1877

My dear Fr Lasagna,

In your letter, which I received at the beginning of this month, I noticed that you have not yet received any letters from me since you arrived in America, which I regret greatly, since I have only been unable to write for one month; in the others, I have sent a letter regularly. Patience.

I am very sorry for such a long and confidential letter. I will try to remedy this in the future.

I have always followed the progress of the Pio college, and although there are always thorns among the roses, we have great reason to thank and bless the Lord for what has been achieved in such a short time. However, if there are disappointments or even negligence on the part of those who should be supportive, do not worry.

Prayer, steadfastness, courage, advice. But do not forget the story of Fr Ubique [don dappertutto or Fr Everywhere] and the magic box. Visit everything and see with your own eyes, go to all the sites, talk to all your people: this is the key to everything good. For the new school year you will have the necessary personnel for your classes. Make many Salesian Sooperators and send me their names so that I can send them the Monthly Bulletin, which is already being published.

The Archbishop of Buenos Aires and 15 Argentinians came to Italy. I welcomed them at the port of Genoa and took them to S. Pierdarena, where they spent the night. I accompanied them to Rome, then to Ancona, where they were warmly welcomed by Cardinal Antonucci, then to Loreto, Bologna, Milan and Turin. They stayed there for several days. Lanzo, Borgo San Martino, Genoa, Varazze, Alassio, Nice, and were honoured by those illustrious travellers. They appeared very satisfied everywhere. We truly did everything we could to show our goodwill and gratitude. I travelled with them as far as Marseilles, and I will not leave them until the Poitou sets sail or starts its engines and takes them from my sight, so that I may go and bring you news of myself.

When you come to visit me in Europe, God willing, you can stop off at our house in Marseilles. On my return, I will stop in Draguignan or Cannes to see which of these two sites (halfway between Marseilles and Nice) would be best for opening a house: we have received excellent proposals from all parts of France.

Give me a monthly report on the moral state of the staff, and if you think a notice or letter is appropriate, let me know and I will do so.

Fr Cagliero told me that a pious lady wants eight of our sisters and is offering to help us with the expense. May God reward her; tell her that when I was in Rome, I asked the Holy Father for a special blessing for her. However, try to finalise the details and let me know the exact number, whether for teaching or administration, and when their departure should be set.

See if among your clerics there is anyone who is already of age for the priesthood and is already studying theology. He can be ordained; the other studies will be done later. Fr Bodratto and D. Cagliero have the authority to grant dispensations.

I am writing a letter to your niños and another to the President of the Republic and one to your bishop.

May God bless all my dear sons at Pio College and grant them the grace to win souls for God, and may their own always be the first. Pray for me, for I am always in J. C.

Your most affectionate friend

Fr John Bosco

P. S. Please convey my humble regards to the Vicar General, and Mr Yeregui, secretary to the Bishop, to whom I would like to give a gift. I await your reply.