austraLasia #2071
GC26:
Piedmontese dialect and fog are original - and Giraudo's insights are a
reminder of the rest!
TURIN: 25th February 2008 -- The Valdocco Oratory 2008 was in
full swing, and it wasn't just a show for 233 Chapter members. It
is
frequently like that as a true 'Festive Oratory' on a Sunday. So
a
real flavour of the original and, as the Oratory Director said in
perfect Piedmontese dialect, two things certainly have not changed -
the Piedmontese dialect and the heavy fog hanging around Turin at this
time of year!
A feature of the Valdocco visit, quite apart from
the general
liveliness of the Oratory were the insights, presented at various
moments, developed by Fr Giraudo over many years now, mainly based on
the Memoirs of the Oratory and the Savio-Magone-Besucco Lives
written by Don Bosco. In fact one observer who attended the Bangkok
Giraudo sessions in 2007, commented that one can sense the progress
made in this area - deeper, more focused and nicely articulated
reflections.
Given the range of Salesian experiences to cover,
many visits were
either too short or could not be made at all - it was not possible to
spend more than a few minutes in Morialdo, no time to get out to much
of the Mamma Margaret territory and so forth, but rather than a sense
of disappointment, what was achieved was done so well, again according
to one observer, that it just whet the appetite for a return, and for
time to 'dwell'.
Moving 233 people around these areas could be a
logistical
nightmare - it has not been so. Bus life has taken on a dynamic of its
own. People might be tired, many having come in from incredible
distances around the world, but the fraternal spirit, the 'da mihi....
"ma" 'Cereda tolle' jokes are in abundance, then someone looking for
respite from a tooth ache, several others praying the rosary on board,
African jokes there in the background, old friends from the UPS
catching up twenty years later...
Crocetta students and a Crocetta staff member, now a
Chapter
member, have helped lead the music/liturgy over part of this
time. It
has been good. At Colle Don Bosco Fr Basset had the entire Carillion
rolling around the hills ('Bells'!). And, indeed, the Venerable Don
Cimatti had the final say at Colle. After the candle procession to the
'Tempio' from Don Bosco's Cottage (led by Fr Albert Van Hecke, North
Europe Regional), Fr Basset gave out two small gifts - two songs, one
about Mamma Margaret, the other composed by Cimatti in 1947 during
GC16. The final page of this contains a photo from 4 September 1947
with Cimatti playing the harmonium in front of Don Bosco's house at the
Becchi, with Frs Ziggiotti and Braga looking on.
Meanwhile the comings and not-comings. Not everyone
has arrived,
due to illness. One is in hospital still at home (MOR), another
recovering from a malaria attack before making the journey (ZMB).
Two
others have had to return home to attend to emergencies. Perhaps
more
on that when/if news comes to hand.
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Title: australasia 2071
Subject and key words: SDB General GC26 Valdocco, Colle
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2071
