austraLasia #3428

 
BICENTENARY DETAILS
TURIN: May 9, 2014 -- As the official date for commencement of the Bicentenary of Don Bosco's Birth approaches, questions are coming in: How do we organise a pilgrimage? Who do we contact? What kinds of events are worth being part of?

As an aid to interested individuals or groups, we publish information that has been around for some time but perhaps hasn't had the clear dissemination that is now being felt necessary for people to make important travel and accommodation decisions.

1 . World Events
The calendar for the 2014-2015 Bicentenary includes events that will involve the Congregation world-wide. They will be of different kinds. Some are addressed to specific individuals such as experts in history and pedagogy; others to groups such as the young people of the Salesian Youth Movement; the Salesian Family; Salesian Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops; and missionaries. There are also occasions intended for civil and religious authorities and the general public.

The events already planned will be held mostly in Turin, in Castelnuovo Don Bosco and in Rome. They include the following:

• August 16, 2014 opening of the Bicentenary: Colle Don Bosco
• September 28, 2014 Missionary Expedition and conferring of missionary cross: Turin
• November 19-23, 2014 International Historical Congress: Salesianum, Rome
• January 15-18, 2015 Salesian Spirituality Days: Salesianum, Rome
• March 19-21, 2015 International Pedagogy Congress:  UPS, Rome
• May 21-25, 2015 Meeting of Salesian Bishops: Turin
• August 06-09, 2015 International Congress on Mary Help of Christians: Turin
• August 11-16, 2015 SYM Don Bosco 2015: Turin and Colle Don Bosco
• August 16, 2015 Closing of Bicentenary: Colle Don Bosco

2 . Exposition of the Shroud in Turin
On the occasion of the Bicentenary and precisely because of the commemoration of Don Bosco's birth, Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia, Archbishop of Turin, has announced that the Holy Shroud will be on display in Turin for 45 days between Easter and the end of the Bicentenary celebrations.

In reference to the time chosen for the display, the Archbishop explained: "The opening of the Exposition at Easter time leads us to reflect on the death and resurrection of the Lord. For believers, the Shroud, which was a death-shroud, becomes a witness that evokes very effectively the victory of the Lord of life."

Archbishop Nosiglia added a further reflection on the extraordinary nature of this Exposition in 2015 on the occasion of the Bicentenary of the Birth of Don Bosco: "Coming in 2015, it connects with the Salesian Jubilee. This is an anniversary that means a lot for Turin and the surrounding area, because it is here we find the roots of the holiness of Don Bosco and the experience of the sons of Don Bosco." The Exposition is an event distinct from the Salesian celebrations but it is also closely connected in  “a climate of fraternal and mutual cooperation.”

3 . Visit of Pope Francis
For these two reasons, Pope Francis has been invited to Turin. Regarding his visit the Archbishop says: ”We are confident that Pope Francis will come to pray before the sacred Shroud and to honour St John Bosco, setting a seal upon a remarkable year. The Holy Father has accepted our invitation and that of the Salesians, but for now no date has been fixed.”

4 . Expo 2015 Milan
In the course of the Bicentenary year, from May 1 to October 31, Expo 2015 will take place in Milan. The theme is “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.” It is a global occasion in which the congregation will participate with thirty events from various parts of the Salesian world. It  will be an opportunity for us to promote educational issues which are part of the commitment of the Congregation: Development Education, Global Citizenship, Volunteering, and Education and Human Rights. It will also offer an opportunity to approach the theme of EXPO from an educational perspective: nourish the body, nourish the mind, nourish life and nourish the planet.

5 . National Events
Finally there will be national events in the various countries in which the Salesian Congregation is involved in educational and preventive activity, in the style of Don Bosco. These will involve mainly young people, the laity and the Salesian Family. In Italy in particular,  the provinces, in coordination with each other, are planning events in the major cities.

The official start of the celebrations in Italy will be on Saturday, January 24, 2015 in Turin.  This is the Feast of St Francis de Sales, patron of the Salesian Congregation, which is officially entitled the Society of St Francis de Sales.

6. INSTITUTIONAL EMAL ADDRESS FOR THE BICENTENARY
bicentenario@salesianipiemonte.it

7. Visits and pilgrimages to Don Bosco's places
An initiative that is arousing interest is the bookings for pilgrimages to Don Bosco's places: Turin, the place of Don Bosco’s activity; Castelnuovo Don Bosco and surrounds, the place of his birth, family life and childhood; Chieri, the place of his human and seminary formation, but also of youthful friendships and apprenticeship in trades; …

Various historical, cultural and spiritual itineraries are being prepared in cooperation with civil authorities. These are not initiatives addressed to the Salesian Family alone; many local Churches are preparing bookings to get young people to know Don Bosco's spirituality; likewise for family groups and cultural associations. The geography of these places helps one better understand the history. The institutional adress above is probably the starting point for this.  Another possibility is the Colle Don Bosco page for arranging accommodation: It is in Italian but not too difficult to work out where to put details of a request! Mind you, it would be helpful if they also offered it in English, especially on the 'English' pages!

When visits to these places also have spiritual significance they become a pilgrimage and thus an opportunity for experiences of faith and an encouragement to holiness. Pilgrimage is an effective format and one much appreciated today for communicating spiritual experiences. The Salesian places hold an attraction and reminder to return to the sources of the charism.

8. Don Bosco Lived Here - Guide to the Don Bosco Places
It is at this point that a good guide to the history and geography of 'Don Bosco Land' would be very helpful.  You can find one here