As Close As It Can Get-A Meaningful Eucharist

We will forever treasure the experience we had of celebrating the Eucharist in the Basilica at Valdocco, animated by the SUO Province. Just when our hearts were beginning to be heavy with the thought of leaving Valdocco, this experience lifted our spirits, giving us new energy, enthusiasm and determination to further our Salesian charism.

All of us joined in the entrance procession, each carrying a scroll upon which were written the names of all those whom we wanted to entrust to Mary, our loving Mother. The feeling was as if all those whose names were on the scroll were walking along with us towards our Mother.  The tray on which we placed our scrolls represented the open arms of Jesus, welcoming everyone into his heart!

We were seated around the alter, in the sanctuary.  We cannot explain the overwhelming feeling it gave us to be right there under the watchful eyes of Mary Help of Christians.

The initiative of Fr. Matthew Chan, SDB, our chaplain, allowed each one of us to break th

e host and share it with another, symbolizing self-sacrifice and self-giving in a world of self-fulfillment and selfishness.

The renewal of our vows at the end of the Eucharist really helped us to surrender our lives in the hands of God our Father and our Blessed Mother, who lovingly looked on us, her dear daughters.  There could have been no better parting gift than this--gathering as close as it can get--to Mary, Help of Christians and Don Bosco!