Turin & Valdoco slideshow

The Pilgrimage Towards Valdoco

The altar of the Pinardi Chapel, dedicated to the Risen Lord

We had a bit of free time in the morning to go shopping or for personal reflection. Mass was celebrated in the Pinardi Chapel just before lunch. This place is a proof of Divine Providence: when Don Bosco and his boys were chased away from one place to another, and Don Bosco was crying out in crisis to our Lord because he had nowhere to tell his boys to come to in the following Sunday, the Pinardi shed came! Suitably enough, Fr Anthuvan reminded us in this Chapel how the young should be treated according to the example set up by Don Bosco – that the ‘person’ should come before the ‘law’, and the young should be allowed to express themselves in full freedom and creativity.

Don Bosco's room in Turin - where he worked and died

The afternoon started with the beautiful “Piligrimage towards Valdoco” which included seven stations in the large Salesian complex, which had significance in Don Bosco’s life journey. At each station, we paused, prayed and contemplated.  The sharing of the bread at the Pinardi pump (original since Don Bosco’s time!) was enjoyed by all, as we were actually repeating what Don Bosco’s boys used to do – to go to the pump to eat bread soften with water, to socialise, talk and laugh together. (Yet this pump is Don Bosco’s “Preventive System station” – those educators who could not manage their pupils were sent there to get to know them, because he believed that this was the only way to obtain discipline!) The pilgrimage was ended with a visit to Don Bosco’s rooms, where he worked, lived and breathed his last. It was a moving experience to see all the things that he used, the cupboard altar that he said his very last mass on 11 December 1887 because he was too sick to go elsewhere, and the bed which was so high that after he died, the Salesians had to put him up on a chair so the little children could see him for the last time...

by Sr Thuy-Linh Nguyen SPR

The Wandering Oratory

The altar in St Francis de Sales Church

Today is the day of the “Wandering Oratory”, aptly named as we literally wandered the streets of Turin to the various places that Don Bosco had left his mark on.

The morning started with mass in Don Bosco’s room. Fr Anthuvan gave us a profound homily on listening, as the Gospel today was about the “Ephata” story.  He said, “listening to God implies obeying God in the Bible. In fact, praying is basically listening. When we sit in prayer an inner chaos opens up... but if we persevere, eventually, we can listen to the voice of love who calls us the Beloved.”

The Marchioness Giulia Barolo

After mass we visited the work and house of a remarkable woman, the Marchioness Giulia Barolo, one of the key benefactors of Don Bosco. Don Bosco’s life and hers crossed each other when she asked him to be the chaplain for the troubled girls that she cared for. Visiting the convent of the Daughters of the Good Shepherd, founded by her, we could hear her amazing story, told by an elderly but very strong and passionate Sister. 

This courageous woman went through great political turmoil and family tragedies that could have turned a human heart into stone, but her heart was instead totally moved before the sufferings of others. Extremely rich and influential – equivalent to a billionaire in our time – the Marchioness Barolo could have enjoyed a luxurious life that money and power could bring her. But she chose instead to spend her money to help girls and women in difficulties, even to the point of suffering together with the prisoners in the prison! Her husband was of the same heart in his own charitable work, using their money to help those most in need. A married woman, she founded three congregations of Sisters, which are still active today. Extraordinarily well-educated, intelligent and influential, she even forever changed institutional laws for woman prisoners so they could be treated more humanely! Although Don Bosco later had to choose his boys over the security of this job, the Marchioness Barolo continued to help him quietly, seeing the good work he was doing. As we were listening to her story, we knew that we were listening to the life of another Saint! In fact her cause for canonisation has been started.

The sacristy of St Francis of Assisi
where Don Bosco met Bartholomew Garetti

The afternoon was spent visiting more places that around Turin, from the Pinardi Chapel (which was originally a shed) to Francis de Sales Church, from the square where he met Michael Rua (now Blessed Don Rua) and “went half” with him, to the Church of St Francis of Assisi where he said his first mass, met Bartholomew Garelli, and started the first oratory. We could also hear and “see” the stories of Mamma Margherita, Don Cafasso, Don Cotalengo..., who had all helped and greatly influenced the life of Don Bosco. 

by Sr Thuy-Linh Nguyen SPR

At Chieri and Turin

Mr Ferrero is explaining in one of the Churches
where Don Bosco celebrated one of his first masses

Continuing to trace Don Bosco’s footsteps, we came to Chieri today, where he spent his adolescence and young adulthood. Under the guidance of a passionate Salesian Cooperator, Mr Giuseppe Ferrero, (who at 86 years of age amazed all of us with his energy!) we walked around the streets of Chieri, from where Don Bosco used to work hard in various jobs in exchange for a humble lodging and a bowl of soup every day, to his seminary and the room where his best friend Comollo  appeared to him. We were able to see the churches where he said some of his first masses. Everywhere we went, we could feel his presence as we were treading the same roads that he trod, and plaques, pictures and statues to commemorate him were found in many places.

The Seminary

Returning to Turin in the afternoon, we were given a tour in the magnificent Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. It was a moving experience to be able to venerate the two great Founders of the Salesian family in front of their relics, beautifully placed in glass shrines. The experience was greatly enriched with the explanations of our animators about the meaning and history of the many paintings and statues in the church. 

A plaque commemorating Don Bosco on the street of Chieri

Sr. Edna Mary, one of the animators, has said many times that our group was a lucky one as we were able to visit Castelgandolfo, have mass in front of the tomb of the first Pope of the Church, etc. Sure enough we were also able to visit the crypt underneath the church today – something that Sr. Edna Mary herself was not able to come down in the last 5 years or so due to renovation work in the crypt! Down in the crypt we were able to hear and see evidence of the story of the three Roman martyrs and how it was revealed to Don Bosco by Mother Mary, which led to the building of this Basilica on this spot! And we were able to see and venerate the relics of many Salesian Saints and other Saints who had “something to do with Don Bosco”!

The relic of Salesian Saints in the crypt of the
Mary Help of Christians Basilica in Turin

Today was also a very special day: the birthday of our Mother Mary. A solemn Eucharist was celebrated in the historical Church of St Francis de Sales behind the Basilica. Reflecting on the episode of the wedding in Cana, Fr Anthuvan reminded us to imitate Mary in her attentiveness to details and always let her words resound in our hearts, “Do whatever he tells you.”

After our evening meal, the day finished with a beautiful prayer and intimate moment contemplating the magnificent picture of Mary Help of Christians in the Basilica. A very meaningful rite was carried out as each Sister placed a symbolic “key” at the altar of Mary Help of Christians, a practice that Maria Mazzarello herself used to do to entrust the key of the house, which represented the key to the life of each Sister, to Mary.

by Sr Thuy-Linh Nguyen SPR

Becchi - the Birthplace of Don Bosco

The humble barn-turned-into-home of the Bosco family at Becchi

The first day in Turin, the birthplace of the Salesian charism!! After breakfast, we were given an orientation session after morning prayer. This is the practice every day we stayed in Turin. It was an excellent way to start our day, putting us in the historical and geographical context of our Salesian origin. From Becchi to Chieri and Valdocco, we were able to trace the footsteps of Don Bosco from his childhood to adulthood and priesthood, and the start of his Salesian dream...

The beautiful Basilica at Becchi

Today was dedicated to Becchi, the birthplace of Don Bosco. It was an extremely inspiring and touching experience. I was immediately moved to tears when hit with the reality of how humbly it all started – in a small barn-turned-into-home in Becchi – to how grand it has become – with beautiful churches, well-equipped schools and workshops, and hundreds of thousands of Salesian Priests, Brothers, Sisters, Cooperators,  Students..., spread everywhere in the world! It is obvious that all this dream could come true only through Divine Providence, together with a great vision, human hard work, and rock-solid conviction and perseverance.

In the homily, Fr Anthuvan reminded us of how Mamma Margherita’s way of living and praying had affected little John in his trust in Divine Providence, and in using short but effective prayers that led to relevant and immediate action.

Dominic Savio's house at Mulrialdo

We also visited two houses where Dominic Savio lived and died in Mondiano and Mulrialdo. It is very inspiring to see how such a short life can touch so many other lives! In his houses, shrine, around his pictures, altars, and anywhere he is venerated, people bring in pink and blue ribbons, to thank him for his help given to mothers and babies. 

by Sr Thuy-Linh Nguyen SPR

Off to Turin..

The magnificent Basilica in Florence

The Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin at night

A very early rising again today with a long trip ahead of us – but one that many of us are looking forward to – the trip to Turin, the birthplace of our precious Salesian charism! For many of us, this is the first visit to Turin, myself included, so we are quite excited. We were very grateful to have Fr Anthuvan, SDB with us for the whole trip! The trip was punctuated with a brief visit to Florence, Italy’s City of Art. We were able to admire the magnificent works of art done by world-renowned Renaissance artists like Michelangelo, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci...

Arriving Turin just in time for evening meal, we were warmly welcome by our Sisters at the old Casa Generalizia. (This house was our previous Mother House for 40 years before it was moved to Rome). We immediately felt at home with the Sisters here – the dinner was homely but delicious, and their hospitality was exemplary! It was touching to see how they took care of everything to make our stay comfortable, and took concern whenever they noticed anyone of us being unwell or in need. 

by Sr Thuy-Linh Nguyen, SPR