Message to our Partners – Solemn Feast of St. John Bosco, 31 Jan 2025, DBPH Talamban, Cebu
In 1815 when Don Bosco was born, Italy was in turmoil. In fact the Napoleonic rule just ended and the so called Risorgimento (or Resurgence in English) just began. It was a political movement characterized by wars that aimed at uniting the different states, eventually leading to the birth of Italy as a nation in 1861. In short it was not the best time for anyone to be born. And yet God willed that Don Bosco be born on August 16 of that year 1815.
Don Bosco was born in a small village or hamlet called Becchi under the Kingdom of Savoy, known today as Piedmont in Northern Italy. He was the youngest of three brothers. His parents were poor because they were only farmers and agriculture at that time was in a bad state. However poverty did not keep John from achieving his dreams. The difficulties and hardships in life especially after he lost his father at two years old did not prevent him from letting his light shine for all the world to see. Amazingly John did his best to become a working student so that he could finish his studies and achieve his dream of becoming a priest for the young. He applied in different jobs and in the process learned many different skills. Guided by his spiritual director he persevered in his vocation and was soon ordained a priest under the diocese of Turin.
As a priest Don Bosco devoted his entire life ministering and educating the youth especially the poorest, the exploited and the most neglected ones in the industrialized city of Turin. He guided many of them who otherwise would have lost all their hopes for a better and brighter future. Empowered by the Holy Spirit and aided by our Blessed Mother, he was able to save many of them who could otherwise have ended up in prison or if not in hell.
Moreover, Don Bosco also formed a good number of those youth to become pastors and ministers of other poor youth both for the Church and for the Congregation. Many indeed embraced the youthful Salesian Spirituality and eventually became saints and blessed. Foremost among them was St. Dominic Savio, a saint at fifteen years old; and after him also Bl. Michael Rua who became the first Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation which Don Bosco founded in 1859.
Dear brothers and sisters, friends and partners in the mission, even today, as we celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope, as well as the 150th anniversary of the Salesian Missions, many more young people need to be protected from evil and harm and brought near to Jesus. They long to be guided and inspired by us adults, men and women of great hope, who are willing to enkindle hope in others. May we be signs and bearers of God’s love to them, and lead them to that anchor of Hope who is no other than Jesus Christ.
Thank you for gracing this occasion with your presence and for choosing to partner with us in our mission for poor youth. Let us continue to work together as partners so that with God’s help, following the footsteps of St. John Bosco under the guidance of our Blessed Mother, many more youth may not only be given new hope but may even be empowered to become saints for the Church and heroes for the country.
May God bless you abundantly and reward you more than you can imagine. GiGsss!