(ANS - Rome) - From Piedmont to Sicily, through exhibitions, theatre performances and Solemn Liturgies. There were no limits to space and creativity in honouring Don Bosco during these recent weeks as, throughout Italy, homage was given to one of her most illustrious sons, through different manifestations.

by Gian Francesco Romano

In the centre of Turin City, at the Exhibition Hall of the Piedmont Region, there are still two exhibitions on Don Bosco, open to visitors. The first, opened on the 24^th of January and will run until March 1st, is promoted by the Don Bosco Missions Valdocco (NGO), in collaboration with the Bicentennial Committee, 2015. Entitled "DOMESTIC NATURE. A new sense to the objects of the Ethnological Missionary Museum of Colle Don Bosco" it aims to explore the relationship between man and environment in its cultural diversity, relying on the ethnological collection of the museum, with items coming from all the continents.

The second, which is based on the motto of Don Bosco: "Da mihi animas cetera tolle", was inaugurated on 12 February and will end also on the 1^st of March. It consists of 20 panels divided into three main themes - the figure of Don Bosco, the dreams, and the works - and includes various memorabilia of his time. The exhibit shows how the spiritual and the human in Don Bosco formed a single dimension that was expressed in his day to day activities for the mission of saving souls.

Still in Turin, this coming March 20, the Academy of Performing Arts will stage at the Teatro Colosseo the musical "Solo Chi Sogna” (Only he who dreams), an original work written and directed by Mario Restagno, with music by Walter Orsanigo and Paolo Gambino. Far from being just a work of praising Don Bosco, it offers a reinterpretation of the unusual story of Don Bosco, retracing the first years of his activity with the boys of the oratory at the estate of the Marchioness of Barolo, having to overcome misunderstandings, hunger, fear, pain, yet by persistence, at the end, achieving a dream.

In Rome, Mr. Mauro Corsaro, the organist of the Basilica of St. John Bosco in Cinecittà, Rome, has honoured the Saint of the young by composing a Mass for a choir of 4 voices and organ; it is simple to perform and can be easily sung even by the assembly during the liturgical celebrations. The Mass, all in F major, is entitled "You are the bread", which specifically is also the communion song, the text of which is loosely based on the prayer of St. John Bosco "Jesus my Lord." It was written in full accordance with the liturgical norms and has a solemn and festive style.

Finally, in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Sicily, last 24th to 31^st  January, an exhibition in 8 panels was held at the Salesian Oratory-youth centre. It presented the life and the face of Don Bosco, the relationship of Don Bosco with Mary Help of Christians and with youth, Don Bosco as patron, Don Bosco the founder, and the holiness in the Salesian Family. The exhibition was curated by Fr Santo Russo and by the Salesians of the local community, and for this occasion, the Italian Post Office issued a special Philatelic postmark.

Published 23/02/2015