(ANS – Šaštín) – Salesian family and friends of Don Bosco gathered together on the 29th of August to celebrate 90 years of Salesians of Don Bosco’s presence in Slovakia. Among the people present were lots of youth from all over the country. Some of them traveled no less than 600 kilometers; others had a pilgrimage of 100 kilometers in order to get there.

by Fr Rastislav Hamráček, SDB 

The programme called “Day of Thanks” took place in the National Basilica of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Šaštín, which was the first Salesian house in Slovakia. It started with a concert and continued with Holy Mass which was presided by the Vicar of Rector Major, Fr. Francesco Cereda, SDB. Around a hundred confreres concelebrated in the Holy Mass, among them Slovak Provincial -Fr. Jozef Ižold, Czech Provincial- Fr. Petr Vaculík, and the Vicar of Austrian Province- Fr. Siegfried Kettner.

“God blessed our pilgrimage to Šaštín with a wonderful weather, a joyful, brotherly and family atmosphere,” said Fr. Ižold. The afternoon programme consisted of the presentation of the Slovak Province History which was like looking over family photos, as one of participants said.

After the Eucharistic adoration, Fr. Cereda and Fr. Ižold each had a short speech. Fr. Ižold said: “I am really filled with great joy during this day. A joy full of thanks that Don Bosco came here and that he did not stay alone, because we write the history of his presence here. Everyone's life is a history, a story in which we can see how the Lord leads us. And in the history of the Salesians in Slovakia we can see how God stood with our confreres. He gave them courage and zeal, in building and in new starts. But He was with our confreres and Salesian sisters also in times of difficulties and persecution. He gave them courage to embrace the cross, sacrifice and prayer. And we are here to thank Lord He has bestowed on us and to say: Our God, I am here; I place myself into Your hands.”

The first Salesians, Fr. Bokor and Fr. Vagač, came to Šaštín, Slovakia on  September 8, 1924. Then for the next 25 years, the Salesians built thirteen houses all over the Slovakia. Nowadays there are more than 200 Salesians present in eighteen cities all over Slovakia, in two communities in Russia and one in Azerbaijan which are part of the Slovak province.

(translated by Terezia Liptakova)

Posted on 09/11/2014