(ANS - Messina) – On 5 December a festive crowd welcomed the Tenth Successor of Don Bosco, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, to the populous neighbourhood of Giostra, to celebrate the centenary of the arrival of the Salesians at San Matteo in Messina-Giostra.

When the Rector Major arrived in the afternoon, he was surrounded by hundreds of young people who wanted to embrace him and show their affection. He was accompanied by the Provincial, Fr Giuseppe Ruta and welcomed by the Rector and Parish Priest, Fr Enzo Pisano. The Rector Major received the gift of a sweater made for the occasion and a brick with the inscription "2015".

The square outside the church was the setting for the reception prepared by the youth of the Oratory.  All the groups from the Salesian House had taken part in building a model of the parish church with cardboard bricks. It was left to the Rector Major to complete the structure and this marked the beginning of the centenary celebrations.

The Rector Major then blew out the candles on the huge cake made for the occasion and left the imprint of his hands and his signature on the wall of the oratory. In the evening he presided at a prayer vigil with young people of the SYM in Messina on the theme of the 2016 Strenna and conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on 14 young people from the oratory.

On Sunday 6 December, the educative and pastoral community and the young people of Giostra accompanied the Rector Major on a tour of the streets of the district, explaining the history and social situation of the disadvantaged area. The Rector Major then presided at the Eucharist to mark the centenary.  Thousands of people were present.  Among the concelebrants were Archbishop Calogero La Piana, SDB, Archbishop Emeritus of Messina, Archbishop Ilario Antoniazzi of Tunis, and some fifty Salesian priests. During the celebration the Salesian Cooperators renewed their promise of fidelity to the charism of Don Bosco.

Later the youth of the "OratTori" presented the musical "As long as you still dream", presenting the experience of Don Bosco lived in the neighbourhood of Giostra.

During his two days in Messina, the Rector Major paid a visit to the Mamma Margaret community which cares for elderly confreres in the Province of Sicily.  At the conclusion of the two days a representative of the Prefect of Messina spoke on behalf of the civil authorities, highlighting the strong educational and social value of the work of the Salesians in Giostra and elsewhere in Messina.

After the Salesian "good night" the Tenth successor of Don Bosco unveiled a plaque commemorating the occasion and imparted on all the blessing of Mary Help of Christians.

Published 9/12/2015