(ANS - Naples) - The Teatro San Carlo in Naples was full yesterday, 13 October, for the start of the celebrations for the Bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco in the Salesian Province of Southern Italy.

The main performers in the opening show were the young people from the Province. The charism of Don Bosco was presented in many different ways.  Among the personalities who attended the event were the President of the Senate, Senator Pietro Grasso; the Vicar of the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Francesco Cereda; and the Rector of the Pontifical Salesian University, Fr Carlo Nanni.

Presenter for the evening was the TG1 journalist Maria Soave. In a very professional way, she allowed several guests to talk about an aspect of the charism of Don Bosco and his or her personal story.  These testimonies were interspersed with musical items performed by DBChoir, the choir of Teatro San Carlo, the Sancarlini and the Blue Gospel Singers. Each group helped to enliven the evening with songs, and especially the DBChoir, a choir formed by the young people of the Salesian Youth Movement. They performed songs about Don Bosco the Dreamer rearranged by their artistic director Alfredo Franciosa and musical director, Ivan Improta. They included songs such as Father Teacher and Friend, Just that you are young, Youth Horizons and Don Bosco and Us.

A more reflective part was when Patrick Rispo, an actor in the soap opera "A Place in the Sun," read and interpreted two passages from the Memoirs of the Oratory of St John Bosco. There were also the true stories of Nando, Salvatore and Al Amin, three young people whose lives were changed when they met Don Bosco.

The audience was thrilled with the show and the affection of all present was palpable. Everyone has received something from Don Bosco and the Salesians. Hold on to what you have received and share it with others.

Fr Cereda officially inaugurated the Bicentenary inviting all present to remember our Salesian origins: the Sons of Don Bosco are from the less privileged areas and do not want to run away. They want to stay there, like Don Bosco when he chose to live in Valdocco, a distinctly underprivileged area.

Published 14/10/2014