| Italy – Presentation of the “Memorie dell’Oratorio”, in preparation for the Bicentenary |
| RMG – Preparation for the Bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco |
| Belgium – A new book on Don Bosco |
Don Bosco’s well-known “Memoirs of the Oratory” has fascinated generations of young people and young Salesians, helping them to know the life and times of the saint from Turin from the early days of the establishment of the Oratory at Valdocco until 1855. Today, the Salesian Congregation, on its way between the 150th anniversary of its Founding (2009) and the bi-centenary of the birth of Saint John Bosco (2015), wants to tell in a simple and attractive manner the path followed from that time until the present day.
The series “The Rector Majors narrate the Memoirs of the Oratory” will follow the journey as Don Bosco hands on the pen and the view point to his successors.
The first volume, “Don Bosco Fragua de Inquietud” (Don Bosco, Up to his eyes in it), for the present only available in Latin-American Spanish, takes up the story of the first Oratory at Valdocco until the eve of Don Bosco’s death, covering the years 1855-1887. Following on from this will be other volumes completing the series. The stories will be told from the point of view of the various successors of Don Bosco as they describe the development and spreading of the Congregation.
Fr Filiberto González Plasencia, Councillor for Social Communication and Director General of the project, has written a letter of introduction: “the Congregation wants to present to the Salesian Family, in particular those who share our spirit and mission, youth, the history of the Congregation, along the lines of the ‘Memoirs of the Oratory’, as lived and told in turn by each of the Rector Majors.”
Together with the first volume on Don Bosco, a book has been published covering the years of Don Rua as Rector Major, (1888-1910), entitled “Don Rua, el Corazón de Viaje” (Don Rua, well on the way). Both have been written by a Spanish Salesian Fr Francisco de Coro, already the author of other historical novels.
The books, pocket-sized are illustrated with pictures by the artist Betina Olga Spigariol, and made attractive for the youngest readers. Far from wishing to be a serious historical study the series is deliberately aimed at a wider public . “The aim is to touch the hearts of parents, teachers and the young people in our centres and beyond them,” Fr González Plasencia comments.
At present the first two books are being distributed to all Spanish-speaking Salesian communities and in particular the formation houses. Communities can ask for extra copies for wider distribution. In the forthcoming months a third volume which the same author has already written dedicated to Fr Paul Albera will be available.
The South Argentine Province is assuming responsibility for the publication and printing of the books through Brother Nelson Manucci, from whom it is possible to request more copies.
Published 08/02/2011
