(ANS – Rome) – For the 199th birthday of the Founder, next August 16, the Salesian Congregation and with it the entire Salesian Family,  officially opens the Bicentenary of Don Bosco's birth. Celebrations will take place at Castelnuovo Don Bosco, where the father, teacher and friend of youth grew up.

The opening of the bicentenary year is an important and long-awaited moment for whoever shares the Salesian charism. A number of Church and civic authorities will be present; for the Salesians, besides the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, there will be his Vicar, Fr Francesco Cereda, and various other members of the General Council.

“The bicentenary year offers us an opportunity to strengthenthe Salesian family from a spiritual and apostolic point of view but also to give visibility to this great movement set up by Don Bosco. He is a source of inspiration for us. It will be interesting to highlight the challenges, problems, needs, expectations of the young as they were then and compare them with today's to be able to give not Don Boscoìs response but, ours, based on that model … Our aim is to welcome and communicate the greatness of Don Bosco's charism, which belongs not only to the Salesian world but to the whole Church and society” Fr Cereda explained.

Herewith the programme for the celebrations (given in local time, GMT+2):

Friday 15 August 2014

17:30 – Castelnuovo Don Bosco, Piazza Cafasso:

Arrival of the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, and his meeting with citizens of Giovanni Bosco's birthplace. Greetings from the Mayor and Parish Priest

18:00 – Castelnuovo Don Bosco, Madonna del Castello (Our Lady of the Castle):

Mass at which the rector Major presides: “Don Bosco as part of faith in Mary in his own town”

19:15         – Procession of the Madonna del Castello through Castelnuovo Don Bosco.

Saturday 16 August 2014

8:00 – Pilgrimage on foot fromCastelnuovo Don Bosco to Colle Don Bosco

9:30 – Colle Don Bosco, Main Square:

Academy in honour of Don Bosco (Band, historical dances by Piedmontese group, flag-bearers, jugglers and an oral presentation of Don Bosco's birth).

On the arrival of the procession with the Madonna del Castello:

Greeting from Bishop Fiandino

Rector Major's greeting

Greeting by the Prefect of asti Province

11.00– Colle Don Bosco, Basilica:

Mass at which the Rector Major presides, and with renewal of religious profession by Salesians.During the Mass the Rector Major will formally announce the opening the Bicentenary.

This will be provided by delayed at  6.00 p.m. by satellite, through Telepace; on the internet, thanks to www.missionidonbosco.tv; and by local TV channel Rete7.

12.00– Colle Don Bosco, Theatre:

Conferral of honorary citizenship of Castelnuovo Don Bosco on the Rector Major. This will be followed by an address from the Mayor and a response of thanks from the Rector Major.

Sunday 17 August 2014

11:00 – Castelnuovo Don Bosco, parish church of St Andrew the Apostle:

Mass recalling the baptism of St John Bosco, at which Fr Enrico Stasi, salesian Provincial of Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta will preside.

Published 12/08/2014