Italy – In the footsteps of Don Bosco: 430 young Croatians pray at the places where it all began

The first stop was Colle Don Bosco, the birthplace of the Saint of Youth. There, the young people visited Don Bosco’s house, the Field of the Dream, the basilica and the places of his childhood and formation. They walked the paths he had walked as a boy, listened to accounts of his early struggles, his dreams and the encounters that shaped him, and concluded the day with Mass in the Upper Basilica.

In Turin, the focal point was Valdocco, the place where Don Bosco gathered his boys and where Don Bosco’s first oratory was founded. There, the young people were able to literally stand in the very places where Salesian history began: the Pinardi Chapel, the Valdocco courtyard, the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, and Don Bosco’s small rooms, now reorganised in the new Don Bosco House Museum… The young people also had the opportunity to learn about the other great saints of Turin, such as St Joseph Cafasso and St Pier Giorgio Frassati. A particularly moving moment was the evening of adoration and penitential liturgy in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians.

The third day of the pilgrimage took them to Chieri, the town where the young John Bosco grew up, studied, made friends and developed his vocation more seriously. There, the young people were able to understand better how holiness grows in daily life: through school, friends, work, prayer and small acts of fidelity. What made the pilgrimage particularly meaningful was not only the rich programme, but also the presence of the Salesians who walked alongside the young people for three days, celebrating the sacraments, leading the groups, talking with them and staying close to them. This simple, fatherly presence gave the whole experience an unmistakable Don Bosco touch.

Despite the demanding programme and the large number of participants, the pilgrimage took place in a joyful and festive atmosphere. The young people present showed great openness, focus and willingness to be not just tourists, but true pilgrims during those days. It was precisely in these moments that many felt most keenly that Don Bosco is not merely a historical figure, but a saint who still speaks to young people today and leads them to Christ. The “In the Footsteps of Don Bosco” pilgrimage thus became more than just a well-organised programme. It was an experience of faith, of belonging, and an encounter with the source of the Salesian charism. And for many young people, the silent question that remained in their hearts upon their return was: “What does God want to do with my life?”