This year, in addition to the many reasons for thanksgiving, there was great joy at the opening of the renovated chapel in the theological college, after the major restoration work of recent months which has restored it to new beauty and splendour.
The Mass was presided over by Bishop Bruno Varriano, OFM, Auxiliary Bishop of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem for Cyprus, who with words full of affection recalled his friendship with Don Bosco, which began at the age of five at the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians school, continued in high school with the Salesians of Don Bosco, and continued through his university studies at the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) in Rome. ‘Keep your charism alive,’ he urged, ‘which is a way of looking at, talking to and caring for young people. It is not a philosophy or an ideology, but life itself, a dream!’
’Yes, it is truly a pleasure,‘ he continued, ’to celebrate with you Don Bosco, who throughout his life accompanied young people step by step, teaching them that holiness is not sadness, but joy.” .
The celebration was preceded by the blessing of the chapel, which was also attended by Fr Emanuele Vezzoli, Vice-Provincial of the ‘Jesus the Adolescent’ Province of the Middle East (MOR), and Fr Leo Arockiam, Provincial Economer. The work now enjoys a new, bright, warm and welcoming environment for the prayers of the Salesians and the entire community.
The day continued with a time of fraternal and community agape, animated by traditional Salesian songs and music, organised by the young religious from the Ratisbonne community.
