CRTSHS in Italy: Figuring out Don Bosco’s ‘Lego-Divina’

By Ms. Chioma Okoye, Communications Director, Mary Help of Christians Center, Tampa, FL

(Tampa, FL – August 20) – During the previous school year, Fr. John Serio, SDB, director at Mary Help of Christians in Tampa, FL, received a generous donation from a past pupil who wanted to give Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School (CRTSHS) students an amazing experience: a trip to Italy! Sophomores and juniors were eligible to apply by writing an essay explaining why they wanted to participate. Anonymous essays were carefully reviewed by a committee, and thus eight students were selected. These eight were accompanied by chaperones, who included Fr. Steve Shafran, SDB, who coordinated the trip, Fr. John Serio, SDB, and me (Chioma).

The pilgrimage spanned 12 days, including travel, with stops in Turin, Rome, and Assisi. The first stop was Turin! Fr. Mike Pace, SDB, vice director of the Casa Don Bosco Museum in Turin, gave a lively tour that walked the group through the everyday life of Don Bosco and the boys of the Oratory. He made an impactful analogy comparing life at the first permanent oratory, the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales, with Lectio Divina. He said, “Don Bosco lived a sort of ‘Lego Divina’ throughout his life [here].” Yes, our Blessed Mother would show him where things were to be built, but she didn’t give specifics of how it would be done. He had to trust and try to make things work.”

Upon later reflection with the group, a consensus was reached that Fr. Mike's central message to us about Don Bosco was the necessary collaboration of the divine and the human. With this fresh and more natural view of St. John Bosco in mind, we continued to Chieri, Becchi, Colle Don Bosco, and Mondonio. Here, we walked the literal roads of a growing Giovanni Bosco, who faced a multitude of hardships. Here, another quote from Fr. Mike sprang into its appropriate place: “The struggles of the boy became the strength of the man.” By visiting the places where Don Bosco was born, grew up, toiled, learned, questioned, and dreamt, we gained insight into the building blocks that formed our beloved Don Bosco, not only into the man, but also the saint.

A few days later, in Rome, we celebrated Mass in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the last church entrusted to Don Bosco to build at the end of his life. Our group also had the privilege of meeting the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB! Fun fact: He and Fr. Steve Shafran were classmates! The joyful reunion accompanied an interactive tour of Don Bosco’s time in Rome. The culmination of the tour took place at the altar where Don Bosco finally understood his dream of age nine.

Throughout the rest of our days in Italy, we visited many churches, cathedrals, basilicas, holy sites, and historical places. However, what remained evident to each of us was God’s vivid presence both to Don Bosco and to us then. In our final group reflection, one student shared his thoughts, saying, “I think Don Bosco’s life was a puzzle completed by his faith.” These words continually resounded for our group, even on the long journey home.

These students are now tasked with taking what they have learned and experienced and transmitting it into something effective for their entire student body. Please keep each of them (and the adults accompanying them) in your prayers, so that whatever plans, projects, and follow-up they create, in collaboration with the Lord and our Blessed Mother, may help to build up the Kingdom of God here at Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School.