"Looking Back to Valdocco"

Dear Confreres,

It was an eye-opening experience to visit the Valponsaca in Mornese a few weeks ago. This is where Mary Mazzarello, as a teenager, looked out from the second-floor window across the vineyards to the parish church to unite herself with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Today, the family home is set up to receive groups for moments of prayer. One of the SDB provincials asked the elderly sister giving the tour what is original to the time of Mary Mazzarello, and with surprising frankness, she said, “Nothing.”

In the tour of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, the Salesian priest giving us the tour sat the provincials in the front rows of the basilica and went on to tell us about the over 50 types of marble that are used to adorn the church. Then he said the basilica looked very different during Don Bosco's time. In fact, only three things were the same—the painting of Mary Help, but it is not in its original place; the altar of St. Joseph; and the pulpit, which was only used for special occasions, like sending out missionaries. Everything else has been changed over time, beginning with Don Bosco himself.

Some of the properties that we visited on the tours to Salesian holy places were sold by the Salesians or Salesian Sisters, only to be bought back years later. As what happens with any living entity, the needs of the Congregations changed and so the use of the properties likewise changed.

When we arrived at Nizza Monferrato, where Mother Mazzarello died, the FMA giving the tour took us into the courtyard to explain some of the history of the work. She said, “Use your imagination to see only this part of the building. That wing wasn’t here when Don Bosco bought the property, that other wing wasn’t here, that third wing wasn’t here, and the other three wings on the other side of the chapel weren’t there either.” Her point was to show how, in God’s providence, the small beginnings of a run-down Franciscan monastery and an even older chapel being used for storage had become the large complex of buildings we see today. This is the way God works: from humble beginnings, He can bring forth great works.

These remembrances of my recent visit to the Salesian holy places are relevant to our province today. They help us all recognize the importance of renewal. The repurposing of rooms, the remodeling of sanctuaries, or even a more significant change in ministry are external expressions of the need for deeper spiritual renewal. From the time of Don Bosco, we can observe how Salesians have adapted to the real needs of the young and their families throughout our history, never accepting the attitude of “we’ve always done it this way.”

In light of our awareness of the need for continual renewal in the province, I asked each director to work with his community to complete two simple information sheets this past July. One form was used during the extraordinary visitation; the other was used during provincial visitations in 2017-2018 and again two years later in 2019-2020. With this data, we will not only be able to understand where we are coming from, but have a better sense of the direction in which the Spirit is leading our province. I hope to get the compilation of data out to all the confreres in January. This will give everyone the chance to review it before our discussions during the Provincial Chapter in July 2022.

Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB, shared with me a conference he prepared, entitled “Reading the Salesian Charism Today: New Scenarios—New Challenges,” which you can download here. Fr. Fabio gives an in-depth reflection on renewal in the Congregation, especially after GC28, finding its roots and inspiration in Don Bosco’s Valdocco option. He writes, “The Salesian community is not only asked to work, but also to contemplate the pastoral educational scene. We are called to live in a permanent state of discernment so that the proposal that we promote and support is always in the light of the signs of the times.” This is the work of the entire community, not reserved for local or province leadership. Fr. Fabio’s conference and the reflection questions that accompany it could certainly serve as part of an evening of recollection.

We have set out on a path of renewal in these months of preparation for the provincial chapter. With Don Bosco, we find inspiration by looking back to Valdocco, and, at the same time, we are ready to make changes in attitudes, mentalities, and structures that better serve our mission of education and evangelization today.

Fr. Tim Zak