It is difficult to meet a Salesian and not walk away with a love and respect for Don Bosco. During my formation in San Antonio, we were able to watch Saint John Bosco: Mission to Love (2004), a wonderfully made movie about the man who deeply loved the youth of Turin. His heart was with the poor, abandoned and unloved children that suffered in society. He founded the Salesians in order to continue this love for youth through the years.
Although the Salesians hadn't gone to Africa when Don Bosco passed away in 1888, he always dreamed of serving there. On Sunday, a first class relic of Don Bosco was sent to Nairobi, to be housed at Upper Hill Shrine. Now he was here in a real way!
The celebration was truly a party! Saturday night, there was a night-long vigil, where hundreds of Bosco youth gathered to celebrate this saint. I only went for a couple hours, but I was amazed to see all the young people that had been affected by the work of the Salesian brothers, priests and sisters. Many of these young adults lived in Salesian orphanages, attended their schools or other programs. Their love for the saint who inspired it all was very evident. During Adoration that night, everyone's voices were raised in praise and worship. Singing in Swahili, I obviously had no idea what they were saying, but their reverence was so powerful that language didn't matter!
The next morning, I joined the noisy, crazy van of the 40 girls who live here at Maria Romero House. On our ride to the pilgrimage, they sang a song, "We are the children of Don Bosco...brothers..sisters all together." It was amazing to see how his dream to love children in Africa has come true in such a real way!!
Don Bosco has arrived!! We proceeded to walk to Upper Hill Shrine of Mary Help of Christians. The procession (and later Mass) included 2 bands, a choir and about 4000 people from all over Kenya.
Trying to avoid the Equatorial sun takes creativity.
The sassy, energetic Serah insisted I take a photo shoot of her wearing my sunglasses. She then decided to take pics of everything in sight with my camera.
Serah then decided I needed a picture in front of these flowers.
(Don't worry, I soon put on a hat and wrapped myself in a scarf to avoid the sun!)
A powerful demonstration of love! Serah is adorable.
ReplyDeleteSooo happy I got to actually talk to you today! Looove you. And love that skirt! And love that you arrived in Nairobi in time to celebrate this feast day! I'm gonna have to read up on Don Bosco. He sounds like a remarkable man!
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