…the raindrops blew and the puddles grew. It rained and poured and sogged and mudded up, but without dampening Salesian spirits as the relic of our Father and Founder came on pilgrimage for the 5,000 members of the Salesian Family including, especially, 2,000 young people (according to the estimates of Fr. Steve Ryan, coordinator of the program).
(Thiells is the hamlet within the Town of Haverstraw where the Marian Shrine and Don Bosco Retreat Center are located, excepting the frontage on Filors Lane in Stony Point.)Following Don Bosco’s pilgrimage stop in the National Shrine on Sept. 28 (see below), we were pleased to discover in the Washington Post a large photo of the reliquary in the center of the Metro section’s page 1.
On the 29th it was easier to get the reliquary out of the basilica than it had been to get it in; we finished by about 10:00 a.m. At Fr. Steve Shafran’s suggestion, we made an unscheduled stop at Don Bosco Cristo Rey HS, giving at least one class who had missed Don Bosco the previous day a chance to come out to the truck and venerate the relic.
Our caravan got going around 11:00, with Mauro Festa and Tino Luiselli handling the truck and Rudy Gomez and me leading in the car. Most of the way, Rudy was busy with his laptop, editing video from Miami. Without rushing but just keeping up with the traffic on Interstates 95 and 295, we made good time on our way to Haverstraw, stopping only once for gas/diesel and for lunch at a Cracker Barrel right after crossing the Delaware River into New Jersey. At Fort Lee we had to get off the highway, though, and take 9W, which is mostly a local road, the rest of the way up to Haverstraw. Still, we got in before 5:00 p.m. Fr. John Puntino, director of
the Marian Shrine, had us “hide” Don Bosco in an out-of-the-way place until the local committee was ready to present him to the public.At right, chapel of the Marian Shrine
As we arrived, Fr. Steve Ryan and his valiant volunteers were putting the finishing touches on their set-up of a half dozen tent pavilions for Thursday’s youth rally and outdoor Mass in the field next to the Shrine chapel. As Fr. Tom Dunne (our provincial) wrote: “Months of hard work by hundreds of Don Bosco volunteers had transformed the field into a youthful center of faith, food, fun, and fellowship. There were tents for Eucharistic adoration, Penance, formative literature, and religious-themed clothing. The [permanent] pavilion was set up as a food distribution area.”
Mauro, Tino, and Rudy got settled into rooms in the retreat house, and then Mauro, Tino, and joined the SDB community for supper. Rudy wanted to continue his editing work. Following supper, Mauro, Tino, and Fr. John moved the relic up to the Shrine chapel, where there was a formal reception ceremony around 7:30 p.m., followed by a prayer service and youthful fun. I didn’t stay for that, having work still to do back at the provincial house (which kept me up nearly till midnite)—chiefly to download 500 photos from Washington and get them to the folks responsible for posting at donboscoamongus.org and in Sept. 30’s E-Service.
On Thursday, Sept. 30, tropical storm Nicole did its best to put a literal damper on the day, as rain soaked the fields where the tents and stage were set up. The entire student bodies of Don Bosco Prep and Salesian High School and many other young people showed up anyway, no one’s spirits dampened in the least.
Mauro, Tino, and Rudy got settled into rooms in the retreat house, and then Mauro, Tino, and joined the SDB community for supper. Rudy wanted to continue his editing work. Following supper, Mauro, Tino, and Fr. John moved the relic up to the Shrine chapel, where there was a formal reception ceremony around 7:30 p.m., followed by a prayer service and youthful fun. I didn’t stay for that, having work still to do back at the provincial house (which kept me up nearly till midnite)—chiefly to download 500 photos from Washington and get them to the folks responsible for posting at donboscoamongus.org and in Sept. 30’s E-Service.
On Thursday, Sept. 30, tropical storm Nicole did its best to put a literal damper on the day, as rain soaked the fields where the tents and stage were set up. The entire student bodies of Don Bosco Prep and Salesian High School and many other young people showed up anyway, no one’s spirits dampened in the least.
A typical morning scene around the casket with Don Bosco's relic at the Marian ShrineA crew of Salesian Old Boys (see http://sdbnews.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html)–you know what they call themselves—led by Greg Sand manned a booth selling religious articles, books, T-shirts, caps, and other keepsakes. Greg also had a gang of students from Marist College helping out—a hands-on marketing experience. They all seemed to be pretty busy, weather notwithstanding (it was fairly dry under the roof of the tent, after all), and for sure “a good time was had by all.”
Salesian Old Boys Pat Kemple, Jack Hudak, and Tony Smaldone in the merchandise tent. As Don Bosco had to adapt to circumstances for his “wandering oratory” in 1844-1846, so did the youth rally planners. The relic remained in the chapel, and the music, skits, etc., were moved therein. The pilgrims, both youths and adults, were shuttled (herded?) through in three very large bunches, cramming into every available seat, lining the side aisles and even the back of the sanctuary, sitting on the floor of the center aisle.
The youth program included a skit dramatizing the relationship between Don Bosco and Father/Bishop John Cagliero, acted out by Deacon Mike Leschinsky and Prenovice Kyle Zinno.
Don Bosco Prep alum/Georgetown student Ryan Muldoon gave a witness talk about the importance of Don Bosco in his personal spiritual growth. Then two high school students, Kelly Finn from Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, N.J., and Joe Hadzovic from Brooklyn, gave testimony.Kelly told how she had transferred into MHCA from another Catholic school as a junior because she wanted to find not only academics but also a passion for God in her school. That she did, and beauty, truth, and joy as well. She called the FMAs “the most beautiful group of women” she has ever met; they live Don Bosco’s message and bring her closer to God every day.
Students from Don Bosco Prep fill the center aisle of the chapel during one of the 3 "youth rallies" before the archbishop arrived.
Joe described how neat it was to find out through Don Bosco’s spirituality that faith and fun can go together. He’s in Kenny Wozanowski’s youth group (Ken used to work in the province youth ministry office) and has made at least one Salesian leadership retreat. He loves the Salesian way to holiness: cheerfulness, the sacraments, Mary, and service; and he wants to help others find that same path. So he’s become a youth leader himself.
Breakfast was served in the pavilion, as planned, and students huddled at the tables under its roof or stood under their umbrellas out in the rain (or even without umbrellas). Others walked up to the gym at the youth center without any definite plan except to try to stay dry.
Fr. Steve and Fr. Tom decided to cancel the Mass that Archbishop Tim Dolan was to have said outside. When the archbishop arrived shortly after 10:30, he graciously and happily agreed to address the young people and other pilgrims in groups in the chapel. So by turn once again, 2,000 or so people were shepherded into the chapel in three groups, and to each the archbishop spoke very warmly about Don Bosco and his message for us today. Having missed the Bosco-Cagliero skit, he called for a “command performance,” and Deacon Mike was hunted up from some corner of the property to do the act one more time with Kyle (who, like a good prenovice, was close at hand).
Abp. Tim Dolan of New York, in front of the reliquary of Don Bosco, speaking to a very crowded chapel about Don Bosco and his message for today.
Breakfast was served in the pavilion, as planned, and students huddled at the tables under its roof or stood under their umbrellas out in the rain (or even without umbrellas). Others walked up to the gym at the youth center without any definite plan except to try to stay dry.
Fr. Steve and Fr. Tom decided to cancel the Mass that Archbishop Tim Dolan was to have said outside. When the archbishop arrived shortly after 10:30, he graciously and happily agreed to address the young people and other pilgrims in groups in the chapel. So by turn once again, 2,000 or so people were shepherded into the chapel in three groups, and to each the archbishop spoke very warmly about Don Bosco and his message for us today. Having missed the Bosco-Cagliero skit, he called for a “command performance,” and Deacon Mike was hunted up from some corner of the property to do the act one more time with Kyle (who, like a good prenovice, was close at hand).
Abp. Tim Dolan of New York, in front of the reliquary of Don Bosco, speaking to a very crowded chapel about Don Bosco and his message for today.
The archbishop made three points: (1) Don’t be afraid to dream and to follow your dreams. (2) Always put God first in your life. (3) Don Bosco saw good in everyone; don’t let anyone tell you you’re not good. He added that, like Don Bosco, he loves the young very much. That certainly showed in his interaction with the youngsters at the Shrine. For that matter, it shows in his interactions with everyone. Patiently, he posed for photos and conversed with anyone who approached him.
At top, Abp. Dolan with some Don Bosco Prep boys. At bottom, with your sometimes humble blogger.
Later, Fr. Tom reported, the archbishop spoke of the impression made on him by “the joyful spirit of the young people in the midst of the downpour and disappointment.” Abp. Dolan “saw in that amazing spirit of joy in the face of great difficulty a sign of Don Bosco’s spirit of flexibility in serving the needs of the young.”
An unexpected treat was that Abp. Dolan had brought with him his second grade teacher, Sr. Mary Bosco Daly, who way back in 1957 in a St. Louis suburb had turned him into a huge Don Bosco fan. She came from her retirement in Ireland just for Don Bosco. She got a great round of applause, of course.
An unexpected treat was that Abp. Dolan had brought with him his second grade teacher, Sr. Mary Bosco Daly, who way back in 1957 in a St. Louis suburb had turned him into a huge Don Bosco fan. She came from her retirement in Ireland just for Don Bosco. She got a great round of applause, of course.
Abp. Dolan with Sr. Mary Bosco, his 2d grade teacher
After Abp. Dolan left, Fr. Steve Dumais presided over and preached at a Mass for a congregation that crowded the chapel, notwithstanding that by then most of the school kids had had to leave (buses to catch!). Nativity Church’s Gospel choir had extended their Don Bosco pilgrimage from D.C. to N.Y. and provided soulful music for the sacred liturgy, enhancing the experience of many another pilgrim.
Gospel choir from the Church of the Nativity, Washington, D.C.
With the rain mostly over with, although the wind kicked up somewhat, some of the youths who were able to stay—Fr. Steve Ryan’s dedicated crew, among others—managed to start up a game of Frisbee football in the field beyond the tents.
A sizeable delegation of youngsters from Holy Rosary Church in Port Chester got an extensive guided tour of the Shrine grounds from Fr. Rich Alejunas.
Fr. Rich Alejunas with dozens of his youngsters from Port Chester, stopping in front of the replica of Don Bosco's family home in Becchi.
Veneration continued in the chapel all afternoon with a constant flow of pilgrims: young people, old people, families, religious. People came from near and far. A third-hand report tells of a woman who requested a taxi to start her on her way to the airport; she had flown in from Wisconsin to see Don Bosco. People were awed to be in the physical presence of a saint, waiting patiently to get close to the reliquary, to take a picture of the effigy, to offer a long or short silent prayer, to touch the glass casing reverently. Abp. Dolan more emphatically kissed it.
Throughout the day small numbers of people also were celebrating the sacrament of Reconciliation, both out in the tents and in the Shrine chapel. Hundreds of people filled out cards with petitions addressed to the Lord through Don Bosco.
Mom and 4 kids at the petition table
In the evening Korean and Hispanic members of the Salesian Family celebrated prayer services in the chapel, which included music, dance, prayer, and sermon.
With the Shrine chapel nearly full, a youth group performs a gesture-dance to musical accompaniment in honor of Don Bosco.
At the Korean service, which started at 7:30 p.m., Frs. Gus Baek and Dennis Donovan presided over the inauguration of a new, Korean unit of Salesian Cooperators. The first six Cooperators of this new unit made their promises and then were congratulated by all the Cooperators present, some two dozen. The chapel was pretty nearly full for this service, and not just with Koreans and Cooperators.
The first 6 members of the Korean Cooperators unit based in Stony Point make their promises in front of the relic of St. John Bosco.
The Hispanic service was scheduled to begin at 9:00 p.m., after I headed back to New Rochelle.
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