The beginning of September is marked, within the Slovak Salesian family, by the commemoration of the arrival of the Salesians in Slovakia. After the beautiful celebration of the centenary two years ago, the Slovak Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco decided to commemorate the arrival of their educators in connection with gratitude for the Salesian education they received, right at the feet of the saint patron of Slovakia in Šaštín – Saint Virgin Mary of the Seven Sorrows.
This year was the second pilgrimage of thanksgiving, which was attended by Past Pupils and Friends from the former local high school, but also from other Past Pupils and Friends present across Slovakia (Bardejov, Poprad, Žilina, Rožňava, Dubnica, Bratislava Mamatejova and Miletičova, Čierna Voda). The presence of the Salesian Father Provincial, Fr. Peter Jacko, who for the first time since his election, was able to meet with representatives of Salesian Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco from all over the country, added a touch of uniqueness to the pilgrimage. His address was carried out in the spirit of the centrality of Christ in the Salesian work and also in the need to take the first step. A powerful passage was the passage in which he reflected on his personal life and on his own awareness that his journey as a Salesian was also marked by Salesian guidance and education and that he, like all the other sons of Don Bosco, are de facto in some Past Pupils and Friends.
The President of the Association of Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco in Slovakia, Róbert Mruk, gratefully offered the current Slovak Don Bosco the hands, talents and time of the Exallievi present, who desire to live according to the recommendation of their saint patron: to stand by the Salesians and help each other.
In their prayers, the Past Pupils and Friends remembered with gratitude the priests, professors and educators who accompanied them in the early stages of their lives. There was also a strong memory of all the friends and classmates who preceded them on the path to eternal life and who today stand before Christ in the company of the saint priest John Bosco of Turin.
