(ANS) – After 30 days of pilgrimage in Italy, the participants of the 4th Level of the school of Salesianity have concluded their formation journey following in the footsteps of St. John Bosco. This experience, organized by the Salesian Center for Ongoing Formation for America (CSFPA) based in Quito, marked the end of a four-year formation cycle.

It began in Valdocco, where the participants retraced their itinerary amidst music, joy, and fraternity. From there, they left for Annecy, a key place of Salesian spirituality, where, among other things, the Basilica of the Visitation is located, housing the remains of St. Francis de Sales, a profound source of inspiration for the Salesian charism.

In Genoa, they visited the Salesian house that Don Bosco called his “second Valdocco” and walked along the historic port from which, 150 years ago, the first Salesian missionary expedition to America departed. The pilgrimage then went as far as Capriglio, the birthplace of Mamma Margaret and of John Bosco’s first schooling with his first teacher, Don Giuseppe Lacqua.

One of the most moving moments was the visit to Colle Don Bosco, where the pilgrims enthusiastically relived the origins of their Salesian vocation. This same place was the place to get to know the three houses linked to Dominic Savio. Here they learned more about this young saint, retraced his life and the places where he was born, lived, and died; all this to consolidate what they had learnt during their formation.

Back in Turin, they visited the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. It was a particularly moving moment as they visited the places where Don Bosco lived and met Mother Chiara Cazzuola, the Mother General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA). The participants felt that the presence of Main was still alive ‘in each of his daughters.’

During this experience, the bonds of communion between the participants were strengthened and the ardour for the charism of Don Bosco was renewed.

The entire pilgrimage was recorded on video by Fr. Miguel Toriz, who documented the most significant places and moments in a series of audiovisual capsules. The whole experience can therefore be seen on the CSFPA YouTube channel at this link.