Don Bosco in our midst… Come alive with Don Bosco… Don Bosco, Jezuchyaa Mogache Novol… these were the sentiments running through our minds as we prepared the way for Don Bosco’s arrival in our midst.
He probably wanted to see what the Salesians do after dawn… so he chose the midnight hour to come and see us. You will need to experience what it means to accompany and escort someone like Don Bosco. Police van in front followed by a Provincials vehicle cleared the way for him… Young people with the salesians were right before the van which carried the casket….And then you enter the convent of the Salesian sisters with fire crackers bursting with excitement in spite of the water all around….boys and girls along with the salesians waiting in eager expectation to have the first glimps of a SAINT !… and suddenly you hear that… AHHH…. Casket lowered and taken into the chapel for the rest. But no one wanted to rest. All they wanted to do was to be with HIM…. Click his Photo…. Pray…. Sing….. and may be just keep looking at him….Everyone was forgotten including the police… He had taken the center stage…. He had captured our heart. All the children wanted to stay with him for the night… but the superior had to put all of them to sleep after a brief welcome service… what we don’t know is that the superior along with few of her sisters could not leave Don Bosco alone…. They stayed with him the whole night….
Early next morning the celebrations began… some people came over to spend time with Don Bosco and talk to him. A group of police officers venerated the saint by first going inside and paying their homage before they took charge of the security and order. School children began to flock towards the convent… There was excitement in their eyes but the clouds overshadowed and rain began to pour down. For the moment all of us doubted… all were worried what would happen to the procession…all failed to believe that there was a saint present in their midst… procession began and it just stopped raining…. Even the sun wanted to see what was happening in Sindhudurg today….. All the who took part in the procession were all wet….. Not with rain…. They were all sweating…
The rest of the day was exactly like what Martha and Mary must have done when Jesus visited them. From the highest authority (Bishop Alwyn Baretto) to the smallest child in the crowd… they were all singing praises of Don Bosco… waving their hands… running about trying to be of some help. Some of them were sitting at his feet in contemplation….. Others were making sure that all those who came were taken care of.
If problem was the rain…. Don Bosco took care of it. If problem was food because suddenly more them 5000 people turned up…. Don Bosco took care of that too. We were left with no reason to worry and be anxious.
Don Bosco’s presence in our midst was indeed his extraordinary visitation to all his sons and daughters. What he has left behind for all of us Salesians is His personal love for each of us…. Don Bosco left the city of Turin and came to Sindhudurg since sindhudurg could not make it to Turin.
The night before he left us our hearts were heavy with fatigue and hard work. But our tiredness could not make us leave our father alone. From among those who loved him dearly returned back to the hall and went into a deep sleep feeling completely safe and secure in his arms… just like a child in his father arms. All slept well… but I am sure not Don Bosco because when we were sleeping Don Bosco had to remain awake to look after us…. This is the love of our father we experienced in the depth of that night.
Departure did not last very long… The rain came down pouring… as if to say it was unable to hold back emotions any longer. Salesians…. Teachers…. Youngsters…. All did not mind getting wet in the rain because rain could hide their tears too. They all walked with him as long as they could… and then with outstretched arms they bid him farewell.
