By Fr.Tim Zak

Dear Salesian Family,

In 1833 Mama Margaret went to visit her son John, who was studying in Chieri and had decided to become a Franciscan. The local parish priest warned Mama Margaret that if John became a Franciscan, he would not be able to take care of her in her old age. When she arrived in Chieri, Mama Margaret told her son, “I want you above all to consider carefully the step you will take…. Remember this: I was born poor, I have lived poor, and I want to die poor. What is more, I want to make this very clear to you: if you decide to become a secular priest and should unfortunately become rich, I will never pay you a single visit! Remember this well!” (BM 1:221-222).

Don Bosco did not disappoint his mother. He remained poor and always close to the poor. We remember how Don Bosco relied upon Fr. Cafasso and other generous benefactors to establish the original Oratory at the Pinardi shed. We have the image of Don Bosco with just pennies in his pocket as he begins the construction of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. Although Don Bosco and the early Salesians lived in great simplicity, they did not scrimp on giving the young people the best they could afford. They were committed to investing in the education and evangelization of the young, even to the point of sacrificing themselves.

I write to you today to consider specific ways we can follow Don Bosco’s example and invest in the education and evangelization of the young