This past weekend Matthew and I and a few of the other seminarians studying in Verbania traveled on pilgrimage to Torino (Turin), in Northern Italy.

First we went to Mass at the Santuario della Consolata (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Consolation), which for centuries has been a place of pilgrims for Italians and for Turinese. The interior was very beautiful and was done in the baroque style, which tries to bring the glory of heaven down to earth.

Also on our pilgrimage we stopped at the Duomo (Cathedral) which houses the famed shroud of Turin. This allowed us to enter and be present at the foot of the cross, in the depths of the tomb with Christ through prayer. Especially since we believe that in baptism we die with Christ, this became a powerful moment of faith.

Nearby in the Duomo are the relics of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Pier Giorgio, who died in 1925 at the age of 24, was renowned for his sanctity and his acts of charity throughout the city. He liked to ski and was a great personality in general. He’s a great patron for young people toady, and in fact, his relics were taken to World Youth Day in Sydney last year.

The highlight of our weekend for me of this pilgrimage was the Church of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice, the Salesian Church where the relics of St. John Bosco, St. Dominic Savio, and St. Maria Mazzarello are venerated. Don Bosco worked with the poor and street boys of industrial Turin – he loved them, gave them a chance, a place to rest, food to eat, and some basic trade skills; basically he offered them hope in a cruel world; most importantly led them to Jesus and to Our Lady. How many people are hurting and hungry for the hope that Christ offers us today!

Having studied catechetics for four years in a program that is under his patronage, it was a tremendous spiritual moment for me personally to pray at his tomb and beg his intercession.

In a special way as Bishop Brandt’s pastoral letter on catechesis comes out this week, perhaps St. John Bosco is a great saint to ask to intercede on our behalf as we prepare to implement our diocesan catechetical plan. And perhaps, like Don Bosco, God may be calling us to work in the vineyard of catechesis, to put people in contact with the person of Jesus Christ!