AUL province contributes to the 150th anniversary of the MHC Basilica

By Fr. William Matthews, SDB
Australia-Pacific Provincial

Melbourne, Australia, 24 April 2018 -- 9 June 2018 marks the 150th Anniversary of the Dedication and Consecration of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians at Valdocco, Turin. To mark this event the Special Circumscription of Piedmonte and Valle d’Aosta has launched an initiative of ‘unity, fraternity and spirituality.’

Every Province in the Congregation was asked to send a candle to Valdocco which would be lit on a particular day in front of the painting of Mary Help of Christians and prayers on that day would be offered for the Province whose candle is lit.

Thanks to the creative work of Deacon Anusit Chanphen, the candle sent recently to Turin has been decorated with symbols of our Province and its four countries:

• The Crest of the Province
• The Ocean surrounding our four Island Nations
• The Australian Wattle flower
• The New Zealand ‘Silver’ Fern
• The Kava Bowl

Here is an extract from the letter from the Rector of the Valdocco Maria Ausiliatrice community to the Provincials launching this initiative:

"Here (Valdocco), all our confreres feel at home and all the members of the Salesian Family feel being part of a history of educational holiness initiated by Don Bosco. Here, young people of all backgrounds, who come to visit our Father, are continually directed by him to place themselves under the mantle of Mary Help of Christians.




For these reasons, we wish that your Province participate in this celebration of gratitude to Mary Help of Christians, and feel that they are represented in the prayer that will be offered in our Basilica.




Every day we will pray for the intentions and needs of a Province in the Congregation and for the needs of the Salesian Family in that territory.




The Rector Major hopes that this new chain of prayer, which will cross our Congregation starting from Valdocco, will help the whole Salesian Family to offer our particular contribution to the upcoming Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment."

If you know about any other EAO province 'candle gift' let us know!

Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us!

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