Magdeburg (Germany). From 15 to 16 September 2018 the Don Bosco festival was held, organized in cooperation between the Youth Ministry Office of the Diocese of Magdeburg (Germany) and Don Bosco Youth Center, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Don Bosco Zentrum.
The celebration was characterized by joy and faith lived in the Salesian spirit. Children, youth, and past pupils of the Youth Center, their families, civil authorities, and the diocese of Magdeburg participated. The Archbishop Emeritus Leopold Nowak, who had invited the FMA to Magdeburg, was also present.
On the afternoon of September 15th the celebration was opened, with the greeting of the Mayor of the city of Magdebur, Mr. Trümper, who thanked for the work done in the Youth Center. “Sister Lydia is a strong and courageous woman to bring something like this forward,” said Mr. Trümper. In his greeting he said: “These days show us that collaborating together is possible despite the differences in religion, ideologies, opinions and ideas, when we look at the same goal – the good of young people“. Sister Runita Borja was present to represent Mother General.
During the festival people visited the exhibition prepared for the occasion, which tells the story of the 25 years of the Zentrum Don Bosco.
During the evening, a drama was presented entitled The Man, Don Bosco, fruit of the collaboration of two artists who read the life of Don Bosco and observed the mission of the FMA in Magdeburg. The representation highlighted the essential elements of the Preventive System, telling the Dream at nine years and the relationship between Don Bosco and Mary Mazzarello.
In the afternoon a group of the Salesian Family involved the people in Salesian songs.
On Sunday, the Bishop of Magdeburg, Gerhard Feige celebrated the Eucharist with the parish community. The parish priest and the Salesian confreres from Calhorn and Chemnitz were also present.
Bishop Feige in his homily said: “Don Bosco said that every child, every young person is a precious stone. Each must be welcomed by earth and see its beauty and its colors. This has always characterized the mission of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. The Zentrum Don Bosco is a place, where goodness is understood, and the love of God is transmitted concretely. Don Bosco and Mary Mazzarello knew the source of true joy. They knew they were loved by God, in a filial way. The wish is to remain like children before God and to imitate Don Bosco and Mary Mazzarello”.
At the end of the celebration, Sr. Rita Breuer read the wishes of Mother General Sr. Yvonne Reungoat and Sister Petra Egeling, Provincial Vicar, those of the Provincial, Sr. Maria Maul.
A memory of the festivities are the graffiti made by four girls, together with a student from the University of Magdeburg, on the wall of the Youth Center. It is an invitation to enter and visit the community with heart and mind to experience a family spirit.
