Carfin and Don Bosco's relics

We arrived at Carfin for an 8.30 start. The team were in great form despite thin sleep and a lot of fast food the night before. Carfin is a friendly place with a lot of practical care and a lot of humour.
Don Bosco seemed to offer different things to different people in today's pilgrim experience. For some the message was about friendship in relationships, for others it was the significance of ordinary things.
One person spoke about how amazing it is to get into the world of young people and share their joys and sorrows. One retired teacher regretted not being aware enough of wasting time with young people.
It seems to me that we have done a dis-service to people by making God unapproachable to some and unbelievable to others. Don Bosco's spirituality resolves both these tensions by  focussing on God as a friendly presence with whom we deal each day. That means that experience becomes the holy ground of life. The here and now becomes a flow, within which God can unfold a pattern of providence. Don Bosco helps us to step into that flow which includes ordinary things and see things through God's eyes.
Today's pilgrims demonstrated that they were aware of the call to service but found it more difficult to listen.
We hope that Don Bosco helps use the road crew to give a good example of faith action as the journey continues.
David

Glasgow Cathedral, standing on the banks of the Clyde, is a wonderfully warm and welcoming cathedral. As we set up for the first day of the pilgrimage it already felt like coming home.  The chance to meet so many people of Glasgow is exciting and to share some of Don Bosco's spirituality with them will be a challenge and a privilege.
The simplicity of the message of Don Bosco needs to be heard by parents, by teachers and by young people. The charism of Don Bosco does not belong to the Salesians but belongs to the whole church. This, the first full day of the pilgrimage starts the process of giving this gift away. Today we are making the living gift of a Salesian spirituality to the people of Scoltland. It is good to be here!

David

Don Bosco pilgrimage

We met Don Bosco's casket in Bolton today and are now in convoy as a forty strong team to Glasgow. There is a quiet excitement in the team, partly because this is all so strange and also because we don't know what we will be asked. The team are settling in together and may be pacing themselves already for the 14 days.
Glasgow will be interesting because faith is different north of the border. Here are some thoughts from members of the crew....
I am sitting in the back of this minibus, it's not very comfortable above the wheelarch. However, I'm going home. Being born and bred Glaswegian, I'm proud that we're starting there. Although Don Bosco never personally had the pleasure of visiting any part of the UK, his values and vision have had a profound impact on the way young people have been taught in Scotland for over a century. I'm sure the Scots will recognise him, when they meet each other. (Kevin)
Well, the day has finally arrived & the excitement is building! It's a privilege to be part of the road crew who will share in this special time in the church. Jesus wanted children to come to him & know his redeeming love, Don Bosco gave us a wonderful example of how to share that love. Let's celebrate! Come & join the pilgrimage! (Jessica)
With those thoughts gathered on the bus to Gretna we will leave things until later.
David