The month of September invites us into a sacred rhythm of remembrance, gratitude, and renewal. It is a month marked by feasts that focus us on the Holy Cross, Sacred Scripture, and Virgin Mary’s maternal presence. As we celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, particularly honoured as Our Lady of Velankanni in Tamil Nadu, and journey through the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Our Lady of Sorrows, and the memorial of St. Jerome, the Church draws our attention to the heart of discipleship: fidelity in suffering, depth in knowledge of God, and constancy in love for God and neighbour. These feasts are not mere commemorations, but invitations to re-examine our own vocational journey, whether we walk the path of the Salesian priesthood or the Salesian brotherhood, and to ask ourselves if we are being formed into true shepherds and servants after the heart of Christ.

In this spirit, we find a luminous point of reference in the Convitto Ecclesiastico of Turin, which shaped the early priestly life of St. John Bosco and countless others. The Convitto was more than an academic formation house; it was a school of sanctity, pastoral love, and interior maturity. While it was originally established for diocesan priests, the spiritual and apostolic principles that guided Venerable Luigi Guala and St. Joseph Cafasso remain profoundly relevant for us today, especially for those in Salesian formation. Whether one is preparing for priestly ordination or for the perpetual profession of the brotherhood, the Convitto’s legacy challenges us to anchor our lives in prayer, doctrinal clarity, apostolic zeal, and fraternal charity. In a time marked by rapid change and deep hunger for authenticity, we are called to embrace the same formation of heart and mind that once produced saints.

In the light of these reflections, the spirit of the Convitto Ecclesiastico offers us a timely and timeless blueprint. For priests, it calls for a renewed dedication to the Word, the Sacraments, and the confessional, becoming ministers not only of grace but of mercy and truth. For brothers, it calls for the sanctification of ordinary life, a deeper understanding of the Salesian mission, and a daily witness to the Gospel through work, prayer, and fraternity. Whether in the classroom, workshop, parish, or playground, the essential call remains the same: to be holy educators and shepherds, in the spirit of Don Bosco, formed after the model of Christ the Good Shepherd. The Convitto reminds us that true formation is not only intellectual but deeply spiritual and pastoral. 

As we move forward in this sacred month, may the feasts of September stir within us a longing to live our vocations with greater depth and purpose. May Our Lady of Velankanni protect and guide us, St. Jerome inspire us to love the Scriptures, and St. Joseph Cafasso and Ven. Luigi Guala intercede for us as we seek to be men of conviction, compassion, and holiness. Let us take up the torch they have passed down and allow the Convitto’s enduring spirit to shape a new generation of Salesians, brothers and priests, who, with St. John Bosco’s heart, seek the glory of God and the salvation of the young.