November 7
1874: First Novice Master
1876: Second Missionary Expedition
1877: Third Missionary Expedition

1874: First Novice Master

Another top priority of Don Bosco was to set up a regular novitiate or, rather, to order its regular functioning. This had been Father Rua’s duty up to 1874, but on November 7 of that year he passed it on to the newly-appointed Novice Master, Father Julius Barberis, who compiled and published a Vade Mecum for his novices. Presenting it to them on January 31, 1900, he declared: “My dear novices. last November 7 marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of my appointment as Novice Master by the will of God and our good Superiors – Don Bosco in particular. (BM X, 542)

1876: Second Missionary Expedition

The farewell function for the missionaries of the Second Expedition for South America was held in the basilica. Father Bodrato was the leader and Father Lasagna was one of the 23 missionaries. (cfr. BM XII, 368)

1877: Third Missionary Expedition

Father Costamagna led this expedition and Father Vespignani was one of the group. For the first time, six Daughters of Mary f Hp of Christians too left for the missions. (cfr. BM XIII. 220ff)

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