That’s right! In Sicily what are called “Pygiesiades” or PGS, i.e. the activities of Salesian youth sports clubs.
I have no difficulty in saying that, reading this word “Pigiessiadi” in the news, my mind immediately went to that passage by Manzoni in The Betrothed, when Don Abbondio, reading an article on the panegyric of St. Charles Borromeo, learns of the existence of “Carneades” and asks “Who was this?”
The same thing happened to me, while remembering that Manzoni reports this episode to make clear the limited culture of Don Abbondio, who should have known that Carneades of Cyrene was an ancient philosopher of the skeptic movement, who lived in Athens between 214 and 129 BC, and was even considered the founder of the third Academy of Athens, also known as the New Academy.
However, after understanding the meaning, it also occurred to me to think about this word “Pygiesiades”, the great apostle of youth himself, the Piedmontese Don Bosco, perhaps would also have had some difficulties.
This giant of holiness, St. John Bosco (1815-1888), priest and great Italian pedagogue, founder of the Salesian family, canonized by Pope Pius
The Pygiesiads are sports competitions that are based on and fully fall within the educational methodology of Don Bosco, a man of rich humanity and extraordinary organizational skills.
A saint, who made the good of religion coincide with the good of society; and, precisely for this reason, he also used the correct use of sport a lot.
Therefore, the importance that the recreational-sporting aspect has in its game is great educational methodsaid “preventive” .
From this perspective, the valorisation of sporting activities in the training of youth also in Sicily. Where several Salesian families operate, including, very active for some years, – (thanks to the commitment and generous dedication of strong personalities such as that of Cesare Calabrò) – that of Canicattì, which participates in the annual regional event of the Pigiesiadi.
But to have a general idea and in any case understand better (at least something in general) about the annual event of the Pigiesiades, we collect the testimony of a young man who has not only participated in it for some time, but who also recently obtained his degree “… in Motor and Sports Sciences”.
It’s about Emanuele Pio Benniciwhich literally tells us: “This year’s Pigiessiad event celebrates not only the end of the sports season, but also for different reasons, unlike previous years, also inaugurates it… The “PGS” is inspired by San Giovanni Bosco. It promotes sporting activity at a youth and amateur level, with particular attention to Christian values; it is present throughout the Italian territory with regional and provincial committees. This year this sporting event takes place in Ragusa, where we are staying at the Athena Resort, which hosts around 700 people including athletes and accompanying managers. The teams, coming from every corner of Sicily, are 37 in total between 5-a-side football and volleyball. This is an important sporting event involving various clubs and athletes, an opportunity for growth and sports training. Personally, I am part of the Al Qattà Sporting Club of Canicattì at the Don Bosco oratory.…. Certainly, one of the highlights, apart from the various activities, is the opening ceremony of the Pygiesiad where there is the oath by the athletes, coaches and referees and finally the moment of prayer”.
