Subiaco (Italy). From 19 to 22 July 2024, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of San Biagio House of Prayer of Subiaco, Rome, of the Roman Province St. John Bosco (IRO), hosted the Rector Major, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, and the General Council of the Salesians of Don Bosco for a weekend of silence and prayer.
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mk 6.31). The SDB General Council, now at the end of the summer plenary session, chose the House of San Biagio to respond to the Lord’s invitation and refresh body and spirit, before resuming the journey in preparation for the 29th General Chapter.
The simplicity, typical of this “house on the mountain”, characterized these days made up of rest, silence, walks in nature, prayer, and brotherhood, was enriched by sharing with the FMA Community and with a group of lay people, participants in the iconography course, of moments typical of the Salesian tradition, such as recreation and the Goodnight.
The Community expresses its gratitude thus:
“Sharing with Fr. Ángel and the Councilors made us rediscover the gift of belonging to a large and beautiful Family. The Eucharist, shared prayer, have strengthened the union and made us more aware of the mutual support that is part of being a family.
In a simple moment of thanks and gratitude, the Rector Major, on his behalf and that of the entire Council, gave the Community the gift of a painting of Jesus the Good Shepherd, made with grains of rice, and a statuette of Don Bosco in silvered bronze. He also gave each Sister in the community a small statuette of Mary Help of Christians.
They were very beautiful and meaningful gifts. Don Bosco reminds us that we are born from the same gift of the Spirit. The Good Shepherd recalls the attitude towards our young people who often need to be carried in our arms with the same tender and merciful love of Jesus. Mary Help of Christians, She ‘who did everything’, continues to guide our Institutes and we are called to entrust ourselves to Her.
Our Community gave the Rector Major an icon created in our iconography laboratory, which portrays St. Francis de Sales, in the hope that, even if he is in other areas and other roles, he will always remember his belonging to the Salesian Congregation of St. John Bosco”.
