Turin (Italy). With the final synthesis of the work of the regional groups and the Eucharistic Celebration in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin-Valdocco, presided over by the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, the 40th edition of the Salesian Family Spirituality Days ends, held from 13 to 16 January 2022, on the theme of Strenna 2022 “Do everything through love, nothing through constraint” (St. Francis de Sales).
The Referents of each of the 32 Groups of the Salesian Family, a charismatic reality extended to 134 countries, are given a minute and a half of time to share what emerged from the Days on the theme of the Strenna, in order to arrive at a summary that indicates the newness and the proposals for the pastoral year that is opening.
“We are a large family with roots of holiness,” exhorted Sr. Leslie Sándigo, General Councilor for the Salesian Family of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. “We are grateful for these days in which we have grown in the sense of belonging.” The Mother General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Sr. Chiara Cazzuola, in the video message with which she reached the whole Salesian Family, spoke “of the beauty of fraternity and of the gift of hope and love that we give to each other”.
“Removing the gaps between life and spirituality, relating to others from heart to heart, living the spirit of friendship with St. Francis de Sales“, the Salesian Cooperators (ASSCC), represented by Marina and Andrea, will make what has been identified in these Days, become the theme of the formation paths of the Provinces and local Centers.
Renato Valera, President of Primary ADMA, invited “to have more relationships and fewer things to do. We have been recalled to the essentials of our being Christians and to the courage to evangelize ‘unarmed’, respecting freedom following the example of St. Francis de Sales”.
Past pupils underlined the continuity with the past, with great attention to the new signs of the times. “Our responsibility is to continue the work of those who preceded us, and we must reflect on the past while we are asked to understand the future,” said Bryan Magro, Confederal President of Don Bosco’s Past Pupils; while Maria Carmen Castillon, President of the Confederation of Mornese FMA Past Pupils, in connection from Minnesota (USA) said, “the question we want to answer is ‘what would Don Bosco say today’ in the situations we are in”.
The One Responsible for Don Bosco Volunteers identified two points: “Spirituality and true interiority to serve better, to humanize relationships; discern the meaning of goodness to implement it in practice”.
“The work of evangelization in Japanese society is difficult, but we will continue to communicate the love of God with courage and patience,” affirmed the spokesperson for the Sisters of Charity of Jesus, supported by the new Mother General, Mother Emiliana Park, who recalled the missionary commitment in the five continents, with the new borders in South Sudan and Uganda, “Pride and responsibility also for the rise of new professed in those Countries”.
Finally, a heterogeneous working group that included Canção Nova and the Salesian Oblates of the Sacred Heart of Jesus recommended “the commitment of the heart to take even small steps, to implement what was sown, also looking at the social and political field.” The Contemplative Fraternity of Mary of Nazareth suggested “considering the world as our monastery, trusting in the action of God”.
In the Eucharistic celebration in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, the Salesian Family, with those who were connected to the live streaming, expressed gratitude for the Strenna of the Rector Major and the commitment to study, rediscover, live in depth the Spirituality of St. Francis de Sales on the 400th anniversary of his death.
In his homily, the Rector Major, taking up the Gospel of the Wedding at Cana (Jn 2: 1-11), underlined some passages useful for the Salesian Family:
“Joy comes from good wine, the best, abundantly offered at Cana to all those who participate in the banquet. (…) And joy must be the distinctive and the most precious characteristic of the Family of Don Bosco even today. Joy does not arise from an optimistic temperament, but from a discovery made possible by faith: God acts, He is at work, and we can only rejoice at what is happening.
Mother says to us, the Salesian Family spread throughout the world: ‘Do whatever He tells you’, the watchword and rule for all of us. Today our communities of consecrated women and men, our families must be a “Cana of Galilee.”
“We are committed to living this year’s Strenna deeply and to continue dreaming of a Don Bosco Family that responds to this world of today,” he said greeting the participants in the courtyard of Valdocco-Turin.
Surce: Agency Info Salesian ANS
