THE PRIEST OF THE YEAR 2000

A THEME WE HAVE VERY MUCH AT HEART

- Introduction - 15Oth anniversary of the priestly ordination of Don Bosco - The Synod of 1990, on priestly formation at the present day - The "courageous clarity" of the synodal fathers. - The absolute originality of the "priesthood" of the New Covenant - Baptismal consecration and the ordained ministry. - The delicate theme of the priest who is also a religious. - Don Bosco: Priest and Founder for the young - Urgent need for better salesian formation - The GC23 and our pastoral growth - Gratitude to the Priest and his entrustment to Mary

Rome, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception BVM, 8 December 1990

My dear confreres,

May the new year be for all of us a time when we intensify the spirit of Don Bosco in our hearts. In this way we shall be able, day by day, to gradually bring to reality the pedagogical and pastoral perspectives of the GC23.

Importance should be given to the "community day".¹ It will be well to recite in the course of the community meeting, which is a vital setting for ongoing formation, the "prayer" expressed in n. 95 of the Chapter document: "We believe that God loves the young... We believe that Jesus wants to share his life with young people... We believe that the Spirit is present in them... We believe that God is awaiting us in the young to offer us the grace of meeting with him and to dispose us to serve him in them..,”. As we recite together the whole of this text, we shall grow in the characteristic experience which makes us see the field of education as the special place where we meet Christ.

I would like to exhort Provincials and Rectors to insist on ongoing formation so that “da mihi ani­mas” may be not only the motto that characterizes us but also: and above all, the climate ensuring good health in our houses or, as Don Rinaldi used to say, the lungs through which we “sigh for souls”.² To foster an atmosphere of this kind I think it will be useful to invite you to reflect on the recent ecclesial event of the Bishops' Synod, centered on priestly formation: every truly ecclesial event is also of its very nature a family event. This is a theme which for various reasons is of interest to us as a Congregation.