Acts_1974_275.ASC :: RM Letters

FsBAEtrrcrloemusteaahadtdero-yrr,slfo'-osWMrsmiet-lahe,nttllop,tTnnrhaghey-eolnrhmoYaeOmnoeuduet.ltlnlthathogneswd- iwStohalfVtlehaoZsnlcteahanflefdtilreowirnanPalsoryo:-vN-sinal-qcmTClnahuoslesnmcocr-unhfurll6ndrMelro-ecninso-bsvAuoleollrrdntivisntthh-gleen

ll. lnstructions and norms {not In thls number)

lll. Gommunlcatlons (p. 18)

f . iPersonnel requlrements on

gress

ments

- Salesian Brothers

5. The new rPresident

tho3fe. t,hsmaellse,ssCiioaonnnfse,Bd-eisrha2otip.osnTh-oef

World Con-

4. Appolnt-

past'puplls.

lV. Actlvltles of the Superlor Gouncll and matters of general lnterest

Jp. 26)

V. Documents (p.31)

LPostor Compotltlon for the Centenary of the ,Mlsslons.

Vl. From the ,Provlnclal Newletters (p. 34)

tt1hh.eeArceSntaeloewfsaifalan-ithF5ai.nmToitlhyoem- Sana3yle.splTraiehnsetm-mciisanssdiso-eanupr-osst-o2l.a6tAe.fNt-eerwt4shl.eetCtmelererleNctsoin. -q5a0no0df.

Vl!. Pontifical Magisterturn 1.p. Oi

lnvitation to a closer acquaintance with the

News and the mass medla

bear witness

of men.

Chrlst

3- .

I'll

lt's up to

make'you

pyoopuey-oun1g.

The Good

people to

youn! pe6pie fishers

VIll. Neoology - second llst for 1924 (p. 54)

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& G. !L - BOMA

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!. LETTER OF THE RECTOR MAJOR

Rorte, luly 1.974

My dear ConfrEres and Sons,

I have just returned from my long joumey to Latin America.

I This time, instead of treating of one imporant subiecr, shatrl

pass on some family news culled in the cou,rse of my recent

visits to the Provinces. In this way you will have time to think

through some of the serious matters discussed in the preceding

letters; and you will also get to know some of the more interest-

I ing aspects of life in the Congegation today. rhink that suc"h

information can serve to foster the sense of unity which is life

and

strength for

'With regard

the whole Congregation.

to the letter on vocations,

which

was

sent

out

to you last January, it has given me great pleasure to hear that

certain groups and communities have given it serious thought

I and have reached some solid conclusions. But think that this

is just what the Rector Major's letter is supposed to do: to

present a set of principles that will be clear, up-to-date and

definitely Salesian; and at the same time to offer to our com-

munities not only reading matter for private and public use,

but also points to study, ponder and discuss, so that the broad

ffend-lines may be manslated into practical terms, a process so

necessary if we are to caffy through the renewal that the whole

- - Congregation with the Church is expected to effect.

So I would like to invite you all to work hard on these ideas,

to explore them in theory and exploit them in practice, because,

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in their content, they play no minot part in building up that

unity which the Congregation, if it is to be a congregation, needs

as much today as ever.

A sad loss

To start with, there is

same time a source of holy

Catdinal Trod:ta, that son of

ttphhdeedCseoandfogarreffguaasitrio--n,

s4d, but at the

of the death of

of whom we can

be justly proud whilst we remember him in our prayers. You may

have already received the obituary letter: I recommend that you

make its contents as widely known as possible. He was, as one

informed source has stated, a fiaftyr of the modern history of

the Chuch.

At about the same'time as we rcceived the news of tihe

death of Cardinal Trodrta, we also received notification of the

appointment of the successor to the late Mons. Boric in the

see of Punta Arenas in Chile. The new bishop is our own con-

frbre, Tomds Gonzalu, who is dready Vice-Provincial and Vicar

of the diocese.

As we all know, Punta Arenas is "salesian" country, and

so is the whole ol Patagonn On the threshold of the Centenary

of the first missionary expedition to Latin Amedca in 1875,

which vras to develop so rapidly with the rcaltzation of Don

Bosco's dreams for Patagonia and the Sttaits of Magellan arca,

the appointment of the young bishop caries with it a tich fund

of hope fot the new century in the life of the Catholic community,

born of the tears and sacrifices of so many Salesians and

Salesian Sisters.

The Meetings with the Provincials

In the la"st few months, following a plan previously worked

I out by the Council, have visited many parts of Latin America

I and a number of Ptovinces there. was able to meet hundreds

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of the confrBres, salesian sisters, co-operators, past pupils and

numefous gfoups of-youngsters. r

t9 ta]<e thinp as they- happened,

rhinl( the best

without going

thing

into

do is

many

details, which you can find in this number of-the-Acts and in thl

News-lerters of the various Provinces.

As I mentioned above, the meetings followed a plan which

had precise aims *rrashed out in a series of plenary sessions of

the Council.

T. wi-th.

the

focal point of these visits has always been the meeting

Provincials of the Regions. The meeting for the pacific-

tChaeribfibresat nof-Rtheegiosenr,iehse; ldanidn

Mexico City in Octiber, 1971, was

it was followed by meetings in itome

for the English-speaking Provincials, and then for the-provincials

from North-r7est and Eastern Europe. In April it was the turn

of the Provincials ftom the Atlantie Region of Latin America.

This one was held in the beautiful and peacef-,rr house of the

Salesian Sisters at San Miguel, near Buenos-Aires.

To round

1974, I must

off this account of the

include the meetingr for

progr4mme

th. Iberian

of work for

Region, and

for the Italian conference,

Next october there will be

held in Hong K*g, and this

held in the first fortnight"of

the meeting for the F,r East,

will compleie the series

i""..

to be

The business on the agenda of these meetings was all much

the same, and is best represented by the reports- of the provin-

cials, whircI really got down to the nitty-gtitty, to use the current

dich6. These were followed by exclranges-of experiences and

views, which made for a full and ftee discussion. lnre over-

riding consideration was the search for the basic ingredients

of a genuine renewal, after the mind of our Speciar Generar

chapter. In those days of intense aaivity, the agendas covered

the vast gamut of the congregation's vital interests, including

those arising from local siruations. And the meetings were

thoroughly salesian in spirit, to which the Iiturgical cedbrations

- devout, dignified and well-prepared - contdbuted in no

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small measure. S6aight away thefe was a familianty andfriendship

: among those taking part, and a serene happin-ess old. songs, ay,

und n"w orr", too, we were all caught up by the spirit of the

thing.

Mote

than

once,

these

occasions

&ew

dose,

heard

expressions of regret, almost of pain, that it all had to come to

an- end. How richly rewarding to the hrrman spirit is an atmos-

'phere of genuine conradeship

got,"whfle it is true tlat the peak occasions are the study-

sessions with the Provincials, nonetheless when such meetings

take place outside Rome, both the Rector Major and the Depart-

-"",4 Heads, who always

on a round of visits and

ta.ke Part

meetings

in these meetings, embark

arranged by the Regional

superior. In this way contact is made with the men on the job.

So Fr Viganb was busy with the problems of formation in

the field, -..tiog rhe responsible men in the &fferent Provinces;

Fr Dho, with catechetics, the youth apostolate and vocations,

and in particular with the aspirantates and minor seminaries, so

i-po**, for the life of the congregation. Fr Raineri worked

on the problems of the laity with those responsible, especially

in regatd to the Cooperators, who are tday coming into- ever

great; prominence as a key sector in the Salesian mission. Nyith

Ih. p"ri-p,rpils he studied ways of utilizing th9 mlss media in

the following fields: communications within the congregadon,

publishing, Jnd the use for our apostola'te of audio-visual aids,

which are becoming really essential.

I shall give vo" th. more inreresting and useful items of

the visit.

Missions in Ecuador

AprilM. -yTfhireskt isntdoplywinzslsisEtecnucaedoor,f

general wishes of the conftbres,

where I spent some days in

the Provincial, echoing the

the fact that in my vatious

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iourneyings in America I had never b€en to the country, the

recent reuniting of the two Provinces, including rwo important

missionary areas, were all contributory reasons for the visit,

which, for all the weariness it involved, brought consolation and

jov.

I shall give the main points of interest in the visits to the

mmiesstioonsfin^dt

Pastaza,

out the

Macas, Yaupi and Santiago. These enabled

work done by the Salesians, r.he Salesians

Sisters and the VSO's in areas where they had to start from

scratch under the most discouraging circumstances: arcas that

seemed positively resistant to any sort of civilizing action, either

cultural or religious; this is the famous "cultivating dry sticks"

that the late Mons. Comin used to speak of.

The present situation fully vindicates the faith and sacrifices

of these tough brothers of ours, whose work is continued with

the same sort of dedication by the presenr generation. All these

cthoenfirrBerexstre-meanpdovtheirstyi,sintruteheoifr

asliml tphlee,moisftseionnspr-imitaivree,hawpapyy

Iife deliberately chosen in

It is obvious that behind

place of the

this choice,

familiar ways back

made by so many

home.

of our

confrbres who have taken on the divine adventure, lies a deep

f.aith and the call of Don Bosco: "Da mihi animas".

ln the homeland of Zeffirino Namuncuri

I also visited the Missions at Batia Blanca and Fortln

Mercedes in

I was able

Patagonia,

to rcahze

Argentina. In the few days f

how much had been achieved

was there

in a cen-

tury's work by our confrbres and our Sisters. To describe it

as heroic would be no exaggeration

selves. Generation after generation

o- f

the facts speak for

missionaries in these

them-

lands

of Don Bosco's dreams have merged into the socia,l scene;

indeed, they have become one with the people, in whose lives

Don Bosco has become a close and fitm friend, present everywhere.

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At Bahia Blanca, which today is a modern town, I was much

impressed by the wide range of business concerns, ftom bakery

to garage, from farm to bric-k factory, that bore the name of

Don Bosco. It is evidence enough of how deeply Don Bosco

and his men have penetrated in these parts and of how much

they have done, quietly and efficiently, for the cultural and social

*"if-. of these good people in the process of bringing the

Gospel to them. As we enter the Centenary year of the ffust

expedition to Latln America, 'let us honout all those membets

of the Salesian Family who, over the last hundred years, have

built in this territory a city of Christian culture.

And mention must be made of a claractetistic development

that I met with in the arca of Salesian Patagonra that has Fotln

Mercedes as its power-house of activity. It is hardly a viTlage

-of

a little Salesian village, if you like. It is the Mother House

the district. Many Salesians have teceived their initial fot-

mation there and regard Fortln Metcedes, and the little world

that turns around it, as their home.

Today the fine Sanctuary of Mary, Help of Christians, in

so many ways- reminiscent of the original at Valdocco, is a

centre of devotion to Our Lady and to the Venetable Zelfinno

Namuncur6 as well. His mortal temains are preserved there, and

pilgrims flo& to t'he sanctuary from all over fugentina. It is

mosB impressive to see tthe love and fervour shown by so many

people from all q/alks and classes of life and of all ages to this

"flower of the Pampas". Fot good reason 7'el6hno has become

the symbol of the apostolic activity of our brothers among the

people of the Grand Pampas.

It is everyone's fervent wish that the Lord will glorify this

young Patagonian. \\7e all hope that such an event, besides

being the reward of a century's labours, will provide the stimulus

for a continuation of the c,ultural and Christian development that

will cope with the clanging situation in the territory.

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At the Brothers' Gonvention in Qulto

I Returning to Ecuador, had the impressive experience of

attending the Provincial Brothers' Convention. A good number,

p wide age-runge but with many younger men, and representing

as wide a diversity of occupations as ever: mission-Brothers,

technicians, agiculturalists, teacrhers, and the Brother who is a

member of the Provincial Council.

The things that struck me most at the meeting wef,er rhe

serious and carefiJ preparation, and the f.act that pretty well

all the Brothers took part in the proceedings. Th", there was

the harmony Nd understanding between the priests and the

Brothers, the sincerity and practicality in the handling of the

material, and the absence o{ axe-grinding. In fact, there was a

genetal preoccupation with the effort to rediscover and reactivate

the vocation of the Brother in the light of the Special General

Chapter and of recent experience. Overall there was an atmos-

phere of Salesian joy.

The experience at Quito confirmed the impression that I

had teceived at the Provincial Conventions in Europe. Let us

hope that the outcome of the other Provincial Conventions and

of the !7orld Congress will be in accordance with the desires

of the Brothers and of the Congregation.

Vocations: signs of recovery

I There is one thing did observe in some Provinces, and I

mention it because of the implications: I don't want to seem

to be indulgr"g i" groundless optimism, but I can honestly say

that in Latin America I found not only a general concern for

vocations, but that in many Provinces ihe

tackled methodically, and with dedication;

ift,rowbalsemfewlt atso

being

be a

community responsibility.

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-10-

And these efforts are beginning to bear some fruit. More

than once I was told: "Vocations are beginning to pick up".

All the more reason for renewed application to the task, while

the errors of the past are corrected and the negative aspects

ironed out.

One thing is sure: there is an increase in the number of

novices, and still more in the number of aspfuants. The signs ate

good, too, with regard to theit age (round about twenty) and

their studies (many have completed their pre-university course).

A notable feature of the situation is that most of them are young

men with a strong sense of spiritual commitment from our own

schools and youth-clubs.

God grant that these signs of recovery may spread wider

and wider, not only in Latin America but to other Ptovinces,

where the signs are not yet discernible. It is certain, however,

that developing a vocations' strategy is an obligation deep-set in

community life and activity, and we cannot ignore the clear

warnings that ate provided by the absolutely negative results of

the so-called "experiments" of the past few years.

Prlrnary formation

A subject that has not failed to come up in ,1r. alsstings

with Provincials, Provincial Councils, Rectors and Formation

Teams has been the primary formation (novitiate, preparation

for perpetual profession and ordination). In many ways it is

one of the most delicate problems affecting the life and future

of the Provinces. The situation has been made all the more

difficult by the closing of a number of our studentates and the

dispersion of the students among a diversity of institutions, which

has crea,ted problems both for the academic establishments they

have been attending and for the communities they have been

living with.

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The ptoblem is still with us; but obviously such situations

cannot be allowed to continue, because they contribute nothing

constructive towards the serious and solid formation that is to

ansvrer to the needs of the day. The bare f.act of. staying in one's

own Province solves nothing: there are so many ot}er considera-

tions, and all too often the Provinces have not the men or the

means to make adequate provision. The General Chapter did not

mean to say that formation takes place alrnost of its own accord

by the very fact that it is all done within the Province: it just

does not make sense.

At Buenos Aires the Provincials of the Mar del Plata Group,

recognizing that lasting solutions must be found to this problem,

have undertaken a joint study of the practical ways of establish-

ing one seminary which will be central to the Group and will

be attended by the clerics from t}e member Provinces. All the

problems that are inherent in such a foundation will, of course,

be studied, especially the communityJife of the students. One

point of particurlar importance: the implemeartation of such a plan

presupposes that the individual Provinces pull togethet, and it

is incumbent on the Provincials to see that they do.

\\UThilst we all earnestly desire that the decision of the La

Plata Provinces, through the effective co-operation of all con-

cerned, should be realized on the ground, I think that I have

fhe duty of reminding those responsible that the sure way

- - possibly the only way of solving problems such as these

is through the practical collaboration of the Provinces that are

involved. The only way that plans like these can be carried

through is by combining resources. But they must be made to

work because they are essential to the life of the individual

Province and amply repay whatever sacrifices are put into them.

Solidariry means to give as well as to take: when the accounts

are finally balanced everyone will show a profit.

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Youth with an ideal

In some counties I had the pleasure of meeting young

people, who, for all their differences, left me with much the

same impression. These youngsters had committed themselves

to an intense life of prayer and study of the \\flord of God. At

the same time they had a lively desire to deepen their knowledge

of Don Bosco, not only in his apostolic activities but still more

in his method of education and in his spirit; and this is shown

by their highly constructive apostolic work in the wide field

covered by our mission. Some groups, as, for example, tn Btan7,

are already gaining useful missionary experience in many ways,

employing their spare time to do all sorts of jobs: catechizing,

teaching, social work etc. The consoling sight of so many young

people actively sharing our work made me rcaliz.e two important

truths.

The first is this: there are very many young people who are

longing to be involved in a setiously Christian li[e, and who are

full of generosity and dedication to others; and, given the right

guidance, they come to discover the richness of Don Bosco's spitit

and the immediacy of his educational method. I would say,

moreover, that they finish up by giving him and his system their

I whole-hearted loyalty. remember the long and interesting ex-

change I had in Santiago, Chfle, with more than fifty youngsters

I of the Movimiento Juvenil Salesiano. They were between sixteen

and twenty-two years of age, and was strongly impressed by

their knowledge of Don Bosco and by their eagerness to learn more

of the man and his mission.

The other point is: behind and beside these young people,

there is always the Salesian, fired by faith, love and enthusiasm.

And here you have it: the flourishing of these groups of

youngsters, as of every othet pastoral work in our mission-field, is

bound up with the personality and work of tJre Salesian.

The confrtsre who is culturally and spititually prepared, who

can understand the needs of modern youth and feels the respon-

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sibility of bearing the message of christ in the salesian apostolic

spirit, has an immense field of usefuI labour.

Of course, things do not run smoothly all the time: there

are always difficulties, and it must always be so. What activities

are easy and trouble-free, especially nowadays? Faith and love,

for us as for Don Bosco, will be our powerful means of overcom-

ing every obstacle. \\flithout tlrese we are reduced to the negative

states of immobility, futile complaint, frusration and destrucrive

criticism; and then instead of forging ahead towards renewal, we

succeed only in wasting time and in losing the ground already

gained.

The children ,on the street

In the countries I visited I found many interesting examples

work for poor boys: some recently started, oth"r, well

established, and all in line with the policies of our Special General

Chapter.

In the big population-centres afflicted with the mush-

rooming of the favelas, it can be claimed that the salesians are

there. _ Th.y are working tight at the heart of this higgledy-

qiggledy agglomeration of wretched huts and hovels, sharing in

the extreme povemy of these lowly people, smetched to the limit

of endurance in their efforts to save the children, who see in

these "fathers" so many sincere and disinterested friends who are

seeking only their good. These Salesians, with a spirit of true

apostolate- and joyous dedication in the f.ace of this heart-rending

ditpluy of human misery, are striving to improve the conditioni

w- ocrukl.tuTrahl,issogcoieasl,

and

for

RspioiridtuealJ-aneoirfo,thCearbaocyass,

for whom they

port-au-prince,

Guatemala City, Guayaquil, Bel6m and many other places.

But in Latin America, apatt from the slum areas, the Salesians

are doing works of rescue in a latge number of cities and settle-

ments, such as Bogot6, Medellin, Mamagoa, Belo Horizonte,

Panama, Quito, La Paz.

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-14-

I had the oppornrnity of visiting a number of these higl'ly

p-.oopnurlta*rt,works; *h"t"

patient love,

so many poor boys are rescued, through

from idleness and vice, and from the ex-

ploitation-to whic-h they are subiected in countless ways. Th"y

are torn"d into good Christians by the Salesians, who send them

out to jobs as apprentices and workers.

I I As say, have seen a number of many such p1aces,. which

are obviously held in high regard by officialdom and by the

people; but there is one istablishment or rather, educational

- compl"* that I wish to cite as being, so to speak, very-mucfi

tl. - o. agenda: the "Ciudadela de los nifios" at Bogotd in Colom-

bia. This, incidentally, is one of many works of social and moral

rehabilitation that the Province is iustifiably proud of.

In this Boys' Town I saw our confrBres in action: the sort

of action, based on carefully elaborated methods of otgqnization

and education, that is compietely in line with Salesian theory and

pfactice. It is action that requires gfeat courage and gteat tact

i1 th. rehabilitation of hun&eds of "gamines" (street-atabs),

unwanted, without family, home, or schooling; boys who literally

live on tire street, addicted to crime and to drugs, victims of

prostitution: wretched creatures, in the strictest and saddest

,.rrr. of the word, who have suffered the most incredible ex-

periences.

During the night the salesians go down the squalid stfeets

where thesl poor boys drag out thefu existence, and invite them,

with the aiJ of enticements after the style of Don Bosco, to

spend the night in the house, where everything is arranged to

p'hioovsitd.el.

for tf,eir rehabilitation. It is not, however

The boys find food, toilet facilities and

a t\\adttiond'

medical care

(many are ,rrffering ftom setious infectious diseases), and above all

there is the friendly, peaceful atmosphere created by the Salesians

and their helpers. There are also Sisrers, who do invaluable

work. The boy is free to stay if he wishes. In fact, I was deeply

affected by the light of some of the new atrivals b"ggitg me to

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obtain their permanent acceptance in this house of new horizons.

These boys pass on to other houses as rheir rehabilitation

gradually becomes more and more complete; until, at about the

age of eighteen, equipped with vocational qualifications and a

thorough Christian education, they are in a position ro b€ in-

tegrated with dignity into the society on whose fringes they once

stood as disorderly and subversive elements.

But before arriving at this hrppy outcome, how much work

I is needed, how much patience, and particularly

use the

- confrEres' own words how much Christian and Salesian love,

- how much self-sacrifice in loving assistance in order to win their

hearts, bruised and often corrupted.

With prayer and the Salesian way

Two reflections arise spontaneously from this account of

my moving experiences. Thanks be to God, the Congregation

it has a large number of activities in which the Salesians are work-

ing different ways and at an uncommon level of self-sacrifice,

gn behalf of boys who are poor, needy and literally abandoned by

their practically non-existent families and by society itself.

Such work requires generous souls with a powerful fund of

love and faith: they feel the need, something necessary and not

merely desirable, to sustain their gruellin g way of life by contact

with God in personal prayer and community prayer. I7ithout

ptayer, they say, we would not find the strength to do this

work and the stamina to carry it through. Handling tlese boys

and winning their hearts can never be work for the mere

pedagogue or the mere psychologist, but is the task of true

aposdes and missionaries, who see and love God in souls.

I In fine and pass on what these confrBres repeated so

- often the method of Don Bosco, involving the loving-kindness

- and assistance of a friedly, intelligent and continuous presence

among the boys, is the indispensable key for opening and winning

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the hearts of tfiese poor boys, who, although they ate &essed

in rags and are prematurely perverted, are not insensible to love

expressed in deeds, which was precisely Don Bosco's way.

I Faced with tlese facts, remain firmly convinced that the

educational method of Don Bosco, thoroughly uhderstood and

put into practice, cannot be bettered. Perhaps it is we who need

to rediscover it by serious study, and, more particularly, by Iiving

it with pastoral charity, the essence of Salesian education. Further-

mofe, apart ftom these "deprived" situations, curfent ed,r:cational

thmry itsel-f proposes, albeit with a different terminology and

different perspectives, mothods and techniques that, without any

bot'her, we can find not only pro'posed but widely and successfully

applied in the educational work of Don Bosco.

Gommunion-building

I To conclude: on this journey to Latin America have met

I many Salesians from vatious Provinces and have never failed

to hammer a point that I regatd as suptemely important, not only

in Ametica but everywhete in the Congregation: and that is,

unity.

In my letter on this subject I dealt with another aspect;

now I wish to invite you all to become builders of unity and

communion.

A full and fruitful life needs unity and communion. How

important it is then, that, in our love for the Congegation and

in our desire to ensufe its continuing harmony and effectiveness,

we should make every effort, even at the cost of personal sacrifice,

to build up day by day this vital spitit of communiry.

Anything that makes fot tensions, cold-sftroudering, suspicions,

and, worse still, clashes and confrontations, prejudices the uaity

that we all deeply yearn for. \\7e know that we simply cannot

do without it and that we do harm to the souls entrusted to

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us when we fail to achieve it. And who in a community will

have the nerve to become Chief Disrupter and Trouble-maker?

But there is no such thing as unity without good will: the

good will that is seen in action eithet passively, in the avoidance

of anything that is in any way prejudicial to unity, or actively,

in the fostering of unity. This is the good will that bteaches the

bamiets, helping us to understand and feel fot each other, so

that everyone accepts everyone else, for all his faults and &f-

ferences of. age and ideas. In effect, we have to make every

sincere effort to "dwell together in unity", to teelize this maior

tenet of faith, and of the Christian and Salesian li[e, so often

stressed by Don Bosco and the object of that great prayer left

by Christ as his last testament: "tl:at they may be one".

Let us tum to the new Constitutions and recall what Article

6L, which is about the Eucharistic celebration, the central a* of.

every Christian communiry, has to say: "There the Salesian com-

munity celebrates the paschal mystery in all its fullness and

partakes of the Body of Christ, offered in sacrifice, in order to

rebuild itself in him as a 'communion of brothers'".

Dear confrbres, may the faith with whid: we celebrate the

Eucharistic mystery and the love that wells up there tansform

us day by day into willing and efficient workers for communion

in out own communities. If we do, the Congregation wil{ be behol'

den to us.

Best wishes to you all in the Iord. ,And say a pruyet for me.

2.8 Page 18

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III. COMMUNICATIONS

1. Personnel requirements on the Missions

In the last issue (no. 274) the Acts gave notice of a new move

on the part of the Councillor for the Missions. Fr Tohill senr a

letter to the Bishops and Provincials of the Salesian Missions a5king

tlem to compile a list of the most tfgent requirements for missionary

personnel. The first half of tlre resultant Iist has ,lre"dy been pub-

Iished in issue no. 274 of the Acts; now we publish the other part.

Lrsr or Mrssrows NEEDTNG pERsoNNEL (Pa* 2)

a) Alfica

GesoN needs:

-Librteevcibllen.bians and controllers for the Catholic Radio and T.V. at

Mozeunrqur needs:

- Salesians for the mission-stations and youth-clubs.

b) Anerira

Ancrr.luua: the Province of Babia Blanca needs:

conlrtres to work in quasi-mission areasl

Salesians trained in catechetics;

Salesians for areas wit} German-speaking immigrants.

The Province of. Buenos Aires needs:

Salesians for the mission areas of South Patagonia;

-- Brotber for the Agricultural School.

The Province of Rosario needs:

Solesians to help in the parishes;

-- Salesians for worlc in the suburban housing developments.

2.9 Page 19

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-t9-

I* Tlre Province of. Plata needs:

Sa\\esiarus to help in the parishes;

SaJesians for work in the suburban housing development;

conlrires to work with German-speaking immigtants.

Bnezrr-: the Province of. Mato Grosso needs:

- a group of tbree or lour priests and some Brothers with a special

interest in pastoral work, for a pilot-scJreme in the fidd of evange)iza-

tion amongst the setders of Barra do Gargas, Poxoreu, Xavantina, etc.;

--Indiooannnees

more ioiners to

fwo rnecbanics

the uade;

instruct boys in the tade;

for mait'tenance work and

instruct

the

- priests or tercbers for the teadring of sociology, anthropology,

psychology, ethnology, philosophy.

The Province of Porto AJegre needs:

- three Brothers for the management of wotkshops in the graphic

arts, joinery and engineedng at Porto Alegre, "Casa do Pequeno Ope'

rario;; at Vi4mao, "Novo Lar de Menores"; at Bag€, "fstituto Sao

Pedro".

CHrlr needs:

- tuo experimced agronornists, one of whom should be a specialist in

zootedrnics, for the agricultural sc.hool at Las Mercedes (Tierra del

Fuego);

-o7verrotheptrei.cnltneircsa(losridleinootfyppiusbtslisohrintgedarnndicitahnes

in typograph-y)-to

supervision of the

take

press

at Macul, La Gratitud, ConcePci6n;

- a qild.dfieit priest for coufses in continuous formation and for the

Religious Formation Cenue at La Flotida, Santiago;

- an exPert in tbe mass ned'ia (press, radio, T.V.).

Ecuenon: the Vicariate of Mendez needs:

- a Brother for the mission at Yaupi (stock-rearing and mechanized

farming);

- a Brotber for the mission at Cx:Jigaaza (instruction in joinery for

the boys on the three courses at the boarding school there);

- a priest or a Brotber for the Fedetaci6n Shuata di Sucua (controller

and director of the Federal Radio);

2.10 Page 20

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-20-

B--oscaao;BBrrootthheerr

skilled in joinery for the mission at Taisha;

skilled in stock-rearing for the mission at

Sevilla

Don

- afi itinerunt rnissionaty p1iest for the mission at Limon.

Trrs DorvuNrcnN Rrpunr,rc needs:

a teacher of dremistry for the agricultural school at La Yega;

- a teacher of chemistry, physics, mathematics for the Don Bosco

-Secondary School ar Santo Domingo;

-a

teacber of

priests and

chemistry for the

brotbers for work

junior

in the

seminty at

parishes and

Janbacoa;

clubs.

VBNezuELe needs:

- a formation-counsellor, who would also teach philosophy ar the

School of Philosophy, tor at leasr rwo years;

c-hildorneen

?nore

those

Salesians

areas;

for

work

the

rural

disricts

with

the

- a Sahesian Tecbn'icbn for eaclr of the following trades: electronics,

elecricity, Iithogaphy;

-Ecoanonmeexr'pseDrteipnartamcecnotu.ntancy arrd administration for work in the

The Mission at Panto Ayacucbo needs:

missionary priests;

-- a ruecbanic ftor the maintenance of machinery on the mission.

c) Asia

BruteN needs:

- specialists in .madrine-maintenance and elecrical engineering to

take over the workshops.

Tue Pgrr.rpprNrs needs:

As lor Bbatan, plus printing.

Jerer.r needs:

- young conlrlres for the schools, parishes and missions.

Trrvron needs:

Salesian nissionafies;

-- Sd,esian agricaltaral tecbnicians.

3 Pages 21-30

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3.1 Page 21

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-2t-

2. The World Gongress of Saleslan Brothers

Pteparations for the Brothers' \\0orld Congress (31st August -

6th Septembel 1975) are going rtead at an ever-incteasing tempo'

Tbe Reports ol tbe Prooincial Conttentions

During the month of April the Provincial phase was conduded:

in the o"=i f"* months

Provincial Commissions

the Regional Conventions

are now fiaalizing the

\\rill be held' The

publication of the

"Reports of the Provincial Convention", and many 9f the rcports

have aheady been submitted to the Regional and central commissions.

Some of thlse Reports consist of a few pages, others are considerable

volumes; eJ| arc the fruit of a suong sense of duty and of dedication

to the cause.

The Provincial Commissions that have not yet finalized t}e work

are urged to speed things up, because the Reports are indispensable

to both the Central Commission and the Regional Commissions (par-

ticulat grgency here), whiq'h cannot complete the work for their Con-

rrentions

t"h"etsiet

Rtt e"pomratstearirael

is sorted out and artanged systematically.

not meant to pass into eternal oblivion,

but are needed to provide the material whidr the Regional Commission

will systematae and pass on to the delegates, who will then be in a

position to ptepare for the Regional Conventions.

Tbe Regional Conuentions will take place from July to September,

- - L974, ard as already stated in the last issue of the Acts there

will be sixteen of them. That is, whete there are Regions so extensive

as to create too many language difficulties, there will be Inter-

Provincial Conventions withitr the Regions. The immediate aim of

these convenrions will be to prepare for the ITorld congress. For

this purpose, atrention will be given to the "official Themes" already

set out n no. 274 of the Acts, P. 46.

The Vorld Congress

Meanwhile t[re Central Commission is working on the arrangements

for the meeting in 1975. The Iist of speakers who will address the

assembly on the various themes, is being prepared. They will need

3.2 Page 22

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-22-

time to work up their material thoroughly in the light of the contri-

butions, which have been gleaned from all over the Congregation.

Next October, there will be a meeting of these rapporteurs with

the Central Commission for the purpose sf cqming to some agreement

about the scope of the themes and about the way they should be

dmfted.

This lforld Congress on the Salesian Brothers is felt by many to

be a really vital issue for the Congregation, and for 4;r r.rr6a ample

provision has always been made for prayer at the various meetings

that have been held so far, in order to seek the assistance of the Holy

Spirit, especially in the lifurgy, for on Him depends the success of

all hu.man endeavours.

3. Salesian Bishops

Cardinal Stefan Trochta, Bishop of LitomEtice, in Czechoslovatr ia,

died on the 6th of April last. A full obiruary notice has been senr

,by the Rector Major to all the Salesian houses.

Also deceased is Mons. Mauricio Magliano, Bishop of Rio Gal-

legos (fugentina) since 1961.

Mons. Tomris GonzdJu, is the new Bishop of Punta Arenas, Chile,

and succeeds the late'Mons. Boric.

4. Appointments

The Holy Father has appointed the Salesian priesr, John Bosco

Shirieda, Under-secretaty to rhe Secrerariat for Non-believers. Fr Shi-

rieda, who is Japanese, is the Rector of the Salesian Seminary in

Tolryo.

5. The new President of the Gonfederation of Salesian past

Pupils

a MeLxaicsatnA, pPrreilstihdeenRt oefcothr eMCaoionrfeadpepraotiionntedoDf SraJleossiadnMp.asGtopnuzpdiluls,.,

The new President le*ures in the Faculty of Law at the Univeisity

3.3 Page 23

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_23_

in Mexico City. He is President of Catholic Action in Mexico and of

Pax Romana; and last year he organized the 4th Congress of the

Latin-American Past Pupils. He is maried and has seven drildren.

Dr Gonzdlu, Torres succeeds Seffor Taboada Lago, a Spanish lawyer,

in the post; he is the 6th President (the first non-Euopean) and is

elected for six years.

6. Fraternal solidarity (l3th report)

PnovrNcrs THAT HAVE sENT oFFERrNcs

Irelv

A&iatic

Central

Lombard

Subalpine

Veneta San Marco

Generalate

Lire

40.000

262.000

186.500

).250.060

810.000

250.000

Eunopr

N,N.

Belgium, South

Spain, Bilbao

Spain, Le6n

25.000

t54360

1.475.000

787.500

Aprnnrcn

Atgentina, C6rdoba

Ecuador

Venezuela

N.N.

Total of tbe anounts receiued betueen 7th Marcb

and 9tb lurue, 7974

Existing fand

Total as at 9th Jane, 7974

1.000.000

798.000

7.000.000

100.000

76.L38.420

388.064

16.526.484

3.4 Page 24

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_24_

b) DrsrnrnurroN oF THE MoNEys REcETvED

Eunopp

Subvention to the Couse for Novice Masters

Ireland, Dublin: for the recreational equip

ment of the Boys' Club

Poland, trGakow: for catechetical expenses

Poland, Lo&: for catechetical expenses

Asre

Korea: bursary for the ecclesiastical sfudies

of one of out priests

India, Ma&as: for the novitiate at Yercaud

India, Madras: for a chapel at Sholurmattam

India, Gauhati: for the novitiate at Shillong

Thailand: bursary for the studies of one of

our priests

Arnrce

Ethiopia: to Mons. Vorku, Adigrat

To the drought-stricken areas: the !fihite

Fathers

To the drought-stricken areas: the Con-

solata Fatrtrers

To the drought-stricken areas: the Holy

Ghost Fathers

To the drought-stricken ares: the Capuchh

Fathers

Arrarmce

Brazl, Prelature of Porto Velho: for a

Catechetics Room

Bmzil, Mato Grosso: for the Cidade

D. Bosco, Corumbd

Btazci,hPurocrhtoinAlethgree:dfeoprritvheedbaurieldainogfo5f6oa

Pedro Bagd

223.000

500.000

1.000.000

500.000

1.000.000

500.000

1.000.000

436.695

500.000

1.000.000

500.000

1.000.000

3.5 Page 25

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-25-

Lire Brazrl, SZo Paulo: bursary for the missio-

logica studies of one of our priests

Peru: butsary for the theological studies

of a cleric studYing in EuroPe

Uruguay: butsary for one of out priests

1.500.000

1.000.000

Total of d.isbursenents lrorn the 7tb Marcb to

the 9th lune, L974

Balance

15.L59.695

1.366.789

Total,

1.6.526.484

c) GBlreRAr FLo\\r oF cAsH

Total receiaed as at the 9tb June, 1.974

Total disbursenerrts at tbe sarue date

Balance

255.t32.658

253.765.869

t366.789

3.6 Page 26

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IV. ACTIVITIES OF THE SUPERIOR COUNGIL

AND MATTEHS OF GENERAL INTEHEST

on the calendar of the superior council the period from rfie

middle

to the

ovfisMitaatricohntoo frhtheeenRdegoiofnJsu, naen, d19in74,fa*cut,thtoerebehgisivebne.oovear

multiplicity of visitations, conferences and meetings of an sorts.

The Rector Major has completed two journeys, r.he otler six

superiors of the council have been on their travels overseas, .many

Provincials and confrBres have converged on the meeting-places or

have come to Rome to explain their problems and to ,eek-a solution

round the conference-table in the spirit of Don Bosco and of the

post-conciliar renewal.

l. The iourneys of the Rector Maior

To mark the 75th anniversary of the Salesian work at Baracaldo

(Bilbao, Spain), Fr Ricced went rhere last March. Berween the 27th

and the 31st he visited almosr all the houses in the province. He

was received with geat cordiality, and he congratulated the confrBres

(who belong to one of the most recently-established provinces of the

congtegation) on the ever-increasing number of vocations they are

teceiving, the fruit, as someone remarked, of. a ptaying, hard-woiking,

self-sacrificing and extremely willing community.

Longer and more urgent was the visit of the Rector Maior to

Latin America, which lasted from 17th April to the lgth May and

pBroakz7-h, icghf_leto,

elefrt countries: Ecuador,

colombia and venezuela.

this in his letter.

peru, Argentina, Uruguay,

He hi.mself deur, witt al

3.7 Page 27

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-27 -

2. The meetings of the superiors with the Provincials of the

Regions

The purpose of these meetings, occurring in the

six-year p.rioi befween the last Genetal Chapter and

middle of the

th9 next, is to

;;;;;r; iust how far the decisions taken in l97lhave been worked

out in the various Regions.

Three sucir meetings have taken place in the last tfuee months:

the first, as mentioned ,bou", at Buenos Aires

;i 1u,;; A-eri.u; the second and third at

for the Adantic

Rome for the

Region

Iberian

Region and

,ni foUo*

the

eItsatlaob'Mlisidhdedle'pEaatstetrnR:e-gaiodna' yTohefyrelacsotl-laecwtieoenk;

fiom the Rector Maior dealing with the Provincials' field

av€rage

address

action;

,i" ,"por* of the provincials;-and then meetings with the individual

Departmental Heads.

At Buenos Aires the day of recollection was pteadred by the

Archbishop of Santa

vincials, there was on"

Fe, Mons. Vicente Zazpo'

d"Lgrt" from each Province

Besides the. Pro-

taking part in the

io."ritri*nji,lri"wghti,c6thweaysdweceidlledorg"aon'iztehd.

by Fr Giovanni

programme for

Vecchi. Amongst

the Centenary of

the salesian Missions: it was in Argentina that our Missions began.

The Provincials of the Iberian Region, who met with Fr Antonio

M6lida, gave particular attention to the probl"ms of.-the formation

oRthfeegthiwoen'o.Jtinnktferatnsndrd.sr,tthobeootchfofepnrrrimifboaurrtyiothnaensdCineconmtnetneinanoryuasno; dtfhmtehaetete-M'rliiimaslsseinowsnisho'nicinhg

the

TheProvincialsofltalyandtheMiddleEast,meetincwith

Luigi Fiora, have

the confrBres in

pthla.nnperrdtournuol mwbo.rrkoof -fenthteerpstiasleessiafont_Mthiessfioornm.aPtioanr-

ticular attention was given to the promotion of meetings and activities

in connection with the Youth Apostolate'

In the vast Region of Fr George \\rilliams, the Provincials, on

account of

F.b*"ry,

the

dirtarrLe,

\\flestern

involved, have to meet in thtee

Provincials had their meeting

gtoups. Last

in Rome; in

o;;;# it *ilt be the turn of the Far East; and later the Provincials

from India.

3.8 Page 28

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3. Other meetings of the Higher Superiors

G_enesrpael,ciFalrimGpaocrttaannoceScartitoaoch, erseprroesethnteingprethseencReeoctforthMeapjorerf,ecatt

oswiecim on the 15th May last for the ielebrations held to .o--

memorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of

work in Poland. Two cardinals attended (the primate

the

salesian

'warsaw

M11odnsth. eB_aMraentrioapko. lirtfainth_ofFKr rsackroivwo),thaenrde

also

was

the

Saresian fuchbishop

Economer General',

ffot r lPilo-l.a,ndth, eFrReRgoioknitaal .STuhpeeritohro,uFsarnTdesralSescihaunrse,oafntdhethtewoDepleoglaisthe

Provinces, who have

of the congregation

acquitted themselves

and of the church,

so admirably

fully merited

as members

this act of

esteem and encouragement.

Fr1 Vigand, Dbo and Raineri, after mettings at Buenos Akes,

w9rled

of the

through a very tight schedule of meetings with the confrEres

south American Provinces. These confrbres, responsible for

particular sectors of the salesian work, were interviewed for the

most part in the Provincial Houses. For three days they put their

various problems to the three Superiol e6uncillors.

Fr Viganb .met Rectors, staff and boys at Buenos Aires, Fortin

Mercedes, Rosario, CSrdoba, Montevideo, porto degre, and in the

Provinces of Belo Horizonte, Manaus, and caracas. rt Laa a study-

week in the theological college in Guatemala City.

Fr Raineri had meetings with Rectors, parish-priests, mass-media

specialists, co-operators and Past Pupils; met the National presidents

of the Past Pupils in Brazil, Argentina and uruguay; spoke to Salesians

in training and to groups of Salesian Sisters.

Fr Dho, besides his meeting with the Rectors of all the Argen-

tinian Provinces and of other goups of confrlres from Uruguay,

Pgr-aguay andBrazil, had meetings on different days with those reipon-

cdsttahoiibdkenleferiRBtpaeraecctshrtoPtefrraiesoncrveofuidtnfhl-lceytlihso,aeenml gl,aedlssjvoprefuiirrnlroanfgnmoetsayrtasetohscsreot"irnv,oYen,ofrrguiun.ggttiehennhvsAutaeipnnso&atosetfrtadoadnslcadutisoteByfor:inamfezvtiAierli.derrger-siIne.tnocnaretoyi"ne,raadn-,eou,urrarrgnr"thyoyd

3.9 Page 29

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-29-

of the very real desire for dialogue and renewal that exists in the

Congregation to&y.

The Councillor for the Missions, Fr Bernard Tohil'|,, went on

several journeys to make contact with the centfes of missionary

activiry.' He met the salesians of the Missionary office in- Madrid.

In London he visited a number of 'missionary agencies, iaduding non-

Catholic ones, for an exdrange of information and mutual help' In

poland he met the confrEres in the houses of formation and told

them what was going on in the Congtegation's mission-fields.

The Economer General, Fr Ruggiero Pilla, after his visit to

poland, went to Lisbon to preside orrir the "Meeting of Provincial

Economers" of the Iberian Pininsula from the 27th to the 29th May.

They took stock of the Provincial Economer's position in- relation

,o ,h" Ptovince, to the Houses and to the Superior Council'

4. Other activities of the General Executive

Forrtationz At the salesianum the

continuous Formation is in progress,

,second four-monthly course

this one being for tle con-

frBres from Latin-America.

There has been a short meeting of preachers and directors of

fetreats from Italy in preparation for ah international congress.

Preparations continue for the world congress of salesian

Brothers.

Adult Apostolate; The new Regulations for salesian co-opetators

have been p."r.rrt.d to the Surperior Chapter and have been approved;

the text ha, b.en translated from the Italian and distributed in Spain,

Argentina, andBrazrl (and other translations are in preparadon)'

In June Fr Raineri mer the committee of the confederation of

Pait Pupils at Rome.

Mass Media: the enquiry into sdesian publishing interests has

been concluded and the results have been passed on to the people

concerned.

3.10 Page 30

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l0-

5. ln the coming months

In the period July-September, the Regional Superiors will retutn

and the full Council will examine the situation as re1rcrted.

_ Yoatb

June, with

Apostolate: Fr Dho will be holding some

h the Rectors of the aspirantates Spain, and

meerings: in

in Sepiember

wFrithDh_othewirilol pbp€opsriteesennurmabtearscofrrorsme

Italy; during

on the Youth

the month

Apostolate

August

be held

at Lima, in Peru, for the delegates from Latin-America.

Adult Apostolate: Ft Raineri will be presenr at the 5th ,,Dialogue

on the Salesian life", which is to be held at Freiburg and lrhich will

have for its theme the image of the Salesian Co-oferator. A ,,Co-

operators Manual" is in preparation.

4 Pages 31-40

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4.1 Page 31

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V. DOCUMENTS

Poster competition for the Centenary of the Salesian

Missions

For the celebration of the centenary of the Salesian Missions,

the General Executives of the Salesians and of the

have decided to run an international competition

Salesian

for the

Sisters

official

centenafy Poster and have handed the arrangements ovef to the ap-

propriate Social Communications Offices.

The Rules are as follows:

oayrcr: to give expression to some face(s) of the salesian Mis-

sions in the urorld today.

It should symbolize: the values of Christian culture;

a century of mission work;

evangelization and social work.

ENrnv: 3t1s ssmFetition is open to artists all over the world who

wish to pay homage to Don Bosco and his missionaries.

SracBs: there are two stages; Provincial, and International'

PnovrNcrer- Srecs (oPtional):

1. In each Province, this srage is the responsibility of the Pro-

vincial.

2. In rurch Province, thete will be a "Provincial Organizing Com-

mittee", which will make the preliminary affangements, appoint the

panel of experts, and organize the exhibition.

3. The Panel will judge the entries, announce the winners and

award such prizes as arc at the disposal of the Provincial Committee.

4.2 Page 32

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-12-

llhe entry obtaining first prize is sent on to the International

Stage.

4. The closing date for the International Stage is the 3lst

December, 1974. The winning enrry must be submiited to the In-

temational Stage at Rome by

*llJ

will

!b.emthadee

for irregularities

cdterion).

the ilst January, 1975 (Allowance

postal deliveriesi the date of posting

INrunNlrroNer, Srecr,:

- 7. This stage is in the hands of an organizing committee nominated

by the General Executives of the salesiani and of the salesian sisters.

affange

The

the

com.mitree will appoint an International panel of

exhibition of the entries from the provinces and

Judges,

prcpare

for the final stage of the competition.

3. All the works submitted will be exhibited at the saresian

n Missions' Centenary Exhibition to be held at Rome 1976.

March,

The International Panel will

'1"975, announce the winners

judge the entries on

and awatd the prizes

the 31sr

that are

available.

5. The Posrer gaining First Prize will be printed as the officiar

Centenary Poster.

h.rzes FoR THE fNreRNerroNal Srecr:

1. The winners of the lst, 2ndand 3rd pdzes at the International

Stage will be offered a rerurn ti&et to Rome with a month,s stay

duting the official Centenary Celebrations.

2. other prizes will be awarded according to what is available to

the Committee.

Tecmvrcer. RrqurnrurNrs FoR mm ENtRres

7. Dirnensions;

dimension: widtlr -

The Posrer

70 cm (27rh

should nor

ins); height

exceed the following

- 100 cm (39v, nsi.

4.3 Page 33

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-)3-

If it is smaller, the dimensions should be proportional to those given;

e.g. 2l ins by 30 ins.

2. ldentity ol artist: each entry must be countersigned on the bac.k

with a two-word device. In a separate, sealed envelope the compe-

titor should submit his fuIl name, age and addtess (in full), along

with the device by which the entry is identified.

othreinS3as.ol'eVmsoiearncdoiMnnivgsesnoioiennnstt"hpe-laPceosohsuotetusrliddtehaepthpoeefafdirecesiaiigtlhnt,eittele.ogn.-,

"Centenary of

the poster itself

at the foot. Ap

propriate wording may be incorporated in the design. Any language

may be used.

Usr or rHE ENTRTES

It is understood: that the entries at the International Stage are

sent in for the benefit of the Missions;

that submission of the entries implies authorization to publish.

4.4 Page 34

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VI. FROM THE PROVINCIAL NEWSLETTERS

1. Province of Le6n: Act of Faith in the Salesian mission

Tbe Salesians of Medina del Carnpo baue compiled a capsulated

satTtmary of the doctrinal principles contained, in tbe Constitations

(from the Prouincial Neusletter, Madrid, May, 1974, p. 9).

I belieae that the origins of the Salesian Famfly are divinely-

inspired, that Jesus Chdst is my living Rule,

and that the Holy Spirit is strength and light leading me in Christ to

the Father.

I belieae that Mary is the founder and guide of our Family; that

God and the Churc-h have given me, in Don Bosco's way of life, a

powerful exemplar.

I belieae that God is calling me; with a

religious and apostolic consecration that puts me at the heart of

the Church and at its service, to follow Christ closely in a life

that is intensely evangelical.

I belieae that living and working in common is

a basic requirement of the Salesian vocationl that we must live

united to the Superior, who represents Christ and unites his

community in the service of the Father.

I belieue that .my mission is to be a sign and a bearer of the love

of God to young people; that it is essential to be with them,

imi1a1fug Don Bosco in his hard and demanding labours and in the

continuous striving for renewal; living with him, the active

contemplative, and basing ull .y hope on the active presence of the

Holy Spitit in my life. Amen.

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2. The Southern Province: after the meeting on the Salesian

Family

On the L7tb and L8tb March this year, tbe Prouince organized

a Study Groap on the Salesian Farnily at Castellarumare. Represen'

tatioes of all brazcbes attend,ed. Here are tbe conments ol sorne ol

those taking part (Neusletter, April 7974, pp. 30-32).

A Salesian; The high-lights for me were: the fraternal spirit

shown at the times of prayer aqd of semmunity life; the keenness of

all concetned

tentiousness;

in the talks

and, above

and

all,

group-reports; the absence of any con-

the shared prayer that brought it to

an end. These seem to show that the Salesian Faririly, the new reality

brought to light by the Special General Chapter, is a go-ing concern

in out Provinie, and that it is well set on its way to the full lgaliza:;on

of Don Bosco's gtand scheme.

madeAmYe ofaJnmgoCreo-o-"pSnaaletosria: nT",htihsaetxipi,ermieonrcee

of the common life

fully integrated with

has

the

salesian Family. I began to rcalsze the common origin and mission

of the various groups as a basis for the better co-ordination of ac-

tivities and hence for a more effective orientation of the same mission.

So the demand fot a change of mentality, {ot the breaking down of

some fences and the punctufing of some water-tight compartments

seems to me to be just what is wanted.

A Co-operator: Ve have had meetings before, and some of the

ptesent .o-p*y have attended them. But this time we have had the

opportunity of exchanging our points of view in frank and unruffled

airtogo". We got to know each other not only on the pemonal level

b.rt above all on the level of group commitment to an apostolic

work. And we zr€ taking away some new ideas.

A Volontarin d'i Don Bosco; The cordiality, the family spirit and

the exc.rhange of ideas have made this meeting really ridr and con-

sffuctive. There is only one regret: it did not last long enough and

we have to separate before getting to know each other properly.

A Past-Pupit: This has been an experience of living in the

Salesian Family, which at last has come together and sees its problems

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not merely on the level of so many pious senti,ments but on the level

of commitment, so that we can tackle the problems together.

A Salesian Sister: The plan is clear, and the prospecrs are mar-

vellous. S7hat we have to do now is to find our th; facts at all

levels and then get on with the job.

3. Bolivian Province: the Gin6-apostolate

For tbe last sdx lears a Salesian theatre in La Paz bas been a

ceiltre ol intense acfiudty in the fieW d Cbristian fornation, a lorru

of apostolate hitherto little exploited in Boliuin. Tbe lollowing is an

extract from a letter sent by Fr Renzo Cotta (Newsletter of tbe

Lornbardo-Ern.i,lian Prooince, April, 7974, p. 12).

At La Paz there is a .modern style of Salesian work that may be

called "the Cind-apostolate". Six years ago the Salesian Sdrool com-

pleted the laborious consrrucdon of a 960-seat cind-theatre that slowly

rose from its foundations, brick by brick. The 1,800 boys of the

school were not the only ones who were delighted by the quiet

dignity of this building: the authorities wanted to use it for the

performances of the National Symphony Orchesua until other ac-

commodation could be found. This made the Salesians pur on rheir

thinkiag-caps: why not use ir to meer the pressing p"btic needs?

,And with the help of a confrBre who was experienced in the att of

cinema, they reckoned to put the hall to good apostolic use.

And so they opened a public cinema wirh firsr-scrggning rights,

showing films of christian value and constituting a culrural enterprise

and not a commercial one. In the six years these objectives have been

pursued steadily, and vatious ot.her services have burgeoned little by

Iitde: critical commentaries are published, special shows are put on

for the ,members of film-clubs, a specialist library has been iormed

along with a collection of pocket editions on the cinema, and an annual

prize is presented for the best filn shown in Bolivia.

These activities, cartied out in conjunction with the National

Catholic FiLn Office, are being extended to the Salesian houses in

other towns. There is a proliferation of filn-clubs, chiefly for the

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IouB, and ttese are the centres for the formation of goups of

helpers, who are worried about the state of Ctristianity in the country.

They are running courses of instruction in cinematography for the

young, for adults and for teachers.

This is an apostolate that is not very wide-spread in South America

(the Salesian venture is about the only one of its kind in Bolivia);

Titheis,dahyoswoefvethr,easiymoputleh-rarpdoosnto'tl"ataerethloant gispaosft;pnaroawmothuentoinmlpyowrtaanyceto.

do something about the effects of the media on the young is this:

to train the young to undemtand the language of the cinema, to engage

their gitical faculties and so enable them to discern the worth-while

and to spurn the rest.

4. Australian Province: Glerics and the renewal

The eight Austrd.ian clerics doing theology dairz that tbeir

present cond.itions are fully in line wi.th the requirernents of tbe last

Gerueral Cbapters, that tbese reqairernents are uell suited to the needs

of young religioas and tbat they, the studeruts, are tinding falfilment.

The 19th Genetal Chapter wanted the students of theology to

study at institutions that conferred academic degrees. !7e are eight

clerics at Oakleigh, dsing our theology at the diocesan seminary, whidr

forms part of the University of Melboune and offers us its graduate

coutses, The Chapter also wanted the students to be given an introduc-

tion to such "literary and scientific disciplines of human culture relat-

ing to the sacred sciences" as would open up the minds of the future

apostles to the problems of the day; and part of our time we are

spending at the three State Universities of Victoria.

Again the Chapter recommended that the buildings for theological

colleges should be simple and functional: our buildings are wooden

barracks originally used by the army during the war, and subsequendy

acquired and transpoted here by the Salesians. They are now our

hietly funaional residence (pace one of the local clergy who calls

them "The Dog-boxes").

Another of the Chapter requirements was that the houses of

theology should be situated where there were opporrunities of ob-

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taining experience in the various apostolic works. And here we could

hatdly have it better. Groups of youngsters come ovet from Pakenham,

Jordanville, Preston, Mildura etc. and use the facilities of the dub,

especially for liturgical events. The nearby parish-school of Niddrie

is named after

"adopted" it.

St John Bosco

!7e have run

{arure thing in Australia!) and

week-end camps, and there is

we have

religious

instruction on Thursday gvsnings for Catholic boys and girls attending

non-Catholic sdrools. The Cooperators have acquired an old hotel

at Crossley, near the sea, and have turned it into a boys' club. Two

of us clerics often go thete to give a hand with the boys. And we also

help the various local parishes with their church-services.

5. Sub-Alpine Province - Too many priest-masseurs...

Connzents of tbe Prodncial,, Fr Mario Baua, on bis uisitation ol

tbe houses. (Letter ol March, 1974, p. 2).

Dear ConftBres,

I feel bound to exanine my conscience on my visitation of the

houses, and especially of the dubs. Too many priests are still doing

what are ptoperly laymen's jobs. In Iittle tucl-shops I see priests

I selling lemonade and sweets. On the sports-fields see priests who

are coadring and refereeing and massaging. On the stage there afe

priests doing the prompting, fixing the scenery. In the sacristy thete

are priests standing behind the votive candles. Certainly, tfie willingness

of the Salesian ptiest to turn his hand to anything is praiseworthy:

but there are limits.

Let the priest be a priest: let him prea& the Gospel, cateclize,

encorrage, advise, assist, hear confessions, prepate his talks and lessons;

and generally be open to everyone; but don't put the layman in the

shadeI'-d

leave him to take his proper responsibilities.

like to remind you of what our Special Provincial

Chapter

says: "These activities should be entrusted to lay helpers who ate

qualified both technically and spiritually; in this way the system

will not be allowed to swallow up almost entirely the time and at'

tention that should be given to work propet to a priest'. (fut. 23\\.

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6. Province of Thailand - Newsletter No. 500

The Neusletter "Inter Nos" of tbe Tbai Proaince carne out last

April witb its 500th issue. Vith its 34 years of publication it is

probably the doyen of Prouincial Neusletterc.

No. 500 opens with the letter which the Provincial at the time,

Fr Giovanni Casetta, wrote to the confGres to launch the news-sheet.

The letter, dated the Lst August, 1940, contains observations no less

'v-ahloid

today than they were then. "Each

ir charged with the compilation of

house should

a chrcnicle of

have someone

the confrbres'

activities, intetesting news items, newspaper articles, public admini-

strative decisions and policies that may affect our vork..."

"Ad rnultos annos" to tbe doyen ol Sdesian Proaincial News-

letters and to its seaenty sister-pablications scattered, across tbe uo,rld.

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VII. PONTIFIGAL MAGISTERIUM

lnvitation to a closer acquaintance with the Pope

A cbance ol keeping in toucb ruore lally witb ubat the Pope has

to say is ollered to oan communities by

"Trm, OsseRvAToRE Roueuo - VEExLy".

This reasonably-priced period.iral is pablisbed. in liae languages

bttubegesaidemseeosr-letailmiaapdnor-ctaarnrtieFdsroeacncuccmobue,nntEtssnooglllistthhhe,eHGHoeolrylrynFaSanteb,eeSrt'bpsaaartuciatsipabpi,teieaasrruaidnnPiltobore-l

daily edition of tbe "Osseruatore Romano".

Don Bosco, il be uere aliae, woald probably inuite dl his

Salesians to subsc'ribe to thi.s publication. He utrites: "Il oar laith

is to be aital and fruitful, it must al,uays be illuminated by tbe Vicar

of Cbrist" (MB 9, 228); and again: "Tbe word of tbe Pope rnust be

our rale in eaerything and lor euerything" (MB 6, 494).

"The Osseruatore Romano 'Veekly", introduced regulaily into

our libraries and used for priaate and camrnunity realing, utll belp

Salesians to "sentire cum Ecclesia".

Sorne of our comrzunities in aafi.ous parts ol tbe uodd are alread.y

subscribing to tbe O.R.'Weekly; lor seoeral years nou some Prooincials

baae been sending in their lists of houses regularly to the Subsuiptions

Qffice; sone Rectors prooil.e substiptions t'or indiuid.ual confrlres,

especiall.y those engaged in pastoral work; some clerics doing their

tbeology also barc their persofial copies.

Subscriptions can be opened tbrougb almost any irnportant Catbolic

book+hop, or directly uitb the

AuurlrrstnezroNE DELr.'Os ssnveroRE RoueNo

00120 Crrrl orr. V^e,rrceNo (Irer.ra)

5 Pages 41-50

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As you know, tbe adrninistration of tbe Osseraatore Rornano has

been entrusted, by tbe Holy See to oilr oun confrbres. Speciruen rates

are as follous: Europe, air mail - 7,500 lire; U.S.A., surface rnail -

1.0 dolJars; U.S.A., air naail - 1.8 doll,ars.

l, The Good News and the Mass Media

On the occasioru ol Vorld Communicatiorts Day (26 May' 1974),

tbe Pope reminds c!.s once rnore tbat it is ol aery speciul interest, indeed,

ol obligation, to Christians to utilize tbe rnass rnedia lor tbe spreading

of tbe Cbrtstian meswge, particularly to those of the world beyond

the reacb of direct euangelization.

Message of His Holiness Pope Paul VI lor tbe 8tb Vorlil Cornmanica-

tions Day, 26tb May, 7974

The importance of the instruments of social communication in

the strucfure of society today goes on steadily increasing, as likewise

does their influence on the shaping of human relations. Conscious of

this growing importance !0e teiterate Our firm conviction that all men

are called to offer their own contribution in the field of media, in

such a way that all become involved in communication in one llray

or another, eadr according to this own particular circumstances. The

mzrnnef of this involvement can take the most varied forms, ranging

from direct intervention in progtamming and production to the making

of responsible choices concerning what one will watch or listen to.

And again, eac.h must make his own inform'ed decision whether to

accept;ho[y ot only with some reserve, each particular message which

he receives from the social communications media.

'!7e hold, too, that Christians in particular ate bound to keep

themselves alert always in relation to tle media, ready to make fresh

evaluations with each new advance in the field, quic-k to establish

updated criteria and thus keep pace with new demands as these present

It themselves. This Day, now being celebrated for the eighth successive

year, is intended to promote and to accomplish precisely this' is

a pause for reflection on the mass media, this extraordinary modern

phenomenon. It is a moment for re-evaluation, for determining at-

titudes.

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42-

Daty to spread. the Vord

On this year's !7orld Day !7e invite you ro reflect with Us on

"Social Communications and evangelization in today's .wodd", a theme

which suitably coincides with the study conducted in the various

corrntries in preparation for the coming Assembly of the Synod of

Bishops.

"If the Church-Ifle said in Our encyclical letter Ecclesiarn

Suam-is truly conscious of what the Lord wishes her to be, tlere

must arise in her an overflowing fullness and a compulsion to spread,

with a dear advertance to a mission which transcends her, to an

announcement that she must broadcast".

The fulfilment of this duty is conditioned by the pamicular circum-

stances of eac} period in history, and thus it must in our time be

carried out by means of the instruments of social communication, "It

would be dif{icult to suggest that Chdst's co--and was being obeyed

unless all the opportunities offered by the modern media to extend

to vast numbers of people the announcement of the Good News were

being used" (Pastoral fnstruction Corurzunio et Progressio, no. LL6),

Evangelization is an integral part of the mission of the Church,

sent by Christ into the world to preach the Gospel to every creature.

The Church carries out this duty above all in her liturgical life, but

she is consrained to fulfil it also in all the ways and by all the means

which are available to her ro use as she abides among the people

of each continent.

Eaangelization continues

On close reflection

Christian, in so far as it

it will be seen that the

con{orms to the Gospel,

entire life of the

is in a permanent

situation of evangelization in the midst of the world. Thg ch,risrian,

living as he does amongst other men, sharing their anxieties, sharing

the world's suffering, engaging himself in matrers of temporal develop-

ment, himself always there among the curents of hu.man searde, idea,

debate and exchange-he bears hi5 gyangelical wirness, he makes his

contribution, the contribution of a Christian leaven, a Christian

influence within. And in the social communications world this christian

influence finds a vast pefspective and assumes an enormous importance.

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There are many ugent necessities which vie for our attention

in this context. For one, there is the need to set the contemporary

vehicles of information and allied services along a line of development

which will facilitate the diffusion of the Good News and create a

favourable climate for the strengthening of concepts such as the dignity

of the human person, justice, universal btotherhood; values which

make it easier ior a man to undestrand his own true vocation and

which at the same time open the way to a constfuctive dialogue with

others and to union with God.

Then, there is the search for new and improved methods of

apostolate which apply the new audio-visual and related instruments

to catecleesis, to .d,riational work in many forms, to the presentation

of the Churclr', li[e, of her liturgy, her aims, her difficulties, but

above all to the witness of faith and drarity whidr animates and ever

renews her.

IJsing tbe best rnethods

Finally, Christians must consider how best to employ the instru'

ments of social communication in order to reach countties, societies

,rrd p"rron, to whom the apostolate of the !7ord cannot be brought

directty because of particular situations, or scarcity of ,ministers, or

b..aur. the Church is unable to exercise her mission freely'

and

\\7e are well aware of

of the research which

itshebeeifnfogrtcsonwdhuicdter da--r-eevinenfaicftnboetinygemt asudef-

ficiently advanced-to find solutioni go rhese various problems, thanks

;; ;i;'g.;.rous and solid wotk of Bishops, P*1s-ts, religious and of

i"uo*i"? with careful atrenrion the initiatives of Our Commission for

social communications, of the Episcopal Commissions in the various

countries of the world, of the International Catholic Organizations for

mass media, and of iatholic professionals. We know very v'ell the

diffi"ut,i., which they

conditions, in otheri

uber"ca"nusoe *ot.frilnimgi,teind

some cases

fesources,

because of

in all to

local

some

exten'wt beecaadudsreesist

is new ground which they are breaking'

to them our word of comfort and encouragement.

'we address it too to

social communication

all men who are sewed by the instruments of

and helped towards the true advance of the

human family and a better tomorrow in the world'

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2. lt's up to you young people to bear witness to Ghrist

As tbe children bore uitness to Christ on tbe day ol His enny

into ferusalern, so the cbildren of today haue to bear uitness to Hirn

tod.ay, wben He is discassed and. forgottten. Tbe appeat ol His Horiness,

tbe

last

Pope,

Palrn

asuddnrdeasyse(d7toAparcilo,n1g9re7g4a),tiounilol fa)ls)aoupnrio-paeidoipteidiu,casttorpsewteitlhs

useful matter lor discussion.

Paul VI bas

salen a lew days

jast spokeru ol tbe

before His passion,

solemn entry ol

and be continaes

Jesus into leru-

as foll,ousi

Tbe Messiab

It is very important to know the meaning of this scene from the

Gospel. You remember it; Jesus, as the meek king riding on an ass,

comes up from the Eastern part of the city after Bethany, from

Btoethbpehangoeti,cetodwiasrdtsheonceroowf dth, eaneaesnteomrmgoautsesc, rtoowJderguastahleermed.

The thing

there, in-

creased

part of

by the vast numbers of people

Palestine on the occasion of

coming to Jerusalem from every

the Hebrew passover, that was

being celebrated precisely at that time. And it is to be noted that

Jesus, seated on his humble mount, becomes the centre of an ex-

traordinary manifestation. Everyone presses about him, the Teacher

who by his miracles and his wotds made himself so much tarked

about, after the raising of. Lazarus, especially for a question that

disturbed public

of Jerusalem did

opinion very much,

not wanr even talked

and which

abour. The

the Jewish leaders

question was this:

who is this Jesus of Nazareth? who is this young t"rdr"., who makes

himself so talked about? who is he? a propheil a deceiver of the

people? who is he? the Messiah? Here we h"u" , word that is im-

portant for understanding the profound meaning and the suffering of

that event.

The Messiah, which means the one consecrated by God, was a

pr,ophetic figure whose famous name imbues, from Davii onwards, tl,e

adventurous and unhappy history

of hope, freedom and grearness.

of the Jewish

This idea of

people, Iike

the coming

u ,ign

of the

Messiah had taken hold of public opinion, under the domiiation of

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the Romans, precisely at the time of Jesus. The preaching of John,

that brave prophet of the desert, with his featless words and his baptism

of repentance, near the mouth of the Jordan, had given new life to

the expectation of the Messiah, who was considered to be about

to come.

f!rc sa6hanting preaching and the surprising figure of Jesus had

given fresh impulse to this premonition, but had at the same dme

aroused, amotrB the dominant element of the Pharisees, a blind op-

lrcsition

sign of

to the idea that

political power

Jesus, a workman from Nazareth, lacking any

or glorious kingship, but strong in polemical

words and disturbing mirades, should be recognized as the Messiah.

He was a prtzzlllg and dangerous figure; he had to be suppressed.

And now here Jesus, in contrast to his usual manner, was on this

day making himself known, in simplicity and humility, but making

himself known fot u'hat he was: the Son of David, that is, the

Messiah.

Here there occurs a decisive circumstance, the one that interests

us now: the acclamation of the crowd. In fact, the crowd, which must

have been immense and filled with one single feeling, recognized and

proclaimed Jesus

up to Jerusalem

Nazateth, the

that ordinary

humble prophet,

everyday means

who was coming

of transportation,

withoui military and political victories, for what he really was, that

is as "Son of David", that is, the one sent by God, as the heit of

the age-old hopes of the Jewish people, as the one who was coming to

set frce and save his people and to establish a new future. The iden-

tification of the person was genuine, but the interpretation of his

kingdom was false: it was a question no longer of the earthly kingdom

of David, but of the "kingdom of heaven", of the "kingdom of God"

preac-hed by Christ in the Gospel. But on the Cross of Jesus Pilate's

Lscription in tfuee languages, giving the reason for the Lord's

condemnation to that cruel punish.ment, will still tell the accusation:

"King of the Jews"; as such he was crucified.

People acclairz Jesus

\\flhat we need to note is that the messianic prodamation of

Jesus, though it was indeed predisposed by him, came from the mouth

of the people, and that among that people what most loudly made

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that prophetic, historical and religious acclamation was the shout of

the young people, the high voices of the children. And this has a

symbolic and permanent value for us today. And still today, young

people and children llslsning to us here, we can say again: it is for

you to proclaim the glory, reveal the mission and affirm the identity

of Jesus Christ: he is the Messiah, he is the centre of the destiny of

mankind, he is the liberator, he is the Saviour; and then we shall

understand the profound reasons for this: for he is at one and the

same time the Son of .man, that is, the matr par excellence, and the

Son of God, that is, t}e Vord of God made man: he is the Saviour,

the Teacher, the world's heavenly Bread; he is the one whom no

one can do without; he is the one with whom we can and must all

be friends; he knows us, he loves us, he saves us; he is the Light of

mankind, he is the way, the truth and the life. Enthusiasm for Christ,

when one has understood something about him, has no limits; he is

the joy o{ the world, our ioy!

Cbrist's message

Young people and children listening to us! You especially must

understand this messianic message. You must understand Christ, with

a special intuition, one that we can indeed call charismatic: your

wisdom is your special gift; to understand Christ!

With this first result: there must be born in you the conviction

that you must, in some way, bear witness to Christ.

Bearing new and victorious witness to Christ, in our time, is the

task of the young generation, the task of the chfldren, the adolescents,

the youth! Today it is your task, if tomorrow it is to be the task

of the adults.

Our talk becomes complicated and delicate: how can children and

young people be witnesses to Christ? And what we say for the boys

of course holds good for the girls-the girls know this. Therefore:

how can you be witnesses to Christ? !7e could sum up the immense

and difficult extent of this duty in one word: be Christians, real

Christians. You have been baptized. Do you think about this? Do

you pray, that is, talk to Christ and to God, our most loving heavenly

Father? fue you sincere and good, in his presence? Do you love

your families and your schools? Do you do some act of goodness for

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the person who is suffering? And so on. You know all these tnings

and certainly you do them: and so you bear witness to Christ, if

and because you live like Christians.

'Vitness inuolaes action

But there is something more to be done. lTitness involves some

positive act of loyalty to Christ. So listen. \\7e shall suggest to you

a short set of steps that lead to witness to Christ. The first step is

that of courage for the Chdstian name. Are you ashamed of being

Christians, of going to Church? That is the first cowardice to be

overcome. !fle must not be ashamed and run away when showing

ourselves to be Christians causes others to despise us, or in some

way endangers our reputation or interests. The second step to be

climbed is this: that of malicious and often uniust criticism of the

Church, her institutions, her members. Protest has become fashionable,

and it fills the heart with bitterness and pride; it causes love to dry

up, even if this love takes on forms that arc puritanical, which, alas,

often tend towards attraction to and even solidarity with the enemies

of the Church. Be faithful and humble, and you will be strong; and

you will be able to beat good and positive witness to your Christian

and Catholic belief. This is the third step: be willing and proud

to give your name and your active support to some mili1all organization

in the fields of action, piety or charity. Today, as we know, people

no longer want to give militant support to some cause or idea that

has religious, Catholic or Chdstian connections, or even that is pureb

and nobly for the com.mon good. People prefer to stay free and not

bound by obligations to an organizaion This is not always a good

thing. ITitness becomes easier and strong if it springs ftom union,

from a shared commitment and collective loyalty. Moreover, we must

not inwardly prefer the easy ways of intellectual, spiritual and social

indifference. Individualism, isolation and indifference to good causes

are not in conformity with the Christian way, especially in what con-

cerns the matter that interests us now, namely, witness to Christ the

Lord.

Dear young people and children, you must know that the Churc-h,

and perhaps history itself, now awaits precisely from you a Christian

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-48

profession that is not denied, not simulared, not indifferent, but one

that is fra.k, reasonable, joyful and also, for our modern world, exem-

plary and convincing.

3. !'ll make you fishers of men

Just as Cbrist one day called His apostles and tbey abandoned

tbeir nets and, lolloued Him, so tbe Pope inuites tbe young people

of today to listen to tbe call lrorn tbe beart ol rnankind, frorn tbe aery

beart ol God. Tbe message of PauJ VI lor tbe "Vorld Vocations Day"

(5 tb May, L974).

I am speaking to the young people-to you young people. Yes,

I am speaking in a special way to you. Today there is achieved-almost

with

it to

tangibls 1g2lis6-4 S7ord, a promise

Peter and to Andrew his brother,

of Jesus Christ.

those fishermen

who

spoke

were

casting their net in the Lake of Galilee. Valking along the bank

I Jesus saw them and said to them: "Come with me and shall make

you fishers of men". What tone did his voice have? lVbat figure

did the young Teacher strike at that moment-the young Teacher

whom the two fishermen had .met a litde while before, down towards

the mouth of the Jordan, in that mysrerious armosphere of the

messianic preaching of John the Baptizer? \\flho knows? The fact

is that the two fisherman-think of it!-immediately left their nets

and began to follow the Teacher that they had hardly come ro know.

A few steps later the scene repeats itself in regard to fwo other

brothers, James and John, sons of Zebedee; they too abandon their

nets; they too leave their father, the boat and those helping them

and follow Jesus, who is drawing to himself a small group in order

to preach the coming of the kingdom of heaven.

Propbetic scene

It is a symbolic scene, a phophetic scene. fs it too fantastic to

think that it is reflected in'my o\\rn present situation? Think of the

Pope, who portrays very i-Ferfecdy the profile of Jesus and the

Iikeness of Peter; and yet he is the Successor of Peter and the Vicar

of that very same Christ. The Pope is standing nor on the bank of

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r49

a rranquil lake but on rhe edge of a swelling and whirling rivet, the

river of history, the overwhelning river of modern life, in which you,

the young people of this rising generation, are carried along by the

defirlous ,iot.t". of our time and in which, like everyone else, you

are searching for satisfying experiences, however marvellous or frighten-

ing they may be.

Gilt ol self

I am issuing a calli I am calling you. I know that this is rash

on my part, perhaps vain, perhaps annoying; but I must raise my voice,

I at

Jesut did-:

s-erious. To

Come vrith me. shall say something more: my call

come with me means making an extremely precious gift:

the personal gift

limii. But iiir

of yourselves to ouf Lord; it means a sactifice

Uf. that. I must be sincere: my call, which

wit}out

I would

like to be a vocation for you, is something intensive and demanding.

(And I shall mention to you-altho"gh you understand it anyway-how

much affection there is in this call. The one who follows it will have

this seemingly contradictory experience: a vocation-penetrating and

profound, hidd"o within rte secrers of conscience-is something very

gentle, something thrilling; t}ere

i* ,*p"rt it. But this comes

is nothing-no

latet). Now it

pleasute, love that

is enoug-hnof-or me to

call o.rti Is there anyone who wants to come? Is there anyone who,

amidst the confusio n of. a thousand sounds in this world of ours,

hears and listens to my voice?

At least do not refuse this invitation: try to listen!

You ask me: to listen to what? Listen, in my call-as a first

invitation-to

out today and

the call that rises up from mankind which

expresses, usually in suffering, its most real

still cries

needs' It

cries out for truth, it cries out for light, it cries out for help' Do you

not perceive in this call the cry of hope, followed by the lament of

disillusior,-ent, confusion, suffering and despair? Do you not hear

the cry of so many unhappy children, so many lonely poor people, so

many needy sick, so many weak and oppressed? Do you not recognize

the iearful and languishing call of the person who does nor know to

whom to conlide rome i.ulout and soEowful secfet that he has? And

do you not hear the call of the worker, the student, the one who is

,.rti.rr, and in the end does not know why?-the why of life, or who

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-50-

it is that can awaken him, or who can say to him as to a brother:

"The one who walks in my footsteps does not walk in darkness,,. Vho

can console,mankind fol the vanity of its efforts, for the absurdity

of its vanities, for the fleetingness of its &ys? !7'ho can give sense

and value to h'man knowledge, who can pudy and fortify Iove, who

can teach the true secret of beauty, who can rcaltze the prlcious-value

of tears, wlo 9an open the door to the dreamed-about possibirity of a

supernatural life?

These questions and

with the sublimation of

a hundred others con:rected

human life make up the

with ideals and

symphony of a

vocation. God calls through the word of mankind aspiring to the

ttanscendent fullness of its life-a fullness that would otherwise be

lacking.

'!7ho knows how to listen to this pleading chorus? This is the

first characteristic stage of a modern o*riioo, the sociological-religious

stage.

fue you ahaid of tsceming fascinatbd by human compassion?

-IistenYtoounagnoprheeorplwe,isleisraennd

a litde

friendly

longer.

voice.

But

This

this time you must

is the second stage:

ttehead_rpesryochfotlhoegicsaol-urel,liagiosupsiritounael .dHireecretora:nheexrpi ethrrerise

needed, that is, a

is needed a friend

who is an expert in the secrets of hearts.

Appeal to loang people

I am speakittg to you young people-to everyone who is able

to understand the language of. an extraordinary vocation, that of. a

total giving of self to the love and service of chdst. rt is a case

of catching tre mosr mysterious signals of the Holy Spirit. It is not

something easy. one musr be knowledgeable in a teihnique (excuse the

e4pression) which reads signs; that is, one must possess "the discern-

ment of spirits", the discernment of spiritual signs; we could use a

term which

by saying: a

is relevant today, adapting

psychoanalyst of the Gospel

to the

needed.

r.eWriegiwouosddspheevreen,

add, one needs a cirarism. This is an essential need,

is not that difficult if the choice of the person

but the

needed

solution

falls on

someone wise and holy-and this type of person is certainly not

Iacking in the Church of God.

6 Pages 51-60

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-5L

But yes, the question becomes dramatic in the sense that the

voice that calls is two{old: there is the external human voice of one

person and the penonal, internal inspiration of someone else. I0'hidl

one prevails? Ifhich one is of greater importance? This phase is the

decisive phase in reaching certahty about a vsgatisa-and on this

there can depend the destiny of one's life and a thousand other con-

sequences. A certain tension arises. But there is no cause for fear; and

this for two reassuring feasons. The fust is provided by a characteristic

experience in this lslpgating but only apparent ambiguity. This is so

because when tlre vocation is genuine the two voices coincide and their

harmony produces an indescribable certainty.

The other reason comes from the fact that the divine call to the

priesthood is definitively expressed thro.gh the responsible and reas-

i*i"g voice of the hierarchy and through the imposition of the hands

of the bishop, who certainly must iudge whether the candidate is

.motivated by the right intention and has the essential qualities fot

thg minis1ry.

Ve ate in the realm of a personal freedom concerned with an

exceptionally great and responsible choice, because, strictly speaking,

a voiation in itself does not constitute either an imperative obligation

or an optional right. The moral bond springs from the sincete desire

for a higher ideal and a greater reward: "If you would be perfect,

go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have

i..rr.rt. in heaven; and come, follow me". And this is the third stage,

which can he called the canonical-religious moment.

Vocations today

But the pvzd:rrrg uncertainty of vocations-young people, admit

it-is manifested today no longer in stages but in other spheres.

Hete my discourse should pause, or, even better, here your reflection

should linger. Let us simplify it: there are three of these sectors

in which are found sudr sffong obiections against a vocation saying

that although a vocation is hypothetically possible, today it easily

dries up as the sterile grain of the parable.

\\trhat are these spheres? The first is the specifically religious

one; it concerns not iust strictly priesdy vocations but also the

vocations of men and women to a state of petfection. The objection is

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-52-

formulated in a common question: Is it worth it? Thereupon the

objection toudres the critical analysis of religion, that is, of the ruth

of our faith, whicl today is assailed and challenged by the most radical

philosophical and biblical views; the objection concerns also the moral

evaluation of the sacdfices which a vocation involves. Is it worth

it to stake one's own existence on a life-formula that the Church

presents as a srue interpretation of absolute fidelity to the following

of Christ? And Christ-who is he, that he has to have an uncon-

ditional oblation of my life? This objection is so powerful and

complex that it engages the entire explorative, speculative and moral

capacity necessary for attaining 4 ssrteinty, a victorious Truth. And

this truth, young people, is nor difficult to att^in through study,

reflection, counsel, prayer, and above all through grace. A vocation

is a grace. By its nature it presupposes and requires that a voice should

be heard-the voice of the irather through Christ and in the Holy

Spitit, the wonderful invitation: Come! This is a gruce that has in

itself its ovm power of atttaction, of conviction, of certainty. Basically,

it is only a question of testing it and then of accepting it generously.

And the other sphere? that of objections, difficulties and obstades that

often seem panlyzng and insurmountable? It is the sphere of the

social environment. This environment grips us, absorbs us, conditions

in sud:

go out

e way that it is very difficult today

of it by adopting an ecclesiastical

to free oneself

attitude, life

of it

style

and

commitment. At one time this "human respect" was not so strong

and overwhelming. Today it is perhaps the mosr serious practical

and psychological obstacle. Young people realiz.e how outmoded, absurd

and uncharacteristic it is for them to depart from common practice

and to embrace a priesdy or religious vocation without wordly com-

promises, whicle are so unworthy of such a vocation. This departure

is a specially important moment. For some it is an agony. But it is

the most free, most love-filled, most generous moment that could

charucterize one's life, one's Christian life. And it is only a moment,

a moment of personal courage.

Sign and instrument

And then we come to the third sphere: the Church. Yes, rhe

Chutch, in her ordinary, human, historical, visible and canonical

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-5)-

reality. The Church with her permanent conuadiction: berween the

ideal and reality. This conuadiction is all the more annoying to the

extent that the ideal is affirmed as sublime, evangelical, sacted and

divine; and to the extent that the reality is often presented as base,

narrow, defective and sometimes even egoistical and degenetate. But

it is the Churchl that social institution which each one, by belonging

to it, can transform and which, human urd limited as it may sometimes

be, is always "the sign and instrument" of our salvation. The Churctr

is always the dispenset of the divine mysteries; she is the true ChurcJr,

holy Mother ChucJe, for whidr Chtist gave his love and his blood.

fhe Church is always worthy of being loved by you young people!

Yes, the Cross is put on our shoulders; but it is the Cross of Christ,

who waits fot Simon of Cyrene to help him to bear its weight. It

is the heroic drama of God's glory, of the salvation of the wotld and

of the incomparable honour to which you young people are called.

Here we do not wish to add anything else. You know that it is

the Pope who speaks to you. He regards you with immense affection,

with anxious hope and great ioy.

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VIII. NECROLOGY

Fatber Aruore Aruori

* Assisi (Perugia, Italy), 13.11.1899; f

47 years of age: 55 prof,.; 49 priest.

Prenesrino, Rome (Italy), 82.1974;

A simple and thoroughly likeable character, he applied himself with

single-minded zeal to the needs of his pupils. His long experience with

boys made him particularly valuable as an assistant. He also vs1ftsd hatd

at preaching aud hearing confessions. In the immediate post-war period

he was ecdesiastical assistant of the Catholic lTorkers' Association. Behind

the external activity lay a deep life of prayer, in which he persevered

to the very end.

Father Josel Augastaitis

f * Voverei (Suvalkai, Lithuania), L2.2.1886 Tjma (Penr), 202.1974: 88 years

oi age; 6) ptof..; 54 priest; 3 rector.

A man of deep piety and gteat zeal, he worked unremittingly for the

Indian boys of the Peruvian Andes. His good work eamed him a decoration

from the Government. For many hears he was confessor.

Fatber Antonio Ballesio

f * Rivatossa (Turin, Italy),30.72.L901; CuorgnB (Turin) 27.4.1974: 72 yearc

of age; 50 prof.; 43 pdest.

A late vocation, he answered the call promptly and generously, his

sole concern being the faithful service of God and of his confrEres. In

the same spirit of acceptance he bore the suffering with which God was

pleased to bring to a close his 50 years of religious life.

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))-

Father Johan M. Birkenbihl

t * Camberg im Taunus (Hessen Nassau, Germany), 16.8.190); C,olope (Ger'

many), 75.2.1974: 70 yeas of age; 48 prof.; 39 priest.

He lived at Valdocco for some years; for six of them he was secretary

to the Prefect General, Don Pietro Bemrti, whose memory he was to

treasrue for the rcst of his life. He found his model Salesian in Don Ber-

ruti, to whom he atuibuted his recovery from a serious illness in 1964.

In a second spell there, Don Ricaldoni entnrsted him with the post of

atchivist in charge of the wtitings and effects of Don Bosco, which he

proceeded to arrange and classifu with great patience and exactitude.

Father Aatonio Claud.ino Duarte

f * Vilar do Cadoval (Estremadua, Pornrgal), 30.9.L9L8; Mogofores (Pomrgal),

4.4.1974: 55 years of age; 38 prof.; 29 priest;

He was a zealous and vigorous assistant and teacher of theology. For

4 time after his ordination he also worked in the parish at Estoril, in the

boys' club and amongst the Past Pupils at Porto. Then he was Put itr

charge of the Co-operato$, aud he was tireless in his efforts to spread

the work thrcugh talks and sermons. His wide range of cortacts enabled

him to promote v@ations, especially for the Salesian Sisterc. As parish'priest

in the years preceding his death he promoted catechetics, the sacramental

li[e, boys' dubs and gvsning classes.

Father Auguste Crozes

*FraSnt.cJeu),s2t .s5u.1r97V4ia: u7r4(Ayvaetysroonf,

France),

age; 53

f 2L.2.L900; Rieupeyroux

prof.; 45 priest; 9 Rector.

(Aveyrou,

\\0ith his geat capacity for work he canied out his Salesian mission

at Nazareth for L7 years, then in his home'land and finally in Algeria

(where he went at the age of 68) as headmaster at Bouisseville. He had

a deep love for Don Bosco and always remained meticulously faithful to

the Salesian uadition. Even in his old age he was to be seen among the

boys in recreation, with his kindsgss and patience. His whole life was a

gift to God.

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-56-

Fatber Caietan Thonas D'Anato

f * San Francisco (Califomia, U.S-A,.), 21.10.LgL9; Los Angeles (U.S.A.), 11.10.

d L973; a1^s51 54 years "g.; 35 ptof..; 25 priest.

A sick mai for matry years, "Father Tom', as he was called by

community and boys alike, found a heavy cross in his inability to work

as he would have liked. But he knew hour to conceal his sufferings behind

6ir dhserful smils. If someone clune out with a crudity, he would say:

"Keep the peace", a saying that became his motto. He was indefatigable

in his work for the missions, for which he would muster funds and help

of every sort. The boys will always remember him as their true friend

and educator.

Fatber Felipe Diez

* Ios Tremellos (Burgos, Spain), 26.5.1898; T Ma&id (Spaio), 22.2.1974;

75 years of. age; 55 prof.; 47 priest.

fu a priest he was exemplary in his devotion to duty and his dedication

to his pupils; as a Salesian he was always faithful to Don Bosco. Through

attentive reading of the Biogaphical Memoirs he became thoroughly

acquainted with the Founder's life and thought.

In his old age he vas happy to be amongst orphan boys, for vhose

spititual welfare he was always solicitous.

Fatber lldefonso Gomez Urbln

t * Fuentes de Andalucia (Seville, Spain), 21.11.1899; Sevilla-Macarena (Spain),

19.9.L973. 73 yeas of age; 47 prof..; 38 priest.

He was brought into the society by an army comrade who had the

It same Christian name and surname, and happened to be a Salesian. was

his simplicity and his constaot accessibility thar won the confidence of the

youg, many of whom went to him for advice and help.

Fatber Vladryslau Kiruszyk

t *-Minoga. (Kielce, Poland), 24.8.L893; Oswiedrn (Poland), 62.19742 80 years

of age; 60 prof.; 52 priest; 11 Rector.

Destined for the

to India n L929 a,fter

ln 1939 he returned

missioos from the

serving as catechisr

to Poland for the

time of his novitiate, he went

and bursar in his home-couotry.

purpose of collecting funds for

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-57 -

;;Itph;;;pep'r|lci;1ro;,,,no.-sa",tJtrfgirchsteOitocnRnilelyeoctdafofratteharcenhtdmhuert'hcHheceneosCcsnaaomtnhiofeiesnsbsomaofcri,kshswohiosoontmrik;lieitnbiefguisntwactloihltyhuelndcwohamte9rp5rlP9eetu,teutarndandedsthoitceoap"wthioationss

to the cure of souls until his' death.

Fr Marc Michal.on

f * St.Etienne (Loire, France\\, 3.8.1922; Lyons (France), 2.5.7974t aged 51

years; 28 Prof; 20 Priest; 12 Rector,

wSaJn"tIetnid^htiolsifrevel.qourTi.heefsotbrfoopryoasodwrmechirteitldaqrneucnice,ktaotnotdherteonciotphvreoimccaiatheteehhdiseedsgitceaalutteeinddehthilsoavtwheheofoler

th-eam..p,

and they responded fully to his

,ia.*rLdini of their problems.

eIIxitsrawoirtdniensosyto^ftfh*e+Vfa-icthoulapyleind

his

"readiness to render any sort of setvice at any time'

Brotber Gregorio Odilber

* f Copadare (Falc6n, venezuela), 28.11.1885; caracas (venezuelr:), 5.4.1974:

88 years of age; 46 Ptof.

His spirit of generosity led him to offer-himself for the missions' and

,gteryn.eara"l tmPaiunteerntanAcyea.cuScahloesiiannst,hepuHpiiglsh

Odnoco

and staff

for 24

found

years' working

in him a true

apostolic spirit, a model Christian and religious'

Father Pedro Telruo Ortiz

* Bolivar (Buenos Aires, fugentim),

29.7.197): 83 years of age;66 prof.;

11.3.1890;

57 priest;

Bahia

Rector'

Blanca

(Atgentina),

f*ronrar,nseH.onleclleomthoni"gefi hGimtnoowpdreealiltn"abfgteeo"v"ncetaiairlrlye"atdhnfionadgrPl,obatvetoaeing"dGognitiinaansan,tsdinbmpeccltuaacwnuhstisetahafsentwhhdeepardfnieeiie'sdntls.ianlHghsa'iovsHefetewthahoecrahkdiinemgda-

fine artistic temperament,

Ci*V".trfrop. This he

*ftili, found expression ia his Photographic

managed until niarly the end of his life' On

and

the

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-58-

GSbcjoaqdsti.,o"nAsoppfrerhaaiydsegar orfouldulelayndajumnbseiwleetehreeodftbrouyredGiniooady.lieasndheospatimidi:s,m,Moayi

l, until my last

,t-,. chil&en of

Brother Antonio Otero

f *_Torneiro-s, Allariz (Orense, Spain), 6.9.1906; Sevilla (Spain), l6.ll.l97i:

67 years of. age,47 prof.,

Almost all the houses of the province received a contribution from his

cpoaaepfrroestsfohrt:noeI sli.c.rgeHwkligioeoirogkwu.asosHlfiemftehoh.esaiHtrdfiwaasoitzlrhoekfvsuaetlnfoifdnortrwhhehiosirrskeSsapapluenespcditialwsnhaewassaafslawsisiattvhiynesfgu'ra,ylcrctiogoobrhdvttheiodeuupspthratieoncmticthheaiesss

Iast days of his life.

Fatber Elias Otero

f *^San AdriCn

88 yeas of

del Valle (L6on, Spain), t6.2.lgg5;

age; 69 prof.; 55 pdest.

Santaoder (Spaio), 25.g.1%32

He spent almost hoJt of his long Salesian rife at santander, working in

the confessional. He vas endowed

a good mind and a special gift for

l'aongitutag"ess.troInngspainted

original p.rrooriity,

of f,ir wide corto.",

F .*T not given to discussion, thereby-showing his respect for oth"r..

f9otdr-:.lri]fyl:

eady in

and exacting

for vorking,

the morning,

ianlwcalaysss,teaacdhisincgipslinoemdetrheinligf iJnuesw, ;nfeorh.,.d1""6rg!rt.ir"tg-

and for ofiering the boys his vise counsel.

gorro

lt"r,

Father Francisco l. Pereira Leitte

f *'.Viefua

of age;

6_9(Bprargoaf,.;P5o4rtupgraiel)s,t;222^4.9R.1e!8ct6o;r.

Evora (pornrgal), 10.2.1974: 87 years

One of the last suryivors of the ,,heroic days,, of the Society, he saw

the beginnings of the work in Porugal, and its restoration h lg2d. He was

a watchfuI and fatherly assistpot il1d 6e,nsgllsr, although somewhat

and he was a priest and religious of true apostolic m"ettle. At the"*tuim"ti.ngo,f

the suppression of the religious orders; he criose exile, fust in Imty anJthen

6.9 Page 59

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-59-

;;;A-i" m

Spaitr,

order

aol

to stay faithful to his- vocation rather than slide into a

U.. Gtrtanding q his-l9ve for the Congregation and

il;"piri.-.awork, he was simple

and a muctr sought-after spiritual

joyful,

d-haendctor and

a Eteat help

confessor'

the

parish

Bro. Manuele Maria P4rez

t * Roa (Lugo, Spain), 20.10.1888; Boulope (Buenos Aires, Argeotina),21.4.1974:

85 years of age; 5 Prof'

*a*p"ro&iraiopyr.etr,H*or.-ae'l.oifi,"eAc'ft.iat"imrtfigeG,"eagoilvnhdeatoohtuaisntmthhedseeaehenlCfisldoeunvndigtlresnreeetsfogpe,carchlvtoiueoovpdneal*ynw'otsthfCoedoDDnnoosowhncnenioBBuwtosooasssoctchofaoeltw'mhHseeometsesat hlloreloeeoigrsfktltheetdtcdiymte'eatedlaifktiiealen'tt

the

his

the

His

his

Fr Gerardo Poblete

t * Chuquic,mata (Antofagasta, Chile), 11.5.L942; Iquique (Chile), 2l'10'1973"

31 years ol age, 11 Prof.; 2 Priest.

wthoerkfiHegduisroeluifotefhwCisahsoris*stoh, otphrter,rbtRoue.tAdeh-eeJmgtnearvo.eaHtaisltlodoebfariitnthg,tootchtcehuerbrosinyegsrvaifcatectqeotfoony{loyauczethyw'eHiathtes

ua ,o.i, a difficult time for his countrymen, confers something

"oif-pthiie-.tP,af,s*cahal mystery on his life of sactifice fot the young'

Brother Thonas PoonollY

* Trichur (Kerala, Iodia), 6'6'1917; t Cochin (India), 2'12'l9D: 36 vears

of age; 15 Prof.

aanod*oHane*afedrx-lmhettmai^,sp.toeltaiorrittyostrfy"enoolid,ugiirrinogslu,csphh.roeoBowhleeaafsotdsreVisnahadoosuwptahoncarultha,te,oawhftoetrhtmwoeaopssefuarmtvichceoeinmsionpvfgeaitttrehiisnoetucsptueotagochirtferitmessrt'

y"ropu.nag"sUteyrs, who were his special intetest'

6.10 Page 60

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Fr Ercole Proaera

t * Mirabello, Monferrato (Alessandr?, ftaly), 11.4.1g91; s. paolo, Turin (Italy),

11.3.1974: 82 years of. age; 63 ptof.i 54 iriest.

f-or

After

almost

a period of

half a century

life in the country at Lombriasco and

he was one of the irominent characters of

Cumiana,

the work-

ingdass suburb of san Paolo in Turin. Besides being much in demand as a

preacher and confessor, he was also a uery ubl. 2rrmini5621ss; !u1

his charismatic mission was a form of social work, "assistente sociale": a

p:rl"-n peculiarly his own, in which his zeal for souls and his stroog u/ill

led him to move heaven and earth to help anyone who turned to-ti-.

The number 9f

ffoorr

the needy

himself.

jobs and lodgings he fouad ard thi

defies calculation; but never did

financial

he keep

aids he

oruse

p'arnoyvtihdioegd

Brotber faan Neru

t * Saa llilaria Sacalm (Gerona, Spain), 30.8.1881;

7l 91 yeats of age; prof.

Havana (Cuba), 29j..l9:.3:

He began his very long Salesian Llfe as assistant and farm-foreman at

Gerona. His meeting with Don Rua, into whose hands he made his

profession, affected him profoundly. A man of lively faith, of solid spiri-

cagtua*art-9rlriiegt.ya{d,lt-hhameynerdowapoltilpitmhmenismymteoli.faetHhn:ede_Iasshghaegoidipokrneonoafswmhhseeim,ntlhlrsoage,tulhfIi:deeh,c,aMmovueueldyg't,iovrieHdhneei lhaepevvreoenreiy.vCedIrhiyfhrtfihiascivtnuieagltn,y,as.l,wwahiyathss

Fatber Francesco Ngamonti

*-Lambrugo (C,omo,

of ag.; 40 prof.; 30

Italy),

priest.

15.2.1917;

Como (Italy), 1.4.L974t 57 years

He will be remembeted chiefly for the warmth and depth of the human

relationships-he developed du"iog his long pedod of t.r.hiog, and he kept

in touch-*-rrh_u large numbel o{old Boys.-His Iast years wlre given over

to the spiritual direction of the Saresian Sirt.m. A hard rial, thai hindered

his every action, prepared him for a sudden, but expected, meeting vith God.

7 Pages 61-70

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-61 -

Fr Leo Rodenbeck

t * [,igmt(e (East Prussia), 1.5.L906; Sannerz (Germany), 4.1.L974: 67 yearc

of age; 47 ptof..; 38 priest.

He was pTnsh priest for 25 yeats at Sannerz, and had to look after

many other neighbouring communities. He was very well loved and

his work wrt much valued. His impressive funeral, rrhich was altended

by two btothers, also Salesians, spoke eloquendy of the standing he enjoyed

with the whole communiry.

Father Miguel Rodriguez Ferndndez

*' Barruecopardo (Salamanca, Spain), )3.1909 f Algeciras (CAdb, Sp"io)'

29.7L.L9D: 64 years ol age, 47 prof..; )7 priest.; 6 Rector.

He was supremely tactful with everyone' especially during his term

of office as Rector. His life can be summed up in these words, spoken at

his funeml: "He was always a priest, alrrays a Salesian, always attentive

to everyone's needs". His spirit of obedience, his work in the school and

as spirirual dhector were all characteristic of the man. He prayed for a

,p..dy end, so as not to be a burden to his confrBres; and he died suddenly,

of a heart-attack.

Brother Alejandro Raru&n Sequeira

t * San Lorenzo (Santa F6, fugentina), 9.4.1898; Alta Gracia (C6rdoba, Argen-

tirla), 7.3.1974: 76 years of age; 21 prof.

As a boy he had the desire to consecrate himself to God, but only

in his fifties, atter the death of his mother was he able to enter the

Congregation. In the meantime he had filled important posts in public

adminisEation as an attorney. For many years he had been Director of

Catholic Action alongside the present Cardinal Caggiano. A man of out-

standing ability he

the adminisuation

held, as a Salesian,

of the houses and

positions of geat

of the Province.

responsibility

In spite of

his

strong persotraliry, forthright and tough, he could be understanding and

forgiving.

7.2 Page 62

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Deacon losd Maria Teixeira

f * S. Paulo (Brazil), 26.2.1923; there, 26.6.1971t 50 years of. age; 32 ptof.;

22 dacon.

He was about to be ordained priest with his companions when he

fainted and was uaable to go on with the ceremony. After the example

of St Francis of Assisi, he wished, from motives of humiligy, to remain

a deacon for the rest of his life. He had had brilliant results from his course

in the economic sciences, a1d, being well quelified in this field, he was

consulted by many religious communities. He directed the construction of

some of our schools and of the new lgil.ling for the Editora Don Bosco.

He was a rnan who could visualize and translate his vision into reality;

reserved and humble, a prolific and tireless \\porker, he aimed above all to

constfuct the Kingdom of God.

Card.inal Stelan Trochta

t * Francov) Lhota (Moravia, Czechoslovakta), 26.3.1905; LitomElice (Czechoslo

vakia), 6.4.L974; 69 years of age; 49 prot.; 42 priest.; Rector 1L; Bishop

ftom 19471' created Cardinal ta, L969 and prodaimed tn.797r.

His father died when he was eight years old, and he had to help his

mother to keep his younger brothers, even at the expense of his own studies.

He came to know the Salesians and he joined the Society. Vhen he had

finished his studies io Turin, emerging with a degree in theology in l932,he

retumed to his homeland, where, with his outstanding talents and enthusiasm,

he contributed substantially to the development of the Congegation, which

'was just 6king its first steps in Czechoslovakia. Then the war hit Europe,

and he went through the terrifying experience of three concentration-camps:

Teresin, Mauthausen, and Dachau. His constitution, norrnally robust and

h healthy, was shattered by the privations of the camps. 1945 he returned

to Prague, where the boys gave him the velcome of a man risen from

the dead.

In 1947 he was consecrated Bishop. He bent his energies and tenaciry

to the f€orgeniz4dqn of his diocese, but he did not even complete the

first visitation: the political situation had gone wrong again. Iu 1950 he

was forbidden to act as a bishop; li 1953 he was anested and, next year,

was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment. For years he was forbidden to

celebrate Mass. In 1960 he received an 4mnesty, but he could not practise

his ministry and was reduced to tlle status of a worker. In 1968, as a

result of on improvement in the political climate, his sentence was

annullsd altogether and, from the lst September, he was able to resume

7.3 Page 63

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-63-

his direction of the diocese. The next year Paul VI appointed him Cardinal

'in pectore", and it was not until the March of last year that the Pope

made it public.

his

esHxapeiedrwieoansfceahifmmoaunntdhoafetxPphrraeeysesrli,eonacorinnntreatmopglraeetnaiodtnuseraernedanialtylcttaiohnnidn, gaasnffdaabnthidleityoriv.cehIrtceoscmaoenf

all things vith the love of christ. He was ao outstanding example of deep

salesianity and

He placed his

opfatsototatal lloeyxapletyrietnocethaetCthhuercdhis, pthosealPoopfeth-de

F: colntry'

Ifoly^See as

-..-b"t of the Pontifical Commission for the Revision of the code of

Canon Law, and as member of the Secretatiat for Non'believers.

Father Serafino Zaccagnini

I * Rome (kaly),26.7.1915; San Salvadot (El Salvador), 27.2-19742 58 years

of age, 42 prof.; 31 priest; 2 Rector.

He went out vely yorrng to the Province of ceaEal America and spent

there the whole of his iife ai priest and educator. He had a highly refined

artistic sense enriched with a considerable Uaining in literature, and he

exercised a valuable apostolate as teacher and pteacher. He was well able

to impart his love foi Mary, Help of Chtistians, to his pupils,and to the

fairhful. His final sacrilice was a paiaful illness during the last months

of his life.

Brother Octaoio Zuluaga

f * El Santuatio (Antioquia, Colombia), 7.4.7916; Bogot6 (Colombia), 23'L974':'

57 years of age, )7 ptot.

A firm ftiend and an exemplary worker, he devoted himself un-

remittiagly to the formation of thi young. \\7hen the Holy See entrusted

th. .rasiilains of the Ariari to the Salesians, he went there to serve the

poorest of tfr. poor. He is

ia, a genial cliaracter, futl

the first Salesian of the fuiari to die'

of nervous energy and wrapped up in

his

work. And he was a man of prayer. He had to struggle for three years

against the threat of cancer. His Provincial, speaking at the funeral, said:

"His practical bent, his religious aod ascetic principles, his loyalty to the

Congrigation,

of his words,

his

youthful

iriendly

spirit that kept old

approach right down

age at

at the

bay,

level

tle

th-wealrimttlteh

and the needy, made him the very Prototype of the true Salesian".

7.4 Page 64

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64-

2" Elenco 1974

f 49 Sac. AMORI Amore Roma-Prenestino (Italia) 1974 a 74 a.

,0 f Sac. AUGUSTAITIS Giuseppe Lima (Peru) 1974 a 88 a.

5I f 52

t 51

f 54

f 55

f f 56

f 57

Sac.

BALLESIO Antonio CuorgnE (Todno-I:r,lia) 1974 a 72 a.

BIRKEMIHL M. Giovanni K6ln (Germania) L974 a 7O a.

CL,AUDINO DUARTE Antonio Mogofores (ponogallo) L974 a 55

CROZES Augusto Rieupeyroux (Aveyron-Francia) 1974 a 74

D'AMATO thomas Gaetano Ios Angeles (USA) 197, a 54 a.

DIEZ Filippo Madrid (Spapa) L974 a 75 a.

GOMEZ Urbdn Ildefonso Madrid (Spagra) 197) a 7) a.

58, Sac. KLIMCZYK Ladislao

t f 59 Sac. MICEIALON Marco

f 50 Coad. ODUBER Gregorio

Oswiecim (Potonia) 1974 a 80 a.

Lyon (Francia) 1974 a 5L a.

Caracas (Venezuela) 1974 a gg a.

6l f 62

f f 63

Sac. ORTIZ Telmo Pietro Bahia Blanca (fugeonnd 1971

Coad. OTERO Antonio Sevilla (Spaena) 1973 a 67 a.

Sac. OTERO Etia Santander (Spagna) 197) a 88 a.

f 9645

!ac. PEREIRA

coad. PEREZ

a85a.

J. kite Francesco

Emanuele Maria f

'BEouvolorgan(eportogallo) L974 a 87 a.

(Buinos Aires-fugentina)

1974

f jl 66

f 68

t 69

f f 70

Sac. POBLETE Gerardo Iquique (Chile) 1971 a a.

Coad. POONOLLY Tommaso Cochin (lndra) l9D a 36 a.

Sac. PROVERA Ercole Torino - San Paolo (ItoJta) 1974 a

Coad. RIERA Giovanni La Habana (Caba) l97j a 9L a.

Sac. RIGAMONTI Francesco Como (l:aJia) 1974 a 57 a.

7l Sac. RODENBECK

t 72 Sac. RODRIGTJEZ

t a64a.

Leone Samerz (Gemania) L974 a 67 a.

Michele Fernandez Alg.ciras (Cadiz-Spagna)

1973

7, t coad' SEQLIEIRA Ramon Alessandro Alta Gracia (cordoba-Argentiria)

7974 a 76 a.

f f 75

Diac. TEIreIRA Maria Giuseppe S. paulo (Brasile) 1971 a

card. TRoGHTA Stefano Litomerice (cecoslovacchia) 1974

per 27 anni Vescovo e 5 Cardinale.

50 a.

a 69

f 76 Sac' ZACCAGNINI Serafno

f 77 C.oad. ZIJLUAGA Ottavio

San salvador (El Salvador c.A.) rg74 a 58 a.

Bogoti (Colombia) L974 a 57 a.