COMING TO KNOW DON BOSCO

PASCUAL CHÁVEZ VILLANUEVA

The extraordinary success of the Salesian group model

«Since the companions who tried to coax me into their escapades were the most careless about everything, they began to come to me for help because I did them the kindness of lending them my homework or dictating it to them. The teachers frowned on this. They said it was a false kindness that only encouraged laziness, and they strictly forbade me to do it. I then resorted to less obvious ways of helping them, such as explaining problems to them and lending a helping hand to those who needed it. Thus I made everyone happy and won the goodwill and affection of my companions. At first they came to play, then to listen to stories or to do their homework, and finally for no reason at all, just as the boys at Murialdo and Castelnuovo used to do. That these gatherings might have a name, we called ourselves the Society for a Good Time. There was a reason for the name because everyone was obliged to look for such books, discuss such subjects or play such games as would contribute to the happiness of the members Whatever would induce sadness was forbidden, especially things contrary to God's law. Those who swore, used God's name in vain or indulged in bad talk were turned away from the club at once. So it was that I found myself the leader of a crowd of companions. …» (Memoirs of the Oratory, First decade, 8).

Social support

Almost by instinct Don Bosco realised the importance of the “social dimension” in the education of teenagers especially that provided by their friends and peers. Youngsters need friends like the air they breathe. The gang, the clique, the group of friends can have a bad effect on even the best behaved youngster. With his special intuition as an educator Don Bosco, created a “space” for friends with higher ideals..

Social links and ties of friendship are a basic factor in being protected. A person is pleased when he feels that he is recognised, approved, supported, treated kindly by those with whom he is living. Youngsters nowadays expand through “cutting and pasting”: they copy, repeat, imitate. They are not very much inclined towards creativity and forward-planning, factors which would enable them to face up better to changes and difficulties.

Don Bosco created a safe environment at the Oratory where the boys became accustomed to becoming involved, joining in, playing their part, learning and being active; not being afraid of hard work and not easily giving up.

Don Bosco added two ingredients that would be essential: the 'guardian angels' and the faith.

Every individual of whatever age is happier, more optimistic and at peace with themselves when they know that they have people close to them (their families, friends, teachers, leaders ) ready to help them in times of difficulty. These people they can rely on are a firm foundation from which they can draw strength. They are able to understand them and give them support when they might feel on their own, side-lined, disapproved of.

Religious faith provides the bulwark of a firm hope, a positive view of the world and the loving companionship of God and of the community.

It was from his realisation of this that the “Sodalities” came into being. The first was the St Aloysius Sodality in the Oratory at Valdocco (1847). The purpose of the “St Aloysius Sodality” was “to have the boys commit themselves to practise constantly the more characteristic virtues of this saint. He aimed at starting them on such an exemplary life as to become “the salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” to their companions.” (BM 3, 147). In founding the St Aloysius Sodality Don Bosco had a formation aim in mind: nourishing the lives of piety and morality of the members based on the example of the saint (formation in and the safeguarding of the “holy virtue”), but also encouraging them to give good example and to help their companions. The members of the Sodality were very carefully chosen.

Young apostles

The Immaculate Conception Sodality came on the scene at a later more developed stage in Don Bosco's work and reflected a broader approach to formation. In his life of Dominic Savio Don Bosco wrote: «The object of this sodality was to obtain the protection of the Blessed Virgin through life but more especially at the hour of death. The means proposed were: to practise and promote acts of devotion in honour of the Mother of God, and the adoption and practice of frequent Communion by all members » (Savio, p. 76). However, it is very significant that among the few additions he made to the Regulations before approving them was this particular codicil, which encouraged the members of the Sodality to undertake some form of community service and apostolate among their companions: «At the meetings some work of charity shall always be proposed such as sweeping the church, helping an ignorant child or teaching him the catechism » (Savio, p. 83).

From then on the Sodalities, a novel and fruitful form of youth group activities became part of the Salesian experience.

In 1950 Fr. Ricaldone set up the International Centre for Salesian Religious Sodalities, aimed at the formation of the leaders, the organising and implementing of the “Annual Campaign”, launched by the Strenna, and looking after «meetings, reunions, congresses or other events promoted by the Rector Major». In January 1967, the National Youth Ministry Centre came into being.

Nowadays, the torch has been passed on the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM). This is a educational movement open to all young people aimed at involving them directly in their own human and Christian development, with the intention that they should make a real impact on their local area and on civil society in general and take an active part in their local Church. Around the world there are a great variety of SYM with different structures and features as Salesian groups, more developed in Europe, America and India.

In many places they are organised on a Provincial, Inter-Provincial and Regional basis, with a network of formation, information and other links among the various groups. Youth Gatherings are one of the characteristic features of the SYM providing special opportunities for the groups to get to know each other and to share their experiences and the values of Salesian Youth Spirituality.