and zealous apostles
let us bring the Gospel to the young
Many groups of the Salesian Family see themselves already in harmony with this commitment. By way of
example I refer you to two quotations from the General Chapters of the SDB and the FMA.
The XXVI General Chapter of the Salesians recognises the urgent need to evangelise and the centrality
of proposing Jesus Christ: «We perceive evangelisation as the principal requirement of our mission, aware that
the young have a right to have Jesus proclaimed to them as the source of life and promise of happiness now and in
eternity»[3]. Our « fundamental purpose is that of proposing that everyone should live their human life as Jesus
lived it. […]at the centre … should be the proclamation of Jesus Christ and of his Gospel, together with the call to
conversion, to the acceptance of the faith, to their taking their place in the Church; then from this will come faith
journeys and forms of catechesis, liturgical life and the witness of charitable work »[4].
Then the XXII General Chapter of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians recognises that it is the Love of God
which urges us on: «The Upper Room where the apostles were together is not a place for them to stay but one
from which to launch out. The Spirit changes them from fearful men into zealous missionaries who, full of
courage, carry the good news of the Risen Jesus along the world’s highways. Love leads to exodus and to a going
out of oneself towards new frontiers to make a gift of oneself: love grows through love.[5] Mary, who from the
Upper Room teaches us to throw open the doors was the first to experience the exodus and to set out on her
journey. The first to be evangelised became the first evangeliser. Carrying Jesus to others, she offers her service,
brings joy, makes love an experience»[6].
Suggestions for putting the Strenna into practice
Here are some ideas which will be useful so that the groups of the Salesian Family may together be engaged in
bringing the gospel to the young. They are offered to the individual groups but also to the Consultative
Committees of the Salesian Family at local and Province level.
1. The local and Provincial Consultative groups to reflect on and re-think the pastoral approach, so as to
make effective the choices regarding the centrality of the proposal of Jesus Christ, personal and
community witness, the reciprocal relationship between education and evangelisation, attention to the
variety of circumstances and the involvement of families.
2. Starting from the “Mission Statement of the Salesian Family,” identify in the local and Provincial
Consultative groups the best ways to plan and organise together experiences of the evangelisation of
the young.
3. In particular, foster collaboration among the Salesian Family at Province and local level, so as to carry
out the mission to youth, as an updated for of proclamation and catechesis, involving the young people
themselves as evangelisers of their peers.
4. Make good use of the Apostolic Exhortations at the conclusion of the continental Synods in order to
identify priorities and approaches suited to the specific contexts for the evangelisation of the young. In
the case of Latina America, use the “Continental Mission” issued by the Assembly of Bishops held at
Aparecida; in the case of the Africa and Madagascar Region, follow the guidelines of the next Synod of
Bishops.
Rome, 2 June 2009
Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva
Rector Major
[1] BENEDICT XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis, n. 84.
[2] BENEDICT XVI, Deus caritas est, n. 18.
[3] GC26 SDB, n. 24.
