With Don Bosco. Always
It makes a difference whether or not a General Chapter is held
in one place or another. Certainly, in Valdocco, in the
cradle of the charism, we have the opportunity to rediscover
the genesis of our history as well as the originality that
constitutes the heart of our identity as consecrated persons
and apostles of youth.

In the ancient setting of Valdocco, where everything speaks of
our origins, I am almost obligated to recall that December of
1859, when Don Bosco made an incredible decision, unique in
history: to found a religious congregation with some young
boys.
He had prepared them, but they were still very young. For a
long time I have been thinking of founding a Congregation. Now
is the time to get down to business, Don Bosco explained
simply. Actually, this Congregation is not being born now: it
already existed in that set of Rules that you have always
observed by tradition& Now it is a matter of moving forward,
of formally establishing the Congregation and of accepting its
Rules. But know that only those who, after serious reflection,
want to make the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in
due course will be enrolled& I will give you a week to think
about it.
There was an unusual silence as they left the meeting. Soon,
when they began to speak, it could be seen that Don Bosco had
been right to proceed slowly and cautiously. Some muttered
under their breath that Don Bosco wanted to make them friars.
Cagliero paced the courtyard overwhelmed by conflicting
emotions.
But the desire to stay with Don Bosco prevailed in the
majority. Cagliero came out with the phrase that would become
historic: Friar or not, Im staying with Don Bosco.
At the accession conference, held on the evening of December
18, they were 17.

Don Bosco convened the first General Chapter on September 5,
1877, in Lanzo Torinese. There were twenty-three participants,
and the Chapter lasted three full days.
Today, for the 29th Chapter, there are 227 capitulars. They
have come from all over the world, representing all Salesians.
At the opening of the first General Chapter, Don Bosco said to
our confreres, The Divine Saviour says in the Holy Gospel
that where two or three are gathered in His name, there He
Himself is in the midst of them. We have no other purpose in
these gatherings than the greater glory of God and the
salvation of souls redeemed by the precious Blood of Jesus
Christ. We can therefore be certain that the Lord will be in
our midst, and that He will lead things in such a way that
everyone feels at ease.

An epochal change
The evangelical expression, Jesus called those He wanted to
be with Him and sent them out to preach (Mk 3:14-15), says
that Jesus chooses and calls those He wants. We too are among
these. The Kingdom of God is made present, and those first
Twelve are an example and a model for us and for our
communities. The Twelve are ordinary people, with strengths
and weaknesses. They do not form a community of the pure, nor
even a simple group of friends.
They know, as Pope Francis has said, that We are not living
an epoch of change so much as an epochal change. In Valdocco,
these days, there is a climate of great awareness. All the
confreres feel that this is a moment of great responsibility.
In the life of the majority of the confreres, of the
provinces, and of the Congregation, there are many positive
things, but this is not enough and cannot serve as
consolation, because the cry of the world, the great and new
poverties, the daily struggle of so many people not only
poor but also simple and hardworking rises up strongly as a
request for help. These are all questions that must provoke
and shake us and not leave us at ease.
With the help of the provinces through consultation, we

believe we have identified on the one hand the main causes of
concern and on the other, the signs of vitality of our
Congregation, always expressed with the specific cultural
traits of each context.
During the Chapter, we propose to concentrate on what it means
for us to truly be Salesians passionate about Jesus Christ,
because without this we will offer good services, we will do
good to people, we will help, but we will not leave a
significant impression.
The mission of Jesus continues and is made visible today in
the world also through us, His envoys. We are consecrated to
building ample spaces of light for todays world, to be
prophets. We have been consecrated by God and have been called
to follow His Beloved Son Jesus, to truly live as if we have
been redeemed by God. Therefore, once again, the essential
point is all about the Congregations fidelity to the Holy
Spirit, living, with the spirit of Don Bosco, a Salesian
consecrated life centred upon Jesus Christ.
Apostolic vitality, like spiritual vitality, is a commitment
in favour of young people, of children, in the most varied
poverties, therefore we cannot stop at offering only
educational services. The Lord calls us to educate by
evangelising, bringing His presence and accompanying life with
opportunities for the future.
We are called to seek new models of presence, new expressions
of the Salesian charism in the name of God. This should be
done in communion with young people and with the world,
through integral ecology, in the formation of a digital
culture in the worlds inhabited by young people and adults.
Also, there is a strong desire and expectation that this will
be a courageous General Chapter, in which things are said,
without getting lost in correct, well-packaged phrases, but
which do not touch life.
We are not alone in this mission. We know and feel that the
Virgin Mary is a model of fidelity.
It is good to return in mind and heart to the day of the
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of 1887 when, two

months before his death, Don Bosco said to some Salesians who,
moved, looked at him and listened: So far we have walked on
what is certain. We cannot err; it is Mary who guides us.
Mary Help of Christians, Our Lady of Don Bosco, guides us. She
is the Mother of us all, and it is she who repeats, as at Cana
of Galilee in this hour of the CG29, Whatever He tells you,
do it.
May our Mother Help of Christians enlighten and guide us, as
she did with Don Bosco, to be faithful to the Lord and never
to disappoint young people, especially those most in need.