HONG KONG: 7th October 2007 -- After a two-week
meeting for new bishops in Rome, Bishop Timothy Costelloe SDB,
auxiliary bishop of Melbourne, passed through Hong Kong and stayed in
the Salesian House of Studies in the first week of October before
returning to Melbourne. He visited some of the Salesian
communities in the province.
During the stay, Fr Lanfranco Fedrigotti, Rector of
the Salesian House of Studies, invited the bishop to preach the monthly
recollection for the post-novitiate and Braga House (community for the
elderly). Bishop Tim reminded the Salesians that their identity
was founded on who they are rather than what they can do.
He cited a word of advice from Don Bosco in the
Letter from Rome: the young should not only be loved, but they should
also know they are loved. This advice expressed the heart of the
Salesian charism and spirituality. The bishop emphasised this, saying
that Don Bosco was not merely expressing himself psychologically here;
a Gospel was hidden inside.
In fact, Don Bosco was inspired by Jesus'
example. From the encounters of Jesus with Zaccheus, the woman
who committed adultery, and Peter after his betrayal of Jesus, we can
see that Jesus knew exactly the need of these desperate people, and
offered them love in the way they could understand. Don Bosco did
similarly, and that is the challenge for Salesians today: do we know
the needs of the young and offer them what they actually need?
This can also apply to community life if we are able to listen to the
hearts of our brothers.
Bishop Tim finally encouraged the assembly to get in
touch with the heart of Jesus. "The Salesian spirit finds its model and
source in the very heart of Christ, apostle of the Father" (C. 11).
The post-novices treasured the time spent with the
fatherly bishop. Before he left Salesian House of Studies, bishop
Tim expressed his gratitude to the community for allowing him to
experience a welcoming community. This was memorable for him
because he would move to the bishop's residence as soon as he returned
to his diocese and would begin living alone after thirty years of
community life! "Truly, for Salesians, wherever we go, we feel at
home once we are in a Salesian community". _________________ AustraLasia is an
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