5167(II)_"To keep our family alive and our hearts youthful"

Day 2 of the Rector Major's visit to the China Province

August 13, 2019

By Peggy Li

Macau, China, 12 August 2019 -- It was truly a full-day schedule for the Rector Major on the second day of his animation visit to Macau. However, one does not feel the tiredness. Instead, it was a day full of life and joy!

The Rector Major started the day with a visit to the old leprosy village in Coloane where Fr. Gaetano Nicosia died a few years ago at the age of 101, a Salesian who devoted all his life to serving the needy patients or brothers as he used to call them. Just next to the village, now stands a Don Bosco complex in which there are two schools, one SDB the other FMA, a student dormitory for 61 boys and a big education camp site. At the end of the meeting and recreation with the interns and their educators, the Rector Major blessed their new oratory, named after the first Salesian missionary to Macau and protomartyr, St. Versiglia, which is also the name of the school. He hoped that this new oratory, with the presence of the Salesians among the young, will become a real home. Then, he visited the Valdocco Salesian Youth and Family Pastoral Centre.

It is an important day for the Rector Major to share with the young people as well as the members of the Salesian Family in two separate meetings. Interesting questions popped up from the crowd: his favourite food and sport. There were also tough questions. The young people asked the purpose of life and the problem of bullying. Fr Angel encouraged the young to pursue true happiness in life and to treasure the people whom we care in our heart. And each one of us should take his own responsibility, both for the search for happiness and for going against bullying.

As to over 150 members of the Salesian Family, Fr. Angel emphasised, first of all, the communion we all share as one family. It is a strong witness of Christian and Salesian values. The Salesian Family is born for the young. Therefore, to keep our family alive and our hearts youthful, we must continue to be present and accompany the young. It is simple but crucial. Only in this way, through our presence and accompaniment, we can educate the young towards the good and discover their vocations.

Certainly, thanksgiving to the Lord in the Eucharist cannot be missed out. The holy Mass was celebrated as commemoration of our Father and Teacher, St. John Bosco. In his homily, Fr. Angel pointed out that the project of Don Bosco is truly inspired and assisted by God. Nobody could imagine that a small oratory in Valdocco, Turin, would become a home, a church, a playground, and a school for the young around the world. At present, everyone in the Salesian Family continues this mission of being present among the young so that they may be able to meet Jesus.