5364(I)_Don Bosco Past pupils 150th anniversary coming soon
Newsflash 2020 Easter issue is available online
April 30, 2020
Turin, Italy, 29 April 2020 -- In less than two months, the Don Bosco Past Pupils (Alumni, Old Boys, Antigos Alumnos, Bosconians) will remember their 150th anniversary. In every Newsflash issue, also Easter 2020 brings the message of the Rector Major, of the World Delegate, of the World President and also many Past Pupil events and experiences, including from many EAO countries. Mr. Michal Hort shares in his message:
"For the Past Pupils all over the world, the year 2020 is a special grace since we celebrate the Jubilee Year of the Past Pupils of Don Bosco with various meetings,national and local celebrations and activities, new projects and many challenges. During the time of Easter, when we contemplate resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, I see a connection of this holy time for the Church with present situation of Past Pupils.
Besides the celebration and the marking of this anniversary, we are reflecting and reinventing who is Past Pupil of Don Bosco for 21st century. The Questionnaire for the Jubilee year, is helping us to reflect and gather our i ideas, I think we can see this Jubilee year as our own Easter and time for resurrection. As Jesus is bringing with his life and sacrifice as the new testament among us, let us see this very special Jubilee of ours as an opportunity to re-think and re-evaluate our rich history and experience of last 150 years of Past Pupils in order to be able to live as true sons of Don Bosco also in the 21st century.
So, it is important to think and pray but let us not forget to act as well. I invite you all to stay focused and be practical during the celebrations and the many meetings that you will have.
I invite you to keep our focus on the main challenges of the strategic plan for the World Confederation which include improving our contacts and networking, new projects and best practices shared among all of us.
As an inspirational example, I would like to share with you an initiative from India, where Past Pupils along with Salesians are building a local job placement database for past pupil entrepreneurs. Let us pray that one day in the close future we will be able to provide such a service worldwide via our database of Past Pupils – Boscobase. For that I ask you for your prayers and cooperation.
Today's situation might be a new challenge for us Past Pupils in the matter of how to help, how to be here for those who need it. A great example here is the assistance of the Past Pupils from Hong Kong and Macau to the Salesian Family in Spain with medical equipment at the end of March 2020. What a nice gesture which invites all of us to reflect on how can I be of service and help in these days.
We have prayer, various, ways of community in action... I hope that for all those who are in quarantine, this Newsflash can be a refreshment and enjoyment. For those who take care of us – doctors, nurses, priests, firefighters, policemen, grocery stores and pharmacies employees... let us thank them with our prayers and let us keep them in our intentions. Any different ways of support.
This crisis may be for us Past Pupils of Don Bosco one of the backgrounds to reply to the important question of the Jubilee year 2020 questionnaire: "What kind of Past Pupil for the21st century?"
This is very real challenge of 21st century society we live in. I invite you to be sensitive to calls which this hard times are bringing to us, to be active but to stay calm and positive.
Let us be at our best - Good Christians and Upright Citizens. I personally feel the Coronavirus crisis gives us chance to live 2020 Strenna and our motto as Past Pupils every day to its fullest extent!"
(Michal Hort, World President of Don Bosco Past Pupils World Confederation, 2015-2021)
