austraLasia #2390

A great little reminder from Germany

MUNICH: 29th March 2009 -- The German Province has sent along what seems to me to fit in very nicely with the Rector Major's desire that we find ways to 'tell the story of Don Bosco for the young today', and also offers an idea which ties in with one of the deliberations of the recent EAO Social Communications meeting in Seoul: that each delegate would immediately collect/write up five stories of the faith lived in the Salesian context today, to be collated and shared widely through the region.
    From Germany a reminder that 1st April this year is the 75th anniversary of the canonisation of Don Bosco on Easter Sunday 1934.  But it is how they have framed this event that is of particular interest, and by offering it now, it may give some of our communities an idea to develop quickly over the next couple of days! It involves the actual contents of an email and several attachments.
    The email contents consist of a headline (Don Bosco 1815-1888: Saint for our times) followed by a summary opening paragraph which reads: 74 years ago on 1st April 1934, priest, apostle of youth and social pioneer (Don) John Bosco was canonised in Rome. The 'priest, apostle of youth and social pioneer' are then explained in just five paragraphs which cover: his birth and early years, learning values from Mamma Margaret and other experiences which become the root of his later 'option for poor young people'; his studies leading to priesthood in 1841 and his early work which led to the establishment of the Oratory, his choice of Francis de Sales as patron and model, and his development of an educational approach; the fact that he read the 'signs of the times', developed up to date work practices, exploited the known media of his time to the full; his founding of a Congregation in 1859 using the very boys he had begun with.
    This is followed by four brief paragraphs - extended sentences German style! - which outline the Salesians of Don Bosco (how many, where, doing what like, for example, the missions), and lead to one particular work in the German context, the Youth Hostel in Munich, next to the Provincial House. The email concludes with a reminder that this is the 150 anniversary of the Congregation.
    The attachments are: a 2 page pdf of 'Don Bosco by numbers' - basically the important dates, several photos of the Youth Hostel and Centre showing young men and women in typical Salesian activities, and a lively magazine style article, again in pdf format entitled 'Getting a leg-up in life' or 'Springboard for making headway in life' (my broad translation of 'Ein Sprungbrett, um im Leben Fuß zu fassen') which tells the story of the Youth Hostel, singling out one or two of the young people there to show how it has worked for them.
    All in all this email, which is obviously sent out to thousands, hits the mark in all kinds of ways.  It is an excellent, precise reminder of an event tied to Don Bosco's story in this 150th year celebration, yet specific to its German context and involves a story retold in contemporary online journalism terms. To the point, lively, brief.
    Now - over to EAO! If you can follow German and want to see the material, you will find it in SDL in the German collection. Your best bet is to use the 'date' tag and go to 2009, and there you will find it all quickly.
         _________________
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Title: australasia 2390
Subject and key words: SDB General Don Bosco 75th canonisation
Date (year): 2009