4241(I)_The real protagonists (of the new evangelization) are saints!

4241(I)_The real protagonists (of the new evangelization) are saints!

Annual report 2016 from the General Postulator

December 31, 2016

By Fr. Pier Luigi Cameroni
General Postulator SDB

RMG, 31 December 2016 -- With a sense of deep gratitude each one of us use to express the grateful heart at the end of the year. Also the General Procurator of the Salesian Congregation, Fr. Pier Luigi Cameroni, who recently visited our Region (November 2016 - Korea, Vietnam and The Philippines) gives account about the progress of Salesian Holiness at the end of this year 2016. This short excerpt is from the 2016 annual report of the General Postulator:

On 31st December 2016 there are 169 Saints, Blesseds, Venerables and Servants of God on the Salesian Holiness list. Among them 51 causes of canonization are directly followed by the SDB General Postulation. In a concrete way: 9 Saints, 117 Blesseds (majority Martyrs), 13 Venerables and 30 Servants of God. During this year two more martyrs entered our list with their 'supplex libellus' on 21st November 2016: Fr. Rudolf Lunkeinbein, German missionary in Brazil and Simao Bororo, Lay catechists of Bororo tribe in Mato Grosso, Brazil. It is especially a way of witnessing the message of holiness which "reveals the unique value of the beatitudes and is the most precious gift we can offer to the young."

There were 7 happy events of the Postulation in 2016: Recognition of heroic virtues of Fr. Jose Vandor (Hungarian missionary in Cuba) by the Theological consultors; recognition of heroic virtues of Mons Stephen Ferrando (Italian missionary in India) by the ordinary session of Cardinals and Bishops and the decree of the Holy Father (declared Venerable); Decree on the validity of the diocesan investigation of Fr. Carlo Della Torre (Italian missionary in Thailand and Founder of DQM and SQM sister in the Salesian Family); positive opinion on martyrdom of Fr Titus Zeman (Slovakia - martyr for vocations); Nulla osta for the cause of Sr. Antonietta Bohm, FMA (German missionary in Mexico) and finally the two new martyrs of Meruri (Brazil) - Fr. Lunkenbein and Catechist Simao Cristino Koge Kudugodu.

A folder with the 53 images of our Saints, Blessed, Venerable and Servants of God has been sent during the second semester to all Salesian communities worldwide. It contains original photos that help us to appreciate their story of how these men and women said their yes fully to God and to humanity. Seeing their faces is different from some traditional iconography and helps to rediscover the universal vocation to holiness within the fabric of daily life.

Fr. Cameroni recommends especially to promote the knowledge, devotion and imitation of our Saint - Blessed - Venerables and Servant of God and request favours through their intercession through:

  • promoting prayer through their intercession with their images, relics, leaflets and books

  • spread the novena to the Servant of God is particularly effective, while invoking their intercession in individual cases of material and spiritual needs. Biblical story of Naam the Syrian (2 Kings 5,1-14) and the first community of apostles (Acts 1,14) may be a good inspiration for us

  • recommending each months on a special day that marks the life of the Servant of God for a moment of prayer and commemoration.

  • promote charitable and education works in the name of the Servant of God through project or twinning

Already requested by some readers here are some practical resources on the BOSCOLINK - overview of Salesian Family Saints, Salesian liturgical calendar 2017 and Salesian Family Liturgy of Hours:

Related Resources on the BOSCOLINK:

SALESIAN SAINT (53) ORIGINAL PHOTOS are available in high resolution

(upon request from the Boscolink editor)