austraLasia #2399

Preventive System: 150 years and still going strong

MELBOURNE: 24th April 2009 -- The Australia-Pacific Province has scheduled many events that will highlight the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Congregation across this “holy Salesian year.”  On Monday, 21 April, all members of Salesian school staff groups – teachers, support staff, administrators and Salesians – gathered at the Cultural Centre at a town called Pakenham outside of Melbourne for a full day of reflection on the Preventive System.  There were more than 400 people in attendance, organised and animated by the Salesian Principals Association of Australia, and its present Chair, Fr Chris Ford, the Principal of Salesian College, Chadstone.  The gathering took place in this country town so that the most distant Salesian schools in the State (Sunbury and Bairnsdale) could get there.
    The Vice Provincial of the United Kingdom GBR Province, Fr David O’Malley, in Australia for several events as part of the jubilee celebrations, led the day’s reflection.  The Provincial, Fr Frank Moloney, recalled that 150 years ago Don Bosco gathered with a small group of men to ensure the future of the Oratory at Valdocco, and the culture of love that was lived there.  150 years later there are these 400 people in one aprt of Australia who are still dreaming the dream, and living a culture of the heart in the most distant Province of the Salesian world.  Fr. O’Malley addressed the issue of the way we “lived” the Preventive system in a first session.  It closed with a questionnaire that assessed how we “practised” the Preventive system in our various schools.
    In a second session, Fr O’Malley surprised everyone.  He asked – “do you think that you now understand how the Preventive system works?”  That is not what it is about … it is not a matter of what we do, but a matter of the heart.  His second lecture held all assembled spellbound as he spoke of Don Bosco and his Preventive system as a spirituality for all ages … based on the timeless message of the Gospel, addressing the perennial problems of the human condition.  In a moving address, studded with the use of contemporary film  and music, he drew everyone into the heart of our great heritage: the spirituality of the Preventive system.
    The day closed with a Eucharist celebrated by the Salesian Bishop, Tim Costelloe, SDB.  The Provincial preached on the Nicodemus story from John 3 … reminding everyone that the Spirit is like the wind.  We all know that it exists.  We hear it and feel it … but we do not know where it starts and where it ends.  Thus it is with all of us who give ourselves to the Spirit … our beginnings and our end are in the hands of a God of love.

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Title: australasia 2399
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces AUL
Date (year): 2009
ID: 2000-2099|2399