1318 A 'Good Night' to remember on 'the month that was'
austraLaia 1318
A 'Good Night' to remember on 'the month that was'
ROME: 5th November 2005 -- One of the outstanding
characteristics of the ninth successor of Don Bosco, Fr Pascual Chávez,
is his uncanny knack of getting to the heart of the matter in a few
words. On the evening of 4th November, just returned from an
exhausting round of visits to Holland, Belgium, Rome (in between),
Colombia and Valdocco, with some other stops mixed in, he gave the
community at 'La Pisana' an overview of the month of October, a month
that would rival and surpass the globe-trotting concentration of 'La
Rice' as the Italians call her!
Valdocco: 3rd November (starting backwards). It
would come as news to most that part of the reconstruction efforts of
the Basilica of MHC in Turin has involved a late decision to re-open
Don Bosco's urn for the first time since 1929. A 'reconditioning'
of the mortal remains of our Father and Founder was deemed necessary as
part of the complete restructuring of the special altar of Don
Bosco. For the opening, the Rector Major was present, along with
the Chancellor of the Archdiocesan Curia and two doctors. The RM
found it a very special and wonderful experience. Much of Don
Bosco's body is in a preserved state. While the various actions
that now need to be taken as part of the reconditioning efforts are
occurring, the mortal remains have been reverently placed in the chapel
of relics. Thought is being given to a new urn, and one that
might stand a worldwide pilgrimage in the future.
Holland-Belgium, earlier in the month: details
of the visit can be read in ANS, but the RM selected the key elements
of his experience for the Good Night. He identified the
extraordinary achievements of the now Delegation (Holland), with a high
average age and no vocations for years (but one novice this year) - the
work being done for immigrants, including illegals, a work carried out
with confreres and lay people who have been formed closely in the
Salesian spirit and which has won the highest regard of civic
authorities. In the Flemish province (Belgium North) to which the
delegation is now attached, he saw the very special new formulation of
the Preventive System for local circumstances and indeed for Europe,
and its very moving presentation in dramatic form, with music, song,
dance, acrobatics and more, in a presentation that he regards as of the
highest professional quality; all the work of Salesians, dedicated lay
people and young people, students of our schools. He noted the
combined missionary impact of Holland-Belgium around the Salesian world.
Intermediate Session of the General Council:
this was especially dedicated to completing the study of the regions,
amongst which EAO and Africa-Madagascar. While there is still
some finalising of decisions to be made, especially in the latter case,
the RM identified the following features of the EAO Region from their
study: GC25's decision to form this region appears to be the best
solution for all the countries and Salesian presences involved of all
the solutions that have been tried in recent years. Withall the
diversity of situations religious, societal and cultural, it still
seems to have been an inspired solution. Inculturation, with its
many ramifications, is the central most important issue, especially as
it touches on issues of formation. There is a need to develop a
'centre' for the region, especially one that responds to the diverse
vocational realities. Of Africa - well, some decisions still to
come but he noted the extraordinary achievements of 25 years - 42
nations, 1,000 plus vocations, 600 local Salesians.
Interamerica Team Visit, held at Bogotà, after which
the RM made a visit to Medellin and received another Doctorate Honoris
Causae (you can read all that in ANS). Here he found himself in a
Region with Salesian roots going back 130 years but which also
evidences the greatest degree of vocational fragility and therefore the
Team Visit made the choice to focus on the centrality of the experience
of God. The RM concluded his Good Night, however, by helping his
listeners experience the thrill of the final night when hundreds of
street children put on a choral performance the likes of which he had
never before heard, and made him and all other members of the Team
Visit gathering marvel at the depth of human development that has been
achieved by Salesian education on what most people regard as very poor
raw material!
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