austraLasia #2039

Strenna 2008 remake, and the magisterial thinking of the Rector Major

ROME: 27th January 2008 -- Two items of information that are really quite important for the region. 
The first is that the Strenna 2008 DVD has been remade to accommodate varying cultural sensitivities, and the revised version has been sent to those parts of the world, including many provinces in our region, where it will be more employable with the Salesian Family and others beyond.  It is worth noting here that when the first edition went out, and some comments came back that it may be difficult to gain full benefit because of some cultural reactions, the Rector Major himself, with Fr Scaramussa, acted immediately and instructed Missioni Don Bosco to redo suggested elements.  The revised edition has been sent to the provinces concerned.  It is an excellent production and nobody will have any difficulty in using it in any setting.  Don't forget that while Italian is the default language, you can easily and immediately select 'English' from the initial menu.
    Readers have undoubtedly read AGC 400 which is the commentary on Strenna 2008.  The Rector Major makes the claim that this is the most important Strenna he has produced in the six year period, and that it is a logical conclusion to a series.  What he has not said, but readers can take the following as a useful indicator, is that really one should attempt to read up on a set of 'magisterial' statements which form a series of their own with the Strenna commentary.  I refer to three other documents, two of which have not been available until now in English: the first is a 15 page 'doctoral thesis' address Fr Chávez  gave in Genoa last year in April, his 'Honoris Causa' address at the University, entitled Education and Citizenship. The other two both took place only last week at the Salesian Family Spirituality Days in Rome - his opening address with the same title as the Strenna (Educating with the heart of Don Bosco) and his final address, again basically with the same title.  The point is that in the first (Genoa) he lays out what led ultimately to his formulation of the Strenna for this year, and in the other two, and particularly the final one, he challenges the entire Salesian Family in ways that do not simply repeat the Strenna Commentary.
    To make it a bit easier for you, ALL FOUR that is including AGC400, can be found in English on SDL as of now. In fact the quickest way to find all of them this time so early in 2008 is to go to the English collection, chose the 'Date' category and scroll down to 2008 - you will see them there, and the Genoa item, 23-04-07, can be found immediately underneath.  There is one other item of interest recently placed on SDL in the English collection - for which we thank the UK Province - a novena to Don Bosco.  A bit late to remind you of course, but time still for the triduum!
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Title: australasia 2039
Subject and key words: SDB General
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2039