4207(II)_Poor Young People are Saving the Salesian Family in the EAO

Salesian Family Delegates in Seoul (3)

November 19, 2016

By Fr. Lanfranco Fedrigotti, SDB

Seoul, Korea, 18 November 2016 -- There was a clear leitmotif during the Salesian Family Delegates formation encounter in Seoul (November 15-18) Each day the Eucharist was presided by one provincial - Japan, China and Korea. And each day the main Gospel hint was focused on the preferential option for the youth in need. Also Fr. Eusebio Munoz in his conclusions requested a renewed commitment of the Salesian Family for this kind of mission.

Fr. Mario Yamanouchi shared in his homily about the sign of the times for the Salesians in Japan: "There is a wind blowing from the West (Korea, Mongolia and China) and from the South (Philippines and Taiwan)... We are doing a lot of good, we have security in our assets and insurance as well. We have everything for a comfortable life. But the Gospel invites us to be brave enough and work for the poor young people. We are Salesians not for ourselves, but for the God who became flesh in those most in need and poorest in East Asian region.'

Next day Fr. Lanfranco Fedrigotti again underlined the courageous preferential option of the Japan province for the youth in need during their recent Provincial Chapter. Also the China provincial chapter did invite the confreres to go around for 'pilgrimage' to other EAO works for the poor young people, to be inspired and make a leap in this direction. Indeed along with the works for the poor young people there are also always new vocations coming up!

On the last day Fr. Stefano Yang of the hosting province in his homily shared two concrete dream of the Korean province to reach out to the peripheries of the poor youth in two fields - starting possibly a new work in the migrant youth center in Seoul and new possible opening for the young people in Jeju Island. The Salesians of Korea made already during the Special Provincial Chapter in 1973 their preferential option for the poor youngsters and try to be consistent in this call.

However the most loudly speaking model was the excursion of few Chinese participants of this seminar to the Seoul 'Mother house' or 'Valdocco' of Korea, Dae Rim Dong community. During the interaction with the 80 youngster in conflict with law in the carpentry and ceramics workshop and the visitors felt a true Valdocco spirit, giving these young people a new chance to stand up and restart a new life in the society with the hand of Don Bosco.

Indeed the poor young people are saving the Salesian all around the world!