austraLasia #3412
The
Document' in final (almost) shape
9 April 2014 --
People have been asking for a good pic of the new
RM. One can be provided if you want it - just ask. There
will be more official ones of course, but this responds to
many requests.
While people are summoning up the energy to get through
the final days, there has been no lack of energy-sapping
moments (flu would have to be part of that too), be it
hours of voting and voting on voting, some physical
exercise here and there, and the 'sideline' meetings that
are not really sideline at all - Regions taking the
opportunity of being there together and in a situation to
contribute to the forthcoming 2014-2020 RM and Council
Plan, as well as look at what the GC27 is already saying
to them.
There is a document taking wing - it's always been there,
or at least since the beginning of the Chapter, gradually
going through the metamorphosis that will make it an
exciting little butterfly!
And 2015 hasn't been forgotten either!
EAO meeting and looking ahead
EAO members at GC27 - and for that matter members not at the
Chapter too - have been putting their bit in, thinking through
various implications for the next six years, led by the
'listening' leader, as he has characterise himself these days,
but not only him. He would like us all to listen - to the
Lord, to one another, to those around....
But just so you can have an idea of what is happening in these
'other' meetings, the Moderator-cum-Vicar of the RM has been
meeting with Regions. Here is what he has been asking
them to reflect on with him:
- A study of the Region (there is already
plenty of background here - Team Visits, Extraordinary
Visitations etc ...)
- The Region's possible contribution to the
RM and Council's six year Plan
- Passing on and assimilating GC27
- Upcoming Team Visit
- Possible structures in the Region:
- - Could there be a
Regional Plan?
- - What
commissions/committees are needed or useful?
- - What about the Ongoing
Formation Centre being proposed for each Region by GC27 -
for Salesians and lay people together?
- - Interprovincial
Formation Centres (initial formation)
- Extraordinary Visitations
The Document
The Introduction (currently 4 foolscap pages worth or
thereabouts) is in its final voting stage and probably will
not change much from where it is at right now. Too much to
include here, but just to give you a feel of what it looks
like:
It will situate GC27 in the context of the time that has
passed since the renewed Constitutions in 1984, 4 General
Chapters, each with a special emphasis picking up Vat II and
the life of the Congregation. GC27 highlights the Gospel roots
of our apostolic consecration in a way that has not been done
over this entire period.
1. The vine and the branches
The Gospel passage which has significantly accompanied the
work of the Chapter is the “vine and the branches” (Jn
15:1-11), in which the central message refers to being
profoundly united, hence “rooted” in love for Jesus, as was
Don Bosco, who knew how to experience his life as a profound
unity around the person of the Son of God, thanks to Whom he
“bore fruit”. ...
2. The grace of unity
Preparation by local and provincial communities, and the
Chapter experience, have helped us rediscover Salesian
identity from the four different angles which were recalled in
the letter of convocation of GC27: "Living in the grace of
unity and with joy the Salesian consecrated vocation, which is
God's gift and a personal plan of life; having a strong
spiritual experience, taking up the way of life and action of
Jesus obedient, poor and chaste and becoming seekers of God;
building up fraternity in our communities of life and action;
generously dedicating ourselves to the mission, walking side
by side with the young so as to give hope to the world." (AGC
413, p. 5). ...
3. A point of arrival and a
point of departure
GC27 adopted a community discernment approach articulated over
three interrelated and consecutive phases: listening,
interpreting, way ahead. The common thread linking these three
is summed up by a sentence placed at the beginning of each
discernment phase ...
From this “map” each local and provincial circumstance can
select and arrange its own way ahead, fitting in with its
context and the many pointers coming from the experience of
GC27 as it listens to the Congregation and the local and
universal Church.
Prayer to Our Lady
Presentation and
significance of the Bicentenary
To recall the 200
years since Don Bosco's birth on August 16, 1815, the Rector
Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr Pascual Chávez
launched the celebrations for the Bicentenary to take place
from 16 August 2014 to 16 August 2015.
1. Preparation for the
Bicentenary
Preparations for the Bicentenary began in 2008 with the
26th General Chapter of the Salesians. The Congregation and
Salesian Family began moving towards the Bicentenary by taking
Don Bosco's motto, “Da mihi animas, cetera tolle” as its
theme, and putting commitment to “beginning afresh from Don
Bosco” as the basis for the years 2008-2014. In fact we can
discover the origins of Don Bosco's charism, the purpose
of the Congregation’s and Salesian Family’s mission, and
their future, in this.
Moreover the Rector Major offered the Salesian Family the
Pilgrimage of Don Bosco's Casket, which covered most countries
around the world where the Salesian Family is present. The
Pilgrimage concluded in February this year, 2014. It saw
crowds of young people and families, all sharing admiration
and gratitude for Don Bosco and his work, calling on his
intercession, and wanting to be involved in the education of
the young.
Finally a Three year preparation for the Salesian
Family followed, marked by a three stage journey; the stages
began on 16 August 2011, 16 August 2012 and 16 August 2013
respectively, and will conclude on 15 August 2014. Each stage
has been aimed at developing an aspect of Don Bosco's charism:
getting to know him and his history, his pedagogy, his
spirituality.
2. Bicentenary theme
The Bicentenary theme, consistent with the three year
preparation, refers to the Mission of Don Bosco with and for
the young. Communication of this message took account of what
has been gained and what has matured over three years of
preparation. It should contribute not only to a deeper
understanding of what Don Bosco's mission consists of today,
but also to arousing numerous forces available to commit
themselves in Don Bosco's style for the “salvation of the
young”, especially the poorest, most excluded and abandoned.
This year concentrates on the journey of spiritual and
pastoral renewal which the Congregation, Salesian Family and
Salesian Youth Movement intend to pursue. For this we need to
encourage simplicity of initiatives and highlight the
relevance of the proposal, avoiding scattered effort, rhetoric
and repetition, focusing instead on incisive and effective
communication. Don Bosco and his mission should challenge
everyone to give a response to the needs of the young today in
various parts of the world.
Interesting from this perspective are the two international
congresses on Salesian history and pedagogy, but especially
the world gathering of young people from the Salesian Youth
Movement, which will have “Young people for young people” as
its theme. According to Don Bosco's vision it is the young
people who are the pivotal players in the mission of education
and evangelisation of their peers. The involvement of the
young in Don Bosco's mission will help them be involved in
doing good for their own companions.”
3. Significance of the
Bicentenary
The Bicentenary intends above all to help make the
figure of Don Bosco known and better understood: his relevance
in the history of education and spirituality. Historical
knowledge and understanding of Don Bosco are the departure
point for identifying his relevance. Going to the sources of
Don Bosco’s charism will help bring freshness and renewal to
Salesian work today.
This celebration also aims at helping the Salesian Family to
understand and take up its charismatic identity. Research into
and awareness of identity encourages the discovery of the
specific nature and effectiveness of the charism. We cannot
work generically today, repeating what everyone else does; the
plurality of initiatives demands the Salesian proposal have
its own special character, from both a spiritual, and pastoral
and educative point of view. The relevance of Don Bosco's
charism lies in its identity. Charismatic identity also
encourages its visibility, credibility and vocational
fruitfulness.
With the Bicentenary the Salesian Family also intends
to take on a greater involvement in Don Bosco's spiritual and
apostolic programme: “Da mihi animas, cetera tolle”; this is
the reason for his tireless work for “the glory of God and the
salvation of souls.” Thus the Salesian Family can spur itself
forward courageously on the frontiers of the mission to youth
today. This means having a strong apostolic passion and
generous availability.
The Bicentenary, finally, is an opportunity to give the
charism of Don Bosco back to the Church and society. It is not
the property of the Salesian Family but has been raised up by
the Spirit for everyone. The task of the Salesian Family is to
make him known so as to involve many forces in his
spirituality and mission. Don Bosco today attracts many young
people, lay people and families and urges them to become
saints, getting involved in the educative and pastoral mission
precisely through the concrete nature of this commitment.
4. Visits and pilgrimages to Don Bosco's places
Another initiative that is arousing interest is the
bookings for pilgrimages to Don Bosco's places: Turin, the
place of Don Bosco’s activity; Castelnuovo Don Bosco and
surrounds, the place of his birth, family life and childhood;
Chieri, the place of his human and seminary formation, but
also of youthful friendships and apprenticeship in trades; …
Various historical, cultural and spiritual itineraries are
being prepared in cooperation with civil authorities. These
are not initiatives addressed to the Salesian Family alone;
many local Churches are preparing bookings to get young people
to know Don Bosco's spirituality; likewise for family groups
and cultural associations. The geography of these places helps
one better understand the history.
When visits to these places also have spiritual significance
they become a pilgrimage and thus an opportunity for
experiences of faith and an encouragement to holiness.
Pilgrimage is an effective format and one much appreciated
today for communicating spiritual experiences. The Salesian
places hold an attraction and reminder to return to the
sources of the charism.
5 Publications for the Bicentenary
Many publications are envisaged in various parts of the
world: papers, studies, general reading, research, ... For
example Italian Salesian Publishing Houses - LDC, SEI, LAS -
are coordinating these initiatives. All this will contribute
to an understanding of Don Bosco’s relevance. Amongst the
publishing initiatives deserving of attention in view of the
Bicentenary is the publication of the “Fonti salesiane”
(Salesian Sources), by the Salesian Historical Institute.
This volume of sources is divided into three parts: wrings and
documents on Don Bosco's history and the history of Salesian
work; writings and testimonies of Don Bosco on education and
schooling; writings and testimonies of Don Bosco on spiritual
life. These three parts were coordinated respectively by Frs
Francesco Motto, José Manuel Prellezo and Aldo Giraudo,
Lecturers at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome.
This volume of Salesian sources on Don Bosco and his work is
entrusted to the Salesian Family, the Friends of Don Bosco, to
those who admire Salesian work, to the young, laity who are
involved in the spirit and mission of Don Bosco, and to
families; everyone can draw on the fresh sources of the
Salesian charism, the gift of the Spirit for the whole Church.
Everyone can be inspired by Don Bosco's pedagogy and
spirituality. With such a collection it will be much easier
also for scholars to quote and make reference to a single
collection of source materials.
5. Prayer to Don Bosco
Celebration of the Bicentenary is also an occasion to
take up once more with the young, lay people, the Salesian
Family and the Salesian Movement the prayer to Don Bosco,
“Father and Teacher of Youth”.
Father and Teacher of Youth,
Saint John Bosco,
obedient to the gifts of the Spirit and open to the
realities of your time
you were for the young, especially for the little ones and
the poor,
a sign of God's love and predilection.
be our guide
in walking in friendship with the Lord Jesus,
in such a way that we discover in him and in his Gospel
the meaning of our life
and the source of true happiness.
Help us to respond generously
to the vocation we received from God,
to be in daily life
builders of communion,
and collaborate with enthusiasm
in communion with the whole Church,
to build up the civilisation of love.
Obtain for us the grace of perseverance
in living a high degree of Christian life,
according to the spirit of the Beatitudes;
and grant that, guided by Mary Help of Christians,
we may find ourselves one day with you
in the great family of heaven. Amen.
