5537(II)_First Online Salesian Family World Spirituality Days

5537(II)_First Online Salesian Family World Spirituality Days

December 20, 2020

By our own correspondent


RMG, Rome, 19 December 2020 -- the 'Salesian Family Spirituality Days have been held almost every year since 1973, with just a few exceptions and one short break around the year 2000. This event is held around the Rector Major and his Strenna, in either Rome or Valdocco. Until now each one of the 38 SF Spirituality Days has brought together some 300-400 participants for 3-4 days. The Main goal of these 4 days is to explore the annual Rector Major's Strenna (testimonials, open forum, talk with possibility of dialogue, group workshops, prayer moments). Especially since January 2018 Valdocco as the venue has been very much appreciated. The whole event is prepared by the World Advisory Council of the Salesian Family (32 groups) with a steering group around the RM's delegate for the Salesian Family.


Usually among the 400 participants there have been only very few EAO Salesian family members: aside from the most faithful folk from the Caritas Sisters of Jesus (General Council with one delegate from each province), there have been only the SIHM Sisters (Thailand) on a few occasions, SDBs from Japan or Thailand and eventually some EAO students in Italy. During the last 10 years the live streaming of the main events has improved a lot. On the ANS Facebook page it has been possible to follow each day main events in Italian - Spanish and English.


But the 2020 pandemic restrictions has now produced a new opportunity with many un-explored dynamics. Simply - anybody around the world with access to the internet may take part in the 2021 SF Spirituality Days. Wow! What is the 2021, January 15-17 online event about?


The Rector Major will be at Valdocco (Turin) during the 3 days in January 2021. Any of the 90 SDB provinces grouped in 7 Regions are invited to also participate through members of any of the 32 Groups of the Salesian Family in their provinces. And EAO region is no exception - since last week the EAO regional councilor with the EAO coordinators for SC and Salesian Family are launching channels of preparation for a fruitful participation (online).


SFSD 20210: Moved by Hope (RM's Strenna)

Available resources (Boscolink, ANS, www.sdb.org)

RM - Strenna 2021 presentation (August 2020)

RM - Strenna 2021 video (all major EAO languages, 26 December 2020

RM - Strenna 2021 commentary (January 2021)