Acts_1975_280.ASC


Acts_1975_280.ASC

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YEAR LVI
OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1975
No. 280
ACTS OJ TUI SUPIRIDD COUNCll
OF THE SALESIAN SOCIETY
SUMMARY
I. Letter of the Rector Major (p. 3)
1. The First Centennial of our Missions
2. Problem of Formation.
3. The World Congress of the Saleslan Coadjutor Brothers
II. Instructions and Norms (none In this Issue)
Ill. Communications (p. 7)
1. New Provincials - 2. Two New Saleslan Bishops. - 3. World
Congress of the Salesian Coadjutor Brothers. - 4. Days of Recol­
lection on Salesian Priestly Formation. • 5. Photostactlc edition of
the Writings of Don Bosco
IV. The First Centennial of the Salesian Missions (p. 15)
1. Letter of the Holy Father to the Rector Mayor. - 2. Activities for
the Centennial. - 3. The Missionary Expedition of the Centennial. -
4. Promotion Material for the Centennial. • 5. In the Mission for
over 50 years: 90 Salesians. - 6. An Appeal from the Counsellor
for the missions. - 7. Fraternal Solidarity.
V. Activities of the Superior Council, and Matters of General Interest
(p. 30)
VI. Documents (p. 34)
1. The Rector Major's talks at the World Congress of Salesian Co­
adjutor Brothers. - 2. Convocation of the World Congress of the
Cooperators.
VII. From the Provincial Newsletters (p. 52)
1. "Saleslan Week 1975" In Chile. • 2. A Salesian Missionary Exhibit
on the Road. • 3. "Education and Orientation" Week. • 4. A Youth
Rally.
VIII. Pontifical Maglsterlum (p. 58)
1. Three important words to the Newly Ordained. • 2. Greetings to
vacationing youth.
IX. Obituary Notices • Third list for 1975 (p. 64)

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S, G, S. • ROMA

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I. LEITER OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
Rome, October 1975
Dearest Confreres and Sons,
Once again it is time for our quarterly get-together!
First of all, I would like to express my heart-felt gratitude to
the very many who sent me their warm congratulations, best
wishes, expressions of solidarity and most of all their fraternal
prayers on the joyful occasion of my fiftieth anniversary of Ordina­
tion and First Mass. I want you to know that I felt deeply touch­
ed by your participation, which was not just an outpouring of af­
fection, but also the expression of your understanding of the heavy
resonsibility which weighs down on my weakening shoulders. For
all this I say thank-you to the Lord for having given our Con­
gregation so many and such wonderful, kind-hearted confreres. In
particular, I woul like to underscore the sentiments of fidelity and
enthusiasm for the Salesian vocation expressed on this occasion by
very, very many of our young confreres, novices, postulants, Sons
of Mary and Aspirants. I assure you that their expressions are a
reason for much joy in the present and for high hopes for the
future.
Once again, I thank you one and all, and at the same time
I ask you to continue helping me to thank the Lord for all the
good He enabled me to do during these fifty years, and I ask you
to beg His mercy on my many shortcomings which have marred
this long period of my life. This will, indeed, he an act of fraternal
charity, for which I will be deeply grateful to you.

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The First Centennial of Our Missions
The event on which our whole Congregations is now focus­
ing its attention is certainly the first centennial of our missions.
By now all the provinces, I am sure, have received the first
package of information and promotion material. Reports on
various commemorative act1v1t1es are already beginning to come
in from various regions, particularly from Latin America, with
Argentina in the lead.
But I would like to call your attention on how we should
celebrate this November 11. Let it be not so much a day of
exterior celebration, but one of prayer and reflection and thanks­
giving to God for all the marvelous and great things that ·He
has done throughout these one hundred years through our many
dedicated, hard-working missionaries, be they well-known or al­
most unknown. Let it also be a day when we become more
deeply aware of the pressing needs of our time and of the future,
so that we too can become true and effective missionaries.
In this regard I find much consolation and hope in the fact
that many young confreres are asking to be sent to the Missions,
and many of them are asking to be sent to those missions where
the need is greatest, and poverty at its worst. It is certainly en­
couraging and inspiring to see the high idealism and total dedica­
tion shown by these confreres.
Let us hope that this celebration, held in the right spirit,
brings about an increase in missionary vocations. For experience
tells us that when in a community the missionary spirit is flour­
ishing, a spirit of dedication, temperance, faith and enthusiasm
does also flourish, and in this environment vocations do develop
and grow. It is up to each of us to foster such environment in
our houses, each bringing his own personal contribution.

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The Problem of Formation
This past summer a seminar for the confreres in charge of
the formation of our students of theology was held here at the
Salesianum. Given the importance of this period of formation,
it was natural we should have delegates from all continents. They
probed the many problems confronting them and reached not
a few practical conclusions, which I am sure will serve as guide­
lines for them and for all those Salesians who have been entrust­
ed with this most delicate task by our Congregation.
During their long hours of reflection and dialog many other
problems and solutions emerged, which cover the whole gamut of
formation, including permanent formation. And logically so, be­
cause no stage of formation is like a water-tight compartment, and
the problems arid solutions of one stage flow back and forth into
the others.
I plan to deal later and at some length with some very
important aspects of formation which should interest all of us,
especially those who are going through, so to say the classical
period of formation. But let me only remind you now that when
we speak of permanent formation, we really mean a continuing
work, a life-long task, which is imperative for each of us, if our
religious life is to be true and productive.
The World Congress of Salesian Coadjutor Brothers
An event of particular significance was certainly the World
Congress of Salesian Coadjutor Brothers, which took place at our
Generalate during the first week of September.
Without going into detailed information that you will get
from other sources, here I would only like to say that those days
were marked by great enthusiasm and were spent in a climate
of brotherliness, cheerfulness and prayer.

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Many were the topics discussed, and the conclusions reach­
ed, all of them touching the vocation of the Brothers in a vital
manner. You will find the concluding talk of the Rector Major
in this issue of the Acts, under the heading "Communications".
I invite you to read it attentively.
,
It deals with very important aspects of the figure, the identity,
and the role of the Superior in a Salesian house, - a topic which
I believe to be even more relevant today than in the past, since
we need to have clear and well-grounded ideas on the true image
of the Salesian Superior. Last but not least, that talk dispenses
me from the treatment of some other topic at this time...
Going back to the World Congress of the Salesian Coadjutor
Brothers, the wish that comes spontaneously as a result of those
days of intense exchange of ideas and ideals is that there arise
among us a renewed appreciation of the Coadjutor Brothers'
vocation, which is so characteristic, so rich and so essential to the
very life of the Congregation.
Once again my sincerest thanks for your warm expressions
of love on the occasion of my Golden Jubilee, and in return
accept my humble prayers and fatherly blessing. May Mary Help
of Christians protect us all.
Sincerely yours,
Fr. Loms RrccERI
Rector Major

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Ill. COMMUNICATIONS
1. New Provincials
The Rector Major has named the following confreres as Prov-
incials:
Fr. Carlo Melis for the Adriatic Province,
Fr. Jose Pedro Pozzi for the La Plata Province, Argentina,
Fr. Rinaldo Vallino for the Bolivian Province.
2. Two New Salesian Bishops
His Holiness has chosen two new bishops from the Salesian
ranks: Right Rev. Bishop Guillermo Leaden, and Right Rev. Bishop
Bonifacio Piccinini.
Bishop Leaden, former Episcopal Vicar for the Belgrano Region,
Buenos Aires, has now been named Titular Bishop of Tindali, Episcopal
Vicar of Buenos Aires, and Auxiliary to Archbishop Aramburu. He
is 62 years old and 34 years a priest. (Cfr. Osservatore Romano,
June 26, 1975).
Bishop Piccinini was director of the Salesian aspirantate in La­
vrinhas, Sao Paulo Province. He was promoted to the titular and
"pro hac vice" (just for this one time) archepiscopal church of Torri
in Bizacena, and named Coadjutor with the right of succession to
Bishop Orlando Chavez, Archibishop of Cuiaba in Mato Grosso, Brazil.
These two nominations raise the total number of Salesian Bishops
to 110. Of them, 58 are living. Four have been chosen so far
this year.

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3. The World Congress of the Salesian Coadjutor Brothers
As previously stated, the World Congress of the Salesian Coad­
jutor Brothers was held August 31 to September 7 at the Generalate
in Rome. It had been in preparation for a long time all across the
Salesian world. Its first stage had ibeen the 73 Provincial Congresses
and the second stage the 14 Regional or Interprovincial Congresses,
whose main purpose had been, in the words of Fr. Ricceri, "an in-depth
rethinking of the figure of the Salesian Coadjutor Brother according
to the mind of Don Bosco, in the light of Salesian Tradition, and in
the framework of religious life in post-Vatican II and the needs of
the new time."
The Congress was presided over by the Rector Major himself.
Brother Renato Romaldi, who for the last two years had coordinated
the entire preparatory work done in all the Province, was its Chairman.
There were in attendance 129 Delegates from 73 provinces and 38
nations throughout the world.
The Identity of the Salesian Coadjutor Brother
During the 7-day long congress seven experts spoke on various
topics, and their talks were followed by group discussions ( there
were 11 language-based groups) and by assembly meetings.
The first theme: "The Identity of the Lay Religious Vocation
of the Salesian Coadjutor Brother at the service of the one Salesian
Mission", seen from its historical viewpoint, was presented by Prof.
Pietro Stella, of the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS), Rome, who
defined the essential role of the layman in the social and cultural
context in which our Congregation was born and grew up.
The theological aspect of the theme was skillfully developed by
Prof. Mario Midali, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at the same
university (UPS). With many references to the teachings of Vatican II
and the conclusions of our Special General Chapter, he set down in
clear terms the characteristics of the Salesian consecrated layman,
with his own specific spirituality, in the context of the laity in today's
Church.
Prof. Gustave Leclerc, Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law at

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UPS, clarified the juridical position of the Salesian Coadjutor Brother
as member of the Congregation and 'in relation to his priest confreres
in the light of present Canon Law and other juridical texts on laymen
in our Congregation.
Group participation in the discussion of this first topic was very
intense and at times a litte heated. This was reflected in the many
vigorous interventions on the floor of the general assembly hall.
The Apostolic Action of the Salesian Coadjutor Brother
On Tuesday, September 2, the Congress took up the second
theme: "Prospects of Apostolic Action for the Salesian Coadjutor
Brother, in harmony with his religious lay state, with the times and
with the local needs." In his colorful talk, Prof. Paul Natali illustrat­
ed "new models of action" that open up new outlets of apostolic
activity for the Salesian Coadjutor Brothers. Without excluding the
traditional forms of apostolate, such as professional and technical
school, missions, evangelization, catechesis and recreational activities,
new emphasis was given to the Coadjutor Brothers' participation in
the labor field apostolate, where they could work for the implementa­
tion of the principles of social justice. The labor field should, then,
be regarded as a privileged field of apostolate for the Salesian Co­
adjutor Brothers. As school principals, instructors, guidance counsel­
ors, leaders in their professional or technical department, they can, in
the spirit of Don Bosco, make a real contribution to the building up
of a new order for the workingman - an order which is to be open
to sound political and social values and to the Gospel message.
Wednesday marked a pause in the activities of the Congress.
It was the delegates' "Roman Holiday." In the morning they particip­
ated in a concelebrated Mass in St. Peter's and visited the basilica, and
in the afternoon they made the rounds of the other Major Basilicas
in order to gain the Jubilee Indulgence. Later in the evening they
attended the general Papal Audience scheduled for Wednesdays.
Thursday, September 4, was taken up with the third theme:
"The Formation of the Salesian Coadiutor Brother." Bro. Mario
Seren Tha, S.D.B., an expert on the religious formation of young
Salesians, presented the basic principles and objectives and some
specific projects in the program of Salesian formation. Both the

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discussion groups and the general assembly stressed most emphatically
the universally felt need of guaranteeing the Salesian Coadjutor
Brothers in formation not only a solid basic preparation in the early
stages, but also a real opportunity for later advancement and updating
through permanent formation courses.
The Brotherhood - a vocation to be presented and promoted
On Friday the delegates considered the fourth theme: "Presenting
the Salesian lay-religious vocation to the youth of today."
The sociological aspect of this theme was developed by Prof.
Luis Artigas, a Marist Brother, who teaches Theology of Religious
Life at the University of Salamanca (Spain) and at the Lateran Univ­
ersity in Rome. On the basis of a well-documented sociological research
made by himself and making use of the latest data in the field, he
presented a keen sociological analysis of the present crisis of vocations
in religious life, singling out the various elements or factors which
attract modern youth to, and repel them from, religious life in gener­
al and lay-religious life in particular, and showing the relevance of
the latter in the Church and the world of today.
Brother Jerry Meegan, S.D.B., of the New Rochelle Province,
Chairman of the United States Commission for the preparation of
the World Congress of the Salesian Coadjutor Brothers, and vice
president of the U.S. Association of Lay Brothers, was the last key­
note speaker to address the assembly. In a masterful synthesis he
presented various ways and means which should be used for an ef­
fective promotion of the Brothers' vocation. Such promotion should
be based, he said, first of all on the living witnessing and personal
contact of the Brothers themselves with prospective vocations, and
also on an extensive and sensitive use of modern means of com­
munication aimed at informing and inspiring youth through the
presentation of model Coadjutor Brothers.
Saturday, September 6, was entirely dedicated to personal re­
flection and communal discussion of the proposals formulated by the
Commission on Proposals. These were hours of particularly intense
activity for the delegates, during which they tried to express through
some concrete resolutions their week-long efforts at self-understand-

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ing, self-renewal and especially at meeting the challenges of today's
Church, Congregation and society.
The result was a new approach to - almost a new strategy
about - their apostolic work, which is in complete harmony with
the spirit of Don Bosco and the needs of the times.
Needless to say, the work of the Congress was carried on in an
atmosphere of joyfol togetherness, free exchange of views, and lively
participation at all levels.
Particularly meaningful and appreciated was the presence of the
Rector Major and of the other Superior Council members, who follow­
ed the proceedings very closely, thus emphasizing multiplicity and at
the same time oneness among the members of our Congregation.
The Congress goes on
The Congress was officially concluded on Sunday, September 7,
with the important message of the Rector Major (see the entire text
on page 37 f. in this issue of the Acts), and the Eucharistic celebra­
tion presided over by Card Ugo Poletti, Vicar of the Holy Father
for the Diocese of Rome. In his homily he highlighted the responsibili­
ties of every Christian who has been called to work with God for
the transformation of this world. God does not save men without
other men's helping hand; hence the duty for each of us to examine
his degree of concern for the salvation of his brothers and of his co­
operation with God. Card. Poletti then reminded those present
that the Congress goes on through the implementation of its propos­
als and recommendations. "What really matters now," he said, "is
your practical response to the issues and challenges of the Congress.
This response will demand of you much effort and striving for
improvement, and at the same time total faithfulness to Don Bosco -
and faithfulness to him is inseparably bound up with faithfulness to
the Church and to the realities of today's world."
With this Congress the Salesian Family has certainly received
from the Holy Spirit a new apostolic impetus, which will help it
accomplish its mission among the young and the poor with greater
ef.fectiveness through the rediscovery and the refurbishing of the
figure of the Salesian Coadjutor Brother - a figure which, as the

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Congress itself clearly brought out, is by no means outdated after
a century of existence, but is still rich in meaning and full of promise
for the future.
4. Encounters on Salesian Priestly Formation
In July two meetings were held at the Generalate on the form­
ation of the Salesian candidates to the priesthood.
From July 2 to July 5, the Presidents of the Theologates affiliat­
ed with the Faculty of Theology at UPS met to discuss and compare
their various programs, and tried to draw up some general guide­
lines applicable to all Salesian Theologates. On the basis of the
meeting held in January 1974, they were able to move forward with
regard to Introduction to Theology, Fundamental Theology, and
Dogmatic Theology and Scripture.
A deeper probing remains to be done in the fields of Moral
Theology and Pastoral Formation: a meeting among the Salesian
Professors of Moral Theology is scheduled for January 2-5, 1976.
From July 6 to 19 a Seminar on Salesian Priestly Formation was
held. Organized by the Department of Formation and presided over
by Councillor Fr. Egidio Vigano, it was attended by about 60 Salesians
in charge of formation in various parts of the Salesians world. Two
lectures were given every day by Salesian and non-Salesian experts,
and each was followed by group and assembly discussion.
The keynote speakers were: the Rector Major, who gave the
opening address; Card. Gabriel M. Garrone, Prefect of the Sacred
Congregation for Catholic Education, who later spoke on "Some of
the most serious dangers in post-conciliar priestly formation"; and
Fr. Egidio Vigano, who in his concluding address presented a synthesis
of the chief ideas and trends that had emerged from the seminar.
A summary of the proceedings is being prepared by the Depart­
ment of Formation. Only the speakers and their topics are listed here:
a) Bishop Emilio Colagiovanni, Professor of Sociology at the
Catholic University in Milan, Italy: "Priestly formation in the frame­
work of the expectations of modern society";
h) Fr. Joseph Aubry, of the Department of Formation: "Sum-

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mary of the replies to the questionnaire on the condition of the
Salesian Congregation";
c) Fr. Mario Grussu, of the General Secretariat of the Superior
Council: "Priestly defections in the light of the documents of the
Juridical Office of the Superior Council";
d) Fr. George Gozzelino, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Theology
at the UPS in Turin: "A theological reflection on ministerial priest­
hood and practical consequences on formation";
e) Fr. Augustine Favale, President of the Institute of Spirit­
uality at the UPS: "The most recent guidelines of the Magisterium
on the preparation to the priestly ministry";
f) Fr. August Aimar, Director the Salesian Seminary La Cita,
Bogota, Columbia: "Don Bosco, model of the priest";
g) Fr. Joseph Aubry: "The Identity of the Salesian priest in
the perspective of the Special General Chapter and of the new Con­
stitutions";
h) Fr. Nicholas Cotugno, Director of the Salesian Theologate
in Montevideo, Uruguay: "The spiritual formation of the Salesian
candidate to the priesthood today";
i) Fr. Tarcisius Bertone, Director of the Theological College
at the UPS in Rome: "A formative community: its composition,
cohesion, and functioning";
j) Fr. Jose Colomer, President of the Theologate of Marti Co­
dolar, Barcelona, Spain: "Ecclesiastical studies from the viewpoint of
Salesian formation";
k) Fr. Peter Brocardo, of the Department of Formation: "Essent­
ial factors in the personal formation of the future Salesian priest";
l) Fr. Egidio Faresin, Director of the Theologate at Crocetta,
Turin: "Preparation for ministry, for diaconate and for priestly or­
dination";
m) Fr. Joseph Zen, Director of the Salesian House of Studies
in Hong Kong: "Specifically Salesian formation: its spirit, mission,
and consecration."

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5. The photostatic edition of the writings of Don Bosco
Through the efforts of Frs. Peter Stella and Raphael Farina,
the Center of Studies on Don Bosco has prepared a photostatic
(technically, anastatic) edition of the printed works of Don Bosco
in 37 volumes, plus one of introduction. The first volumes should
be ready by January 1976, and all the others within the same year.
An information brochure with a subscription blank will be mailed
to all Provincials and Directors shortly. The evident usefulness of
such work, which is a further contribution to the deepened under­
standing of, and the renewed fidelity to, the spirit of our Founder
promoted by the Special General Chapter, should persuade the Super­
iors to make it available to their communities. Furthermore, the
edition is reasonably priced.

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IV. THE FIRST CENTENNIAL OF THE SALESIAN MISSIONS
We think it would be appriopriate in preparation for the up­
coming First Centennial of the Salesian Missions to present under
this special heading of the Acts a number of items that should prove
informative to our Confreres.
1. The Letter of His Holiness to our Rector Major
On this occasion Pope Paul VI sent our Rector Major a letter
entitled "Societati Salesianae" and dated August 15, 1975. It was
published in the Osservatore Romano of September 20, 1975. The
Latin text appears in the Documents Section of these Acts. Here
is an English translation:
To our Beloved Son Louis Ricceri,
Rector Major of the Society of St. Francis de Sales,
As We have been informed, the Salesian Society is about to cel­
ebrate a very important anniversary, for in fact one hundred years
have elapsed since ten sons of Don Bosco, impelled by evangelical
charity, began to work in the missions with great enthusiasm.
That eventful missionary expedition had begun in the name and
under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Help of Christians
(those brave men in fact reached the distant lands of South America
after departing from the temple that bears her name in Turin); and
the memory of that great spiritual venture touches our heart and
moves it deeply. While we see today the abundant fruits of so much
work done, we cannot but rejoice over them and share our sincere
feelings of sweet joy and spiritual consolation with you, our beloved
Son, and with all the religious under your care.

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A difficult and daring Venture
Your congregation had come to life a short time before. Hardly
one year had gone by since it had been officially approved hy the
authority of the Holy See, when its first members (and among them
we are pleased to remember, to its undying honor, that John Cagliero
who was then the leader of the expedition and later became Vicar
Apostolic, Bishop and Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church) were
sent into the vast lands of Patagonia in November 1975.
Certainly difficult and daring was their venture, almost unkown
the territory, sparse its inhabitants, and uncertain the outcome of
their undertaking; but great was the courage, aflame the heart and
stimulating the leadership of your Holy Father and Founder. He
had presented his project on foreign missions to Pope Pius IX, our
predecessor of happy memory, and obtained his £u1l approval and
blessing. Even greater approval had been given to that spirit of total
dedication to the sacred ministry, in which the new Congregation
was beginning to distinguish itself.
Should we take a look today at the condition of the Catliolic
Church in that aforementioned land, we would find three ecclesiastical
jurisdictions, i.e. those of Viedma, Rivadavia and Rio Gallegos, which
were raised to dioceses on account of the extension of their territor­
ies, the ever growing number of their faithful as well as the ever
growing hope for further progress of the Church in Argentina, and
now carry on a work which is far from small or secondary.
But if we looked further, we could consider the extent and
importance of the Salesian missions in their totality, since after that
memorable first expedition, many others without interruption have
followed on its wake, and many other missionaries (roughly, nine
thousand) have, so to say, trekked along the same venturous road
into every continent - into South and North America, into the
Mid and Far East, into Africa and Australia.
We could therefore conclude that the field of Patagonia was
since its very beginning prepared for a providential planting and thus
bore the first fruits of those abundant harvests which a more exten­
sive and more energetic missionary force was to bear in later years
for the good of the Holy Church of God as its first beneficiary, and
for the good of mankind and its social advancement.

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Youthful preachers of the Gospel
What was the purpose of this venture? Certainly it was to
show, by deeds and not merely by words, the true missionary nature
of the Church; it was to establish and confirm the true identity of
their newly-founded Congregation; it was - and this follows logic­
ally from the preceding - to share in the saving action of the
Catholic Church and to this end to be willing to take on all kinds
of hardship and suffering.
Full credit must therefore be given to the Founder of this Con­
gregation, who in the last century, while new and wider avenues of
apostolic activities were being opened in the Catholic Church, gave
his utmost attention to so arduous a task and decided, for himself
and for his followers, to accomplish it without hesitation or delay.
What was his modus operandi in this new undertaking? The
answer to this question is closely bound up with the understanding
of the very nature of the new Congregation. For since the earliest
years of its growth in Turin it was its chief characteristic to concern
itself with the young, the poor, the common people, and to feel that
it had been specifically called by God to minister to these classes of
people. Consequently, this youthful quality marked, almost by necess­
ity, also its missionary activity: young were the preachers of the
Gospel sent to the American countries, and youth-centered were their
ministrations.
Thus for the Christian education of youth in the missions they
opened schools and other types of foundations, such as had been
opened elsewhere. Likewise, they built churches, hospitals and youth
centers and tried in every way to meet the needs of the times and
of the places.
While we recall the accomplishments and praise the outstanding
dedication of the Salesian missionaries, we should not forget the
intense activity of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, who
shared their missionary work everywhere and like the Salesian Fathers
and Brothers spent themselves with boundless generosity.
These two religious families assisted with loving care not only
the natives, but also the foreigners and the immigrants, who in great
numbers had left their countries and had gone overseas to find
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better living conditions but there had be with many hardships and
serious problems. The Salesians' pastoral activity on behalf of this
latter group of people was also greatly successful.
A time for reflection and renewal
The upcoming centennial celebration will be a welcome opportun­
ity for your Congregation to stop and look back on the long, long
journey made so far, and also to look forward to the road ahead.
This is evident not only from the impressive Calendar of Cel­
ebrations scheduled for the Centennial that you, my beloved son,
kindly sent us, but also by the resolute stand that your Congrega­
tion is taking on this occasion. As the year 1875 was the glorious
year that marked the beginning of its missions, so the present
year 1975 is the appropriate time for rethinking its missionary activ­
ity, for reviving its energies, for renewing its dedication, in the
light particularly of the Decree of Vatican II on the Missionary
Activity of the Church.
The Church in fact, as in often said these days and correctly
so, is a missionary community. As such, she must fulfill her all-im­
portant mandate with the greatest possible care, if she wants to
follow the will of her Divine Founder very closely. For this reason
she consistently calls on all her children and untiringly she exhorts
them to give her all the assistance she needs and they can give.
She, therefore, taking this very special occasion, exhorts all the
Salesians to give her, with hearts made extra generous by charity, all
the help they can and must give, by making full use of the pedagogic­
al system, the educational tools and the formative talents which are
their unique heritage left to them by St. John Bosco.
In support of our exhortation it may be useful to quote here
the principles laid down by the same Council on the special spiritual
and apostolic formation to be given to missionaries (Cf. Decree Ad
Gentes, 25-26) and on the missionary role of Religious Institutes
(ibid., 40).
Those words are more persuasive than any we could write here,
since we know for sure that you will reflect on them very attentively
in your meetings. We will only give you two brief quotations:
"Since still many are the people to be led to Christ, Religious In·

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stitutes remain absolutely necessary to accomplish this task" (ibid., 27),
and therefore, "let them ask themselves whether they are able to
further extend their activity for the spreading of the Kingdom of
God among the people" (Ibid., 40). Are not these words an echo
of Christ's words: "I tell you, take a good look at the fields: the
crops are now ripe and ready to he harvested!"?
Dare greater things
When above we spoke of the young, we purposely omitted
something. In our recent Apostolic Exhortation "Gaudete in Domino"
(Rejoice in the Lord), we at one point (chapter 6) treated of the
relationship between the Church and the young, in order that the
young could find in the Church not only a source of Christian joy,
but also a valid incentive to true self-renewal.
We believe that a similar relationship does exist between the
Salesian Society and the young of today, and we hope that they will
find also in it a strong incentive to carrying on their work.
This is what we felt we should express to you, our beloved son,
on the occasion of the upcoming Centennial in order to stimulate the
minds and hearts of the Salesians by the testimony to desire and to
dare ever greater deeds, ever nobler undertakings for the cause of the
Catholic missions.
Led on by this lively hope, with deep affection and in the name
of the Lord we impart to you and to your confreres, both priests and
lay, as well as to the Daughter of Mary Help of Christians our Apos­
tolic Blessing as a pledge of divine favors.
Given in Rome, at St. Peter's, the fifteenth day of August, the
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the year
1975, the thirteenth of our Pontificate.
2. Activities for the Centennial
The first centennial of the Salesian Missions will he celebrated
not only in Italy and Argentina, which are evidently the two countries
more directly concerned with the event, hut also in all the Salesian
communities throughout the world, with a program of various acti-

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vities, whose aim should be not so much an external recollection of
past achievements and glories, but rather an occasion for all Salesians
to deepen their awareness of, and to renew their commitment to, the
missionary work of the Congregation.
For the sake of information we report here the activities pro­
grammed at the center of t,he Congregation and those of which we
have been notified on time for publication:
November 1975
- November 11: "Day of Prayer" by all the Salesian Family.
- November 13: in Turin, Commemoration of the Centennial
with Card. Sergio Pignedoli presiding.
- November 16: in Turin, at the Basilica of Mary Help of
Christians, a Eucharistic Concelebration with Card. Angelo Rossi as
the main celebrant, and the giving of the crucifix to the departing
missionaries .(Bot,h ceremonies will be carried live by Italian TV).
At Valdocco-Turin, the opening of the Permanent Salesian Exhibit.
- November 16 - December 3: Visit to the Missions of India
by European Salesian Cooperators.
December 1975
- December 14: in Argentina, the opening of the Centennial
Year; in Rome, commemoration of the Centennial.
January 1976
- January 12-24: in Rome, Meeting of the Italian Missionary
Bishops.
- January 24-31: in Rome, Week of Study on Salesian Spirit-
uality.
Meeting of those in charge of Missionary Catechesis.
Meeting of those in charge of Pastoral Activity in the slums.
Beginning of a series of talks on the Missions, organized by
the UPS.
June 1976
- In Shillong, India: the opening of the Salesian Missionary
Theologate.

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July 1976
- July 10, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the conclusion of the
Youth Song Festival.
September 1976
- In Rome, Retreat for the missionaries of the "Expedition
1976".
November 1976
- October 30 - November 3: World Congress for the Centennial
of the Regulations for Cooperators.
- November 3-5: Meeting of Young Cooperators (topic for
discussion: The missionary role of the Cooperators).
- In Turin, the Farewell Ceremony of the Missionaries of
"Expedition 1976", and the closing of the Centennial Year of the
Salesian Missions.
Undated events:
- In Rome, opening of the Missionology Department at the
UPS Faculty of Theology.
- Meeting of the Ladies in charge of the Mama Margaret
Liturgical-missionary Workshops.
- Visit of Cooperators to Patagonia.
- At Colle Don Bosco, inauguration of the new Salesian
Missionary Exhibit.
3. The Centennial Expedition
The invitation sent last year by the Rector Major to all the.
Confreres (cf. ASC, No. 277, pp. 30-31) to organize a "missionary
expedition worthy of the Centennial" was received with great enthu­
siasm and generosity. To date over one hundred confreres have
responded to the appeal.
Sixty-seven of them have received their assignment, and some
of them have already reported to work; thirty-seven are still waiting

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for it. Of the sixty-seven, 37 are priests, 9 Coadjutor Brothers, and 21
clerics. Nineteen come from Italy, 17 from Spain, 12 from Poland,
and three from Belgium. The Philippines, the United Kingdom and
the United States contribute two each; Australia, Austria, Brazil,
Hong Kong, Costa Rica, El Salvador, South India, Ireland, Mexico
and Portugal, one each.
The year 1975 marks the first Salesian missionary expedition to
Ethiopia. At first only two confreres - Fr. Peter Morrin from
Ireland and Bro. Joseph Reza from the United States (San Francisco
Province) - will be sent to open a technical school in Adigrat, in
the diocese of the Salesian Bishop Sebhatlaab Worku. Later they will
be joined by others.
The Centennial Missionary Expedition comprises 105 confreres.
(It was not poss1ble to organize an expedition every year; but in some
years two or more were made).
As indicated above, the Farewell Ceremony will take place on
November 16, 1975 in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in
Turin, during the concelebrated Mass presided over by Card. Angelo
Rossi, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of
People. Also many confreres, veterans of fifty or more years of
missionary work, will be present.
4. Aids for the Centennial Celebration
The "Centro di coordinamento per il Centenario delle Missioni
Salesiane" (Coordinating Center for the Centennial of the Salesian
Missions) at the Generalate in Rome has prepared a series of publi­
cations to help organize the Centennial celebration. One such publi­
cation is the commemorative booklet, "Missioni Don Bosco - Anno
cento" (Don Bosco's Mission - One Hundred Years), in six languages.
Publications of learned character are being prepared by the
"Centro Studi di Storia delle Missioni Salesiane" (Center for Historic
Studies on the Salesian Missions) at the UPS in Rome. Of recent
publication are two volumes of the "Bibliografia Generate delle Mis­
sioni Salesiane" (General Bibliography on the Salesian Missions):
vol. 1, "Bollettino Salesiano e altre fonti salesiane" (The Salesian
Bulletin and Other Salesian Sources) by Fr. Eugenio Valentini (L. 7.500),

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and vol. 3, "Notiziario dell'Istituto delle FMA" (Collection of the
Newsletters of the Institute of the FMA's) by Sr. Assunta Maraldi
(L. 1,500).
Also books for general reading have been published, such as: "Tra
i fiumi e le foreste" (Among Rivers and Jungles) by Mons. Marchesi,
"Monsignor Versiglia e Don Caravario (Bishop Versiglia and Fr. Cara­
vario) by Adolf L'Arco, and "Cronache del Regno di Dio" (Chronicles
of the Kingdom of God) by Bishop Ferrando.
"Don Bosco Film" Center has prepared eight 16-mm color docu­
mentaries and is preparing their sound track in various languages.
Their title are: "Mio fratello lebbroso" (My Brother is a Leper),
"Tonda, casa mia" (Tondo - a slum area of Manila - my home),
"Occhi per incontrarci" (Welcoming Eyes - on Thailand), "Bororos
e Xavantes, uomini veri" {Bororos and Xavantes, real people), "Oriente
e promessa" (Promise in the Far Est), "Ecuador parallelo zero"
(Ecuador - Zero Parallel), "Il cammino dei poveri" (The Poor on the
March - about underdeveloped people), and "Yanomami ieri e oggi"
(Yanomami, Yesterday and Today).
Other material available: three wall posters, some slides series,
color postcard sets, letter seals, etc.
Also in Argentina and in other parts of the world similar publi­
cations have been produced to help promote the Centennial celebration.
5. Fifty years or more in the missions: 94 Salesians
The Missions Office at the Generalate has recently compiled a
list of Salesians who have been working in the foreign missions for
fifty years or longer. It came up with the impressive list of 94 con­
freres, of which one is a bishop, 66 are priests and 27 Coadjutor
Brothers; 60 are Italian-born, and 27 born in other countries. The
bishop is Monsignor Oreste Marengo, presently Apostolic Administrator
in the Diocese of Tura (India).
The Mission Office asked the Provincial to help complete the list,
should they know of any omission, and prepare a biographical sketch
and a photo documentary on these well-deserving confreres.

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6. An appeal by the Missions Office Councillor
My dear confreres, urgent requests and at times very distressing
cries for help keep pouring in from missionaries in Africa, Asia and
Latin America. Consistently they underscore their drastic needs for
printers, agriculturists, auto-mechanics and mechanics in general, electri­
cians, building maintenance men, etc. Often they ask for formation
personnel. Quite often they simply ask for personnel with no expertise
in any particular field, but willing and capable of taking care of various
services in the missions.
I ask you, dear confreres, to heed these calls that come to us
from Manaus, Chile, Paraguay, the Philippines, Bhutan, Thailand,
Central Africa and from many other "forgotten places" in the Salesian
Missionary world.
7. Solidarity Fund
a) THE CENTENNIAL YEAR IS ALSO THE YEAR OF GENEROSITY
For the first time the contributions of the confreres to the Solida­
rity Fund in the current year 1975 will go over the nine-hundred million
Ital. Lire mark. As of September 12, close to 98 million Ital. Lire
were received by the Rector Major and immediately distributed. The
remaining two million Lire will certainly come in before the end
of the year.
This is a record over the previous years. To some small degree,
this is due to a worldwide devaluation of currencies; but by far and
large it should be credited to a maturation of the sense of solidarity
in our Salesian communities.

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Table of Money distributed in the Years 1969-1975:
Anno
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
To 9-12-1975
Ital. Lire distributed
24.991.400
71.354.420
12.250.000
58.192.225
58.629.938
55.866.386
97.842.150
1
379.105.724
b) CONTRIBUTING PROVINCES FROM ]UNE TO SEPTEMBER 12, 1975
AMERICA
Bolivia
Brazil-Recife
Central America
Chile
Ecuador
Mexico-Guadalajara
Paraguay
United States - San Francisco
L. 975.000
138.000
10.7723.290
1.350.000
638.000
188.400
685.000
3.200.000

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As IA
Philippines
Japan
India-Bombay
India-Calcutta
India-Madras
EUROPE
Austria
Italy-Adriatic
Itay-Generalate
Italy-Central
Italy-Ligurian-Tuscan
Italy-Sicilian
Italy-Subalpina
Italy-Venetian St. Mark
Total
Cash on hand
Total amt. for distribution
2.250.000
952.500
300.000
1.170.000
1.000.000
152.000
1.200.000
80.000
4.042.245
150.000
2.000.000
2.830.000
4.750.000
38.774.435
21.295
38.795.730
c) DISBURSEMENT FROM JUNE 12 TO SEPT. 9, 1975
AFRICA
Central Africa, Kigali: for a new parish church
Ethiopia, Makele: for the future technical school
s. AMERICA
Antilles, Haiti: for a vocation campaign
Argentina, Rosario: a technical school
1.000.000
1.000.000
1.000.000
500.000

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Argentina, Bahia Blanca: for a schiol in Junln
de los Andes
Argentina, Bahia Blanca: for Higar del Nifio
Bolivia, "El Alto": for poor trade-school students
Bolivia, La Paz: to equip a Youth Center-School
Bolivia, Santa Cruz: to boost the "Radio Men-
saje" apostolate
Bolivia, Santa Cruz: for the San Carlos Parish
Clinic, Montero
Brazil, Belo Horizonte: for the Cabana slums
Brazil, Belo Horizonte: for the Jacarezinho
slum
Brazil, Belo Horizonte: to buy books for the
Permanent Formation Course
Brazil, Campo Grande: Corumba, Don Bosco's
Town
Brazil, Campo Grande: for the Sister working
at the leper colony
Brazil, Manaus: to repair the roof of the school
in Porto Velho
Chile, Santa Anna (Talca): for the "Milk to the
Children" program
Chile, Macul: for the children's feeding
Chile, San Ramon: for a work on the periphery
Chile, Catemu: for free farm training
Colombia, Ariari: for building homes for the
poor
Colombia, Ariari, Canaguaro: for the develop-
ment of the Mission
Colombia, Ariari Mesetas: for a new chapel
Colombia Ariari Puerto Lleras: for a new church
Colombia, Bogota: to spread the Bible
Ecuador, Sucua: Centro Shuar: to fight illiteracy
Ecuador, Chiguaza: to provide tools for the
artisans
Ecuador, Rocafuerte: for a missionary parish
Peru, Callao: to repair the earthquake damage
500.000
1.000.000
600.000
600.000
1.000.000
1.350.000
700.000
500.000
104.305
500.000
100.000
1.000.000
1.000.000
500.000
500.000
1.000.000
1.000.000
1.000.000
1.000.000
200.000
500.000
500.000
200.000
1.000.000
1.000.000

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Peru, Lima-Brena: to buy tools for the technical
school
Peru, Lima: for the Catechetical Center's apos­
tolate
Uruguay, Montevideo: to buy tools for the tech­
nical school
As IA
Japan, Tokio: to spread good literature
Korea, Seoul: from the Venetian-St. Mark
Province
India, Bombay: from the Venetian-St. Mark
Province
India, Calcutta: for a student's house in Rangoon
India, Calcutta: scholarships for the parish poor
India, Calcutta: Azimganj, for the poor native
boarders
India, Gauhati: scholarships for the mission at
Damra
India, Gauhati: to the Mission at Rongeny from
the Venetian-St. Mark Province
India, Gauhati: Shillong, university scholarships
India, Gauhati: Shillong, Mawkhar: Venetian­
St. Mark Province
India, Gauhati: boarding-technical school in
Maligaon
India, Gauhati: to redeem the poor's lands
in the Jorhat mission
India, Madras: to buy land for social works in
Ennore
India, Madras: a Koviloor, for a dispensary
India, Madras a Varadarajanpet: to repair the
typhoon damages
India, Madras: a Hyderabad, for a new mission
India, Madras: a Cuddapah, for the orphanage­
technical school
600.000
500.000
500.000
100.000
100.000
100.000
1.000.000
500.000
500.000
1.000.000
100.000
500.000
100.000
1.000.000
1.000.000
500.000
500.000
1.000.000
500.000
1.000.000

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India, Cochin: to spread the Bible among the
young
Middle East, Cairo: for the technical school
Vietnam: from the missionary group of San Gre­
gorio, Sicily
Vietnam: from Cuenca for vocation
Vietnam: from the Venetian Province of St. Mark
EUROPE
Yugoslavia, Ljubljana: from the Venetian Pro­
vince of St. Mark
Yugoslavia, Zagreb: for the Venetian Province
of St. Mark
Spain, Bilbao: to buy books for the Permanent
Formation Course
Total
Cash on hand
1.000.000
1.000.000
500.000
638.000
2.000.000
600.000
600.000
500.000
38.792.305
3.425
c) FINANCIAL PROSPECTUS OF THE SOLIDARITY FUND
AS OF SEPT. 12, 1975:
Income
Disbursement
Cash on hand
379.109.149
379.105.724
3.425

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V. ACTIVITIES OF THE SUPERIOR COUNCIL
AND MATIERS OF GENERAL INTEREST
The summer months are particularly suited to encounters, meet­
ings, congresses and the like. And so, while the Regional Conucillors
were back to their time-consuming visitations in the provinces of their
regions, there was a stepping up of activities by the various Depart­
ments at the Generalate and elsewhere.
The following report, though it may seem lengthy, is far from
complete; but it should be sufficient to show the over-all effort at
self-renewal which animates our Congregation.
1. Activities of the Rector Major and of the Departments
After a long journey into Lattn America which ended in early
June, the Rector Major animated with his presence the numerous events
which took place at the Salesianum attached to the Generalate. With
his advice at key moments he also followed the proceedings of the
16th General Chapter of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians
which was being held in the same months. In September he attended
the Eurob.osco, the European Past-Pupils' Congress at Louvain.
The Councillor for Formation Fr. Egidio Vigano, after many meet­
ings in the provinces of Brazil and Paraguay, took part with his fellow­
workers in a long series of activities held in Rome.
From July 2 to 5 he attended the meeting of the Presidents of
the UPS-affialiated Theologates, which was chaired by the newly-appoint­
ed Dean Fr. Mario Midali. From July 6 to 19 he attended the Seminar
on Salesian Priestly Formation, at which about 60 confreres in charge
of formation in the various Theologates of the Congregation were
present.
From August 31 to September 7 he attended the World Congress
of the Coadjutor Brothers. He had previously attended a Week on
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Mention should be made here of the publication of the Acts of
the European Salesian Symposium for the Renewal of the Spiritual
Retreat, which had taken place in early 1975. The book, which was
published by LDC Salesian Press (Lire 3,200), is entitled: "II rinnova­
mento degli Esercizi Spirituali" (The Renewal of the Spiritual Retreat).
The Councillor for Youth Apostolate Fr. Giovenale Dho, after the
June meetings with the Directors of Aspirantates and those in charge
of Youth Centers in Caracas, Venezuela, and in Belo Horizonte, Brazil,
presided over a Vocational Guidance Course at Aquila, Italy (for a
more detailed report, see page 54).
Fr. Giovanni Raineri, Councillor for Adult Apostolate, prolonged
his meetings in Latin America to about the end of June. In August
he attended the "Colloquium on Salesian Life", which was held this
year in Jiinkerath, West Germany, on the topic: "Concern for justice
and the Salesian Family." In September he attended the Eurobosco,
the second European Past-.Pupils' Congress in Louvain, which studied
the topic: "Don Bosco's Past Pupils and their unification in Europe."
The Salesian Press Office gave its collaboration to the Missions
Department for the preparation of aids for the upcoming Centennial
of the Salesian Missions.
As indicated above, the Councillor for the Missions Fr. Bernard
Tohill and his Department were busy during the past months with
the preparation for the Centennial of the Missions.
2. Visitations of the provinces by the Regional Superiors
Fr. Louis Fiora made the canonical visitation of the southern
Italian province, and chaired or attended numerous meetings, such as
the meeting of the Italian Salesian pastors in June, a meeting to
revitalize our schools in July at UPS, and a meeting on social com­
munications in September. In the Italian Region two courses on
permanent formation were also held, one at Col di Nava and the
other in Bolzano, each lasting a month and a half.
Fr. Anthony Melida visited the Bilbao Province. He had also
planned to visit Timor and Macau, where political turmoil is causing
serious problems for our Salesian work; but he was unable to enter
Timor on account of the sudden turn of events in that island.

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Fr. John Ter Schure visited the Munich province (Southern Germ­
any), and stayed in the Benediktbeuern community for a long time.
Fr. John Henriquez attended a meeting of the directors of youth
centers and another meeting of the directors of the regional aspirantates
in Caracas, Venezuela. He visited the Peruvian province, held several
meetings in Bolivia, and presided over the National Congress of the
Past Pupils' in Columbia. He is presently visiting the Medellin
province in Columbia.
Fr. John Vecchi visited the Recife and Campo Grande provinces
in Brazil, and the Buenos Aires province in Argentina.
Fr. George Williams visited the Bombay province and the Korean
Delegation. Since his region extends to all continents, when he gets
on the move, he ends up traveling around the world. And so he
touched at Madras, Calcutta, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan,
Japan, San Francisco, New Rochelle, Great Britain and Malta.
3. During the coming months
On September 19 occurs the Golden Jubilee of the Rector Major's
Ordination - a joyous occasion for our Salesian Family. In Rome
there will be a concelebrated Mass in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart,
with the participation of the members of the Superior Council, the
confreres from the Generalate and the other houses in Rome, and
many representatives and friends of the Salesian Family.
From October 10 to 20 another important event will take place
at the Generalate - and not in Bengalore, India, as previously announc­
ed -: the "Continental Encounter" of the Major Superiors with the
Provincials and the delegates of the Far East.
The Department of Formation has organized and is now conduct­
ing a Course of Permanent Formation for the Coadjutor Brothers, that
will last from mid-September till Christmas 1975 at the Salesianum
in Rome.
Two important meetings of provincial delegates are awaiting Fr.
Dho in Asia: in October at Bangalore for the confreres in India, and
in November in Hong Kong for the other provinces in the Far East.
At these meetings the principles and methods of organizing youth
apostolate and catechesis will be studied. An analogous visitation will

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be made also in the Far East by Fr. Raineri to deal with the prob­
lems concerning the organization and functioning of the Cooperators,
Past Pupils, parishes, and the means of communication.
In the meantime, the Regional Superiors' visitations to their
provinces are proceeding as scheduled. Begun in June this year, they
will last until January 15, 1976. Fr. Fiora will visit the Adriatic
Province and will preside over various consultative meetings for the
revitalization of schools, parishes and youth movements. Fr. Ter Schure
plans to visit the houses in Africa, and hopes to meet with the
confreres in Northern Africa, and those in the Central-African Prov­
ince and also those in Mozambique. Fr. Henriquez will end the visit-·
ation to the Medellin province and then begin that of Quito. Fr. Me­
lida plans to visit the Cordoba province in Spain, and Fr. Williams
the Madras province in India.
Upon their return to Rome in mind January 1976, the Regional
Superiors will resume the meetings of the "Plenum" (or full assembly)
of the Superior Council. Finally, already looming at a distance as
a matter of remote preparation is the 1977 General Chapter, our
twenty-first.
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VI. DOCUMENTS
1. Pope Paul on the Centennial of the Salesian Missions
Here is the Latin text o fthe Letter "Salesianae Societati" sent by
His Holiness to our Rector Major on the occasion of the First Centennial
of the Salesian missions:
Salesianae Societati, quemadmodum est ad Nos allatum, insignis
mox occurret eventus: integrum nempe revolutum saeculum, ex quo
decem S. Ioannis Bosco fratres, evangelica impulsi caritate, missiona­
le munus adimplendum alacres susceperunt. Huius sane gloriosi recor­
datio itineris, sub nomine ac patrocinio Beatae Virginis Mariae Auxilia­
tricis initi - quoniam a cognomini templo urbis Augustae Taurinorum
profecti, illi viri longinquas Americae Australis oras petierunt (cfr. E.
CERIA, Memorie biogra/iche del B. Giovanni Bosco, vol. XI, pp.
382-389), - facile Nostrum subit animum eundemque vehementer
movet; dumque uberrimos hodie tot laborum fructus conspicimus, fa­
cere non possumus, quin Tecum, dilecte Fili, cumque omnibus Religio­
sis, tuo commissis moderamini, suavis laetitiae spiritualisque solacii
sensus gratulabundi communicemus.
Recens quippe Pia vestra Congregatio orta erat, unus vix annus
exierat postquam publice Apostolicae Sedis auctoritate erat confirmata,
cum primi sodales, quos inter Ioannem Cagliero, illius tum expeditio­
nis ducem ac postmodum Vicarium Apostolicum, Episcopum, S.R.E.
Cardinalem, honoris causa nominate placet, mense Novembri anni
MDCCCLXXV in amplissimas Patagoniae regiones missi sunt. Audax
sane opus et arduum, incognita fere incolisque infrequentior tellus,
rei sortes dubiae; sed virtus magna, cor ardens, impellens manda­
tum legiferi Patris vestri, qui, cum Pio PP. IX, Nostro fel rec.
Decessori, consilium de missione ad exteras gentes aperuisset, as­
sensionem rite benedictionemque impetraverat (ibid., pp. 142, 145,
146, 152, 376-377). Adeo animorum studium sacrique ministerii di­
ligentia probabantur, quibus nova iam Societas enitebat. Si quis

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autem in praesenti rerum catholicarum statum attendat in ea, quam
upra diximus, terra, statim comperiet tras inibi ecclesiasticas di­
ciones esse constitutas, Viedmensem, Rivadaviae, Rivogallaecensem,
quae, titulo et iure donatae dioecesis, pro locorum amplitudine, pro
increscente fidelium numero, pro spe denique et exspectatione maio­
ris usque provectus, totius Ecclesiae, quae in Argentina Civitate est,
neque exiguam neque obscuram partem efficiunt. Sed item, eundem
veluti prospectum extendentes, Nos iuvat Salesianarum Missionum
spatium atque momentum in universum considerare, siquidem memo­
rabilem illam expeditionem multae postea expeditiones, cursu num­
quam intermisso, secutae sunt, aliique deinde missionarii, ad numerum
novem fere milium virorum, coeptum iter perrexerunt in continentes
terras Americae tam meridianae quam septemtrionalis, Asiae proximae
et extremae, Africae, Australiae. Merito igitur hoc statuendum esse
videtur, agrum Patagonicum ab initio providae huiusmodi sationi pa­
tuisse, atque adeo illarum primitias frugum profudisse, quas amplior
post et impensior industria operariorum comparavit sive sanctae Dei
Ecclesiae in primario eius munere, civili hominum consortioni, ad
socialem progressionem quod attinet.
Quodnam vero totius fuit negotii propositum? Fuit sane missiona­
lem Ecclesiae naturam re non verbis ostendere; fuit eandem in con­
dita recens Societate indolem asserere; fuit - quod aperte ex utraque re
consequitur - nisus consilia incepta universalis Ecclesiae participare,
indeque labores et incommoda recipere. Eximius ergo honor atque
cumulatae laudes tribuendae sunt istius Sodalitatis Fundatori, qui
superiore saeculo, dum catholicae activitati Ecclesiae latiores aperi­
rentur viae, tantum oneris cogitate perpenderit statimque sibi et suis
sustinendum decreverit.
Quaenam insuper fuit agendi ratio, quam ipse ingressus est? Quae­
stio heic agitur, quae ad ipsum novi Instituti genus rectissima pertinet.
Ei enim primis iam annis, quibus in urbe Pedemontana floriut, illud
tamquam singulare ac peculiare inerat, ut iuvenes praesertim, paupe­
res, populares advocaret, iisdemque potius destinaretur. Quamobrem,
iuvenalis - paene dixerimus - proprietas in missionali etiam obeundo
officio quadam quasi necessitate eluxit: iuvenes fuerunt Evangelii
praecones, in Americae plagas missi; iuvenes pariter fuerunt homines,
quos primo illi adire et alloqui et edocere elegerunt. Iuvenes - ita
dicere liceat - ambo unius eiusdemque operis termini.

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Tali ergo modo factum est, ut ad christianam iuventutem recte
educandam eadem instituta, eaedem cuiusvis fere ordinis scholae techni­
carumque disciplinarum cursus, quae alibi erant, in Missionum statio­
nibus conderentur, atque sacra exstruerentur oratoria, valetudinaria,
domus, ceteris apparat:is subsidiis, quae cum temporum locorumque
condioionibus aptissime congruerent. Neque vero, dum res gestas,
vires, exitus recensendo extollimus, sedulam sociamque operam obli­
visci possumus, a Filiabus Mariae Auxiliatricis collatam, quandoqui­
dem rerum veritati respondere constat et illas, una cum Salesianis
viris, plurimum adlaboravisse in omnibus Missionum sedibus, pernobi­
li et illas incitas animi fervore. Ab utraque autem Familia non solum
autochthones seu indigeni;ie, sed migratores etiam ac peregrini propen­
sa benevolentia excipiebantur, qui turmatim, patria relicta, ut victum
sibi quaererent, novum attingere orbem consueverant, maximisque un­
dique premebantur angustiis. Hae de re quoque pastoralis Salesiano­
rum actio affluentem meritorum copiam collegit.
Nos equidem novimus advenientem memoriam, in istius Societatis
historia, tamquam dispositam itineris mansionem habitum iri. Id enim
confirmatur non solum perspicuo illo indice, seu exarato ordine cele­
brationum per annum habendarum, quem Tu, dilecte Fili, Nobis offe­
rendum curavisti, verum certo etiam consilio certaque deliberatione
universae Religiosae Sodalitatis; ut igitur annus MDCCCLXXV eius
primordia candido lapillo obsignavit, ita praesens hie annus MCMLXXV
commodum sane ac prosperum tempus missionalis inceptus recogitandi,
redintegrandi vires, proposita insistendi videtur esse, si prae oculis ha­
beatur potissimum Decretum Oecumenici Concilii Vaticani II de activi­
tate missionali Ecclesiae. Revera enim Ecclesia, ut saepius ac iuste
quidem edici solet, est communitas missionalis; qua talis, tantum munus
expletius usque et perfectius exsequi debet, ut cum divini sui Conditoris
voluntate cohaereat; eadem cunctos advocat monetque filios suos, ut
quod urget auxilium sibi praebeant; eadem, hac oblata opportunitate,
Salesianos omnes cohortatur, ut peculiare, quod possunt ac debent,
adiumentum dilatato per caritatem animo afferant, iisque utantur, electis
quasi instrumentis, normis ac praeceptionihus doctrinae paedagogicae,
in qua S. Ioannis Bosco hereditas praecipua continetur. Estne opus,
ad nostrum hoc fulciendum hortamentum, ipsius Concilii principia ite­
rare de special Missionariorum formatione, sive spirituali sive aposto­
lica (cfr. Deer. Ad Gentes, 25-26), deque officio missionali Institu-

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torum Religiosorum (cfr. ibid., 40)? Verba ilia planiora, apertiora,
suadibiliora sunt, quam ut hie sint exscribenda, cum praesertim pro
certo sciamus vos eadem, inter proximos coetus, attente et assidue
esse reputaturos. Duo tantum recolimus: Cum multae adhuc exstent
gentes ad Christum adducendae, Instituta apprime necessaria manent
(ibid., 27); ideoque sincere coram Deo sese interrogent, utrum actuo­
sitatem suam in expansionem Regni Dei inter gentes extendere valeant
(ibid., 40). Nonne dukes ibi Evangelii voces resonate videntur? Levate
oculos vestros, et videte regiones, quia albae sunt iam ad messem
(lo. 4, 35).
Sed aliquid consulto omisimus, antea licet de iuvenibus mentionem
iniecerimus. Namque in edita nuper Adhortatione Apostolica GAu­
DETE IN DOMINO » caput comprehenditur, in quo de necessitudine inter
Ecclesiam et iuventutem elocuti sumus, ut non solum inde christianae
Iaetitiae rationes haurirentur, verum etiam firma incitamenta ad re­
novationem veri nominis promovendam (cap. VI). Haud absimile pro­
fecto vinculum isti Societati cum iuventute intercedere arbitramur,
indidemque stimulus pariter ad incepta instauranda ac spes bona .fe­
cunditatis expromentur.
Haec habuimus, dilecte Fili, quae saeculari adventante celebritate
talam significaremus, ut paternae nempe caritatis testimonio Salesia­
norum animos ad maiora, ad nobiliora, ad celsiora usque appetenda
atque audenda pro causa Missionum Catholicarum erigeremus. Qua
fiducia freti, cum Tibi tum universis Sodalibus tuis, sive sacerdotious,
sive adiutoribus, necnon Religiosae Familiae Sororum Beatae Mariae
Auxiliatricis, Apostolicam Benedictionem, supernarum auspicem gra­
tiarum, peramanter in nomine Domini impertimus.
Datum Romae, apud Sanctum Petrum, die XV mensis Augusti,
in sollemnitate Assumptionis eiusdem B.M.V., anno MCMLXXV, Pon­
tificatus Nastri tertio decimo.
PAULUS P.P. VI
2. The Rector Major at the World Congress of the Salesian
Coadjutor Brothers
The Rector Major gave both the opening and concluding addresses
at the World Congress of the Salesian Coadjutor Br.others, respectively
on August 31 and September 7, 1975. The latter one - in which,

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among other things, he spoke on the "hot" issue of the juridical parity
of the Coadjutor Brothers with the priests - is reported here in its
entirety for the benefit of our confreres.
Dear Confreres,
We have arrived at the end of our World Congress.
This is a moment charged with deep emotion. We must say
farewell to each other. It is also a moment rich with bright new
hopes, which each of us is going to take along, as he returns to his
community.
But before we leave, it is my pleasure, privilege and duty, as
the humble successor of Don Bosco and the one who is most account­
able for the precious heritage he entrusted to us, to open my heart
to your as a father would to his grownup sons.
I could not present you at this time, as you understand, an
analysis and appraisal of all that was done during these last seven
days of very intense activity - this would require a prolonged re­
flection which evidently I have not yet had the opportunity to make.
I will, instead, manifest to you some thoughts which are matter of
deep concern to me and are the product of long-standing meditation.
The atmosphere of the Congress
First of all some remarks on the atmosphere of the Congress.
For me, and I believe also for you, these were days of intense
activity, days of deep consolation, but also - and I am not going
to hold this back - of a certain trepidation on account of the size,
gravity and complexity of the problems you took up day after day
and I, more than you, feel lying heavily on my shoulders.
Numerous and outstanding were the positive qualities of this
Congress - chief among them the solid contributions of the speakers
and the responsible participation of all in the language-based discussion
groups and in the general assemblies. A sense of progressive matur­
ation co'uld be felt with each passing day, even though not everything
was perfect.
Special praise and gratitude is due to the Chairman and his
steering committee, the secretaries, the organizers, the press office,

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the translators, the entertainment committee, the photographers, the
liturgists - in a word, to all who have in a more direct way con­
tributed to the success of the Congress.
I was greatly pleased with the climate of freedom, honesty,
mutual respect and brotherly love which characterized these unfor­
gettable days. The spirit that animated our meetings was - and
this is a consoling comparison - very much like the spirit that
animated the meetings presided over by Don Bosco. The minutes
of 1876 tell us: "The lectures which lasted for hours and hours,
were allowing us little time to go downtown; but the cheerfulness
that was reigning among us was allaying our weariness and relieving
our fatigue. Jests, humurous stories and guffaws were breaking the
monotony of the endless sessions - just like among brothers who
love each other and enjoy a family reunion. In that atmosphere the
Blessed Don Bosco was feeling right at home, and was plainly de­
lighted." The chronicler, praising the fine spirit, added this remark:
"In the celebration of the Mass such sense of recollection and calm
can be felt that it is evident that true charity is burning in dieir
hearts" (MB 12, 53).
During these days I have seen the spirit of the past generations
of Salesian Coadjutor Brothers alive in you again, in an admirable
plurality and modernity of forms. You, too, have given evidence
of ability, efficiency and unconditional love for Don Bosco and' for
your vocation. Your beatiful liturgical celebrations have shown that,
like true children of Don Bosco, you keep your hearts solidly rooted
in God.
For this and for much more I thank all of you; and above all
I thank the Lord, and you do that with me, with the words of
St. Paul to the Philippians: "I thank my God for you every time
I think of you, and every time I pray for you all, I pray with joy,
because of the way in which you have helped me in the work of
the gospel, from the very first day until now. And so I am sure
of this: that God, who began this good work in you will carry it
on until it is finished... God knows that I tell you the truth when
I say that my deep feeling for you all comes from the heart of
Christ Jesus himself" (Phil. 1: 3-6,9).

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The problems
The World Congress of the Salesian Coadjutor Brother was organiz­
ed and held with these precise objectives in mind: "An in-depth
rethinking of the figure of the Salesian Coadjutor Brother in the
mind of Don Bosco and in the light of the Salesian Tradition... the
formulation of practical guidelines for a more authentic, more updated
and more effective presentation of the Coadjutor Brother... sensitizing
of the Salesian congregation and family on the true nature of the
Coadjutor Brother" (cf. Acts of the Superior Council, No. 272).
It seems to me that, on the whole, these objectives have been
achieved, though we know that in matters of this kind every point of
arrival is nothing but another point of departure.
I consider the final proposals and resolutions of the Congress
as the expression of your minds and wills as delegates representing
your local and provincial communities, and I wish to assure you that
they will be used by me and the Superiors of the Council in guiding
our Congregation.
Many of you had never met the Superiors of the Council, but
you know them now. You watched them during the past days mix
with you, brothers among brothers - actively concerned about your
activities, but discretely silent... They wanted the Congress to do
"its own thing"! Was that good or bad? Or, was it good and bad?
Well, I'd rather think it was the smart thing to do...
But let us now talk about the results of the Congress, which,
as we have said many times, was not a little General Chapter, but
an encounter for the purpose of deepening our common understand­
ing of the figure of the Salesian Coadjutor Brother, as was requested
by our Special General Chapter.
It is not hard to spot three types among the proposals approved
by the assembly:
1. proposals to be implemented forthright, because they are but
evident interpretations of the spirit of Don Bosco, and there was
about them a total agreement among the delegates;
2. proposals that need to be presented to competent organs for
study and approval;
3. proposals that still need a deep study, because they apparent­
ly represent a break with the lifestyle practised in our Congregation

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since its ongrn. It should be clear to all that such proposal demand
a most diligent inquiry vis-a-vis Don Bosco's thinking and the Salesian
tradition - an inquiry that would involve the whole Congregation
and eventually the entire Salesian Family.
Proposals for immediate implementation
On the theoretical level the Congress placed a heavy stress - and
rightly so - on
charism of Don
the urgent
Bosco, for
need for an
the spiritual
ipnr-edpeaprtahtisotnudoyf
of the original
the Coadjutor
Brother, for a refurbished and updated presentation of his image as
a Christian educator especially among the working classes, in technical
schools and in missionary lands. All this comes as most opportune
at this particular time, when we celebrate the First Centennial of
our Missions. For it was in the missions in particular that the Coadjutor
Brothers of yesterday and of today wrote and are still writing splendid
pages of incredible heroism. In that first historic missionary expedition,
four out of ten missionaries were Coadjutor Brothers. What a vast
field of apostolate lies open in the missions for the zeal of the
Coadjutor Brothers!
Another issue that you tackled vigorously was that of vocations
to the Brotherhood and of integral formation of the Coadjutor Brother.
The metabolism of our Congregation, that is the replacement of old
vocations with new ones, is vital for its survival. You were therefore
right when you stressed the importance of spiritual and religious form­
ation, since this type of formation - sad to say - often ieaves
much to be desired and compares poorly with the high level of
professional and technical qualification present nowadays in most of
our Coadjutor Brothers.
Consequently I would like to express my sincere wish that courses
on permanent formation for the Coadjutor Brothers be offered in each
region, if not in every province. In spite of my insistent requests,
too few of them so far have been sent to such courses. In this
regard I should acknowledge here that Latin America in is the lead,
as it is shown by the two courses, each over. a month long, given in
Guatemala last year and recently. Every one there felt the impact
of the courses on the work of self-renewal. For this reason the
Salesian Brothers of Latin America made this proposal at the end of

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their Course on permanent formation: "In view of the spiritual benefit
we have received from this Course, we propose that it be offered
on a regular basis at regional level and that possibly within the next
five years all of the Coadjutor Brothers take it." I can only wish to
God that it were so for every Brother everywhere.
Proposals that need to be presented to competent authority
You know what these proposals are. They are chiefly those the
participation of the Coadjutor Brothers in the Preparatory Commission
of the XXI General Chapter and the General Chapter itself. The
discussions proved that these issues are deeply felt and widely shared,
and that high hopes are pinned on their resolution. I can assure you
that I will study them - and will have them studied - seriously
within and without the Superior Council, just as they emerged from
the discussions and the proposals of the Congress. Here it should
be remembered that in the government of the Congregation the Rector
Major works in close collaboration with his Council within the Con­
stitutions and the deliberations of the last General Chapter.
The issue of juridical parity
The hot issue of the Congress was, as everybody saw, the so-call­
ed juridical parity of the Coadjutor Brothers with the priests.
The arguments pro and con were debated in a climate of great
responsibility, and indicated that this issue touches the very roots
of our Salesian spirit.
Allow me to express some thoughts, which on account of the
responsibility resting on my shoulders I feel I should place before
your consideration.
When during the study and discussion of the identity of the
Salesian Coadjutor Brother the issue of juridical parity was brought
up before the assembly, this was done, I believe, with the intention
of proposing as a tenable Salesian thesis that in principle no office of
local, provincial and world authority within our Congregation be con­
ditioned to the priestly ministry.
Well, first of all, we should ask ourselves how we should view
this issue objectively. In other words, whether we should start from

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a subjective consideration of every member of the community and
from there proceed to state the right of any to hold a position of
service in the community on the basis of personal qualifications only,
or whether we should start from an historic and objective consider­
ation, that is, the consideration of the type of mission and of the
spiritual characteristics of the community, which is the first object
of that mission. Either consideration should be made with a view
to establishing the requirements for service which those in authority
must render to the community with due respect to our own pastoral
style and spirituality.
The Special General Chapter invites us to the second way of
viewing the problem, since it deals first with our mission, then the
service to be rendered in it, then our spirit, then our religious con­
secration and, at the end, the form or organization of our Congregation
and of the various types of members (Cf. Acts of the SGC, Document 1).
Let me elaborate on this point, which is so critical to our Con­
gregation. And I will start a little way back.
Lay and priestly qualities
One of the characteristics of the Coadjutor Brother which this
Congress underscored very strongly is his lay or secular quality as a
truly characteristic dimension of his. It is, of course, a lay quality
within his religious consecration. Strictly speaking, it does not coincide
with the exact description of the layman given by Vatican II, by
the Latin American Episcopal Synod at MedelHn (Colombia) or by
other magisterial documents of the last decade; but it is a type of
lay condition which is proper to some religious institutes and varies
according to their particular nature. In our Congregation the lay
condition of the Coadjutor Brother is strictly integrative with the
sacerdotal quality of the Salesian priest.
On this point the Special General Chapter speaks of "fundamental
equality", of "integration of tasks", of "profound unity", of the
"lay dimension" in the fulfilment of our mission, but not in the
capacity of a "merely private layman." (Nos. 146-149). This means
that the Coadjutor Brother possesses and exercises his lay condition
by reason of his membership in our Congregation, and consequently
in close union with the whole community, in full solidarity with the

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other confreres. As a matter of fact, his lay condition is absolutely
necessary to the very Salesian mission: it affects the inner composition
and the outer appearance of our Congregation, making it an harmonious
ensemble of religious priests and laymen, li,ving and working together
"with but one heart and one soul" "to evangelize by civilizing and to
civilize by evangelizing" or, as Don Bosco used to say, to educate
youth to become "honest citizens and good Christians", active "in
every work of spiritual and corporal charity".
The Special General Chapter chose two complementary expressions
to describe our single and complex mission. It spoke of "integral
Christian promotion" and of "liberating Christian education, to indicate
that our work of "development of the person" and of evangelization
is carried on by us in a single concerted effort prompted by charity.
For us there are not two missions, one natural and the other super­
natural; "there is but a single mission of a religious nature... which
tends to bring about 'that the earthly and the heavenly city penetrate
each other.' " "We believe that Don Bosco's 'Da mihi animas' bound
the two aspects together with some insistence on the religious aspect"
(Cf. Acts of SGC, 59-61). Oh, if we only knew the documents of
our Special General Chapter a little better...
Within the framework of our mission, the lay quality of the
Coadjutor Brother, then, appears in all its light and necessity; but it
demands from every priest of our Congregation an understanding and
an effort that go beyond that of the strictly priestly activity.
Here I would like to underscore that the lay quality of the
Coadjutor Brother does not exist as a separate and independent entity,
nor is it, as we have said, his exclusive property as a member of the
Congregation. It exists in symbiosis with the sacerdotal quality of
the priest. Both qualities penetrate each other and create a unique
spiritual and practical combination which is proper to the Salesian
community in the Church. At the same time I must say that neither
does the sacerdotal quality of the priests among us exist as a separate
and independent entity, since it belongs also to the Coadjutor Brothers
qua members.
And so the lay quality and the sacerdotal quality coexist and
work together in our Congregation. There is here an original char­
ismatic aspect that needs to be studied in depth, and if this Congress

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succeded in stimulating some of the more competent members to do
that, it would already have achieved a great success.
Laymen and priests are complementary
If it is true that the figure of the Coadjutor Brother has, in the
words of Fr. Caviglia, "something new and profoundly original and
unfolds one of the most glorious aspects of Don Bosco's genius and
one of the most unique characteristics of Salesian life," it is equally
true, in my opinion, · and this should be stated with equal emphasis,
that the figure of the Salesian priest as embodied in, and willed by
Don Bosco, bears the marks of his genius as well.
In fact, viewed in the pluralism of ministries of Vatican II,
it implies a renewed form of priestly presence and apostolate intimately
shared with his lay consecrated brothers. I dare say that it was from
the rich experience of Don Bosco as a priest that originated his ability
to conceive and to realize his image of the Coadjutor Brother. He,
therefore, willed a community of both priests and Brothers to be
the complementary recipients and agents of his single mission. And
if we today must talk about a renewed image of the Salesian Coadjutor
Brother, we must be equally ready to talk about a renewed image
of the Salesian priest: for all members must be renewed!
We have thus affirmed that in our Congregation the lay and the
priestly conditions are intrinsically complementary and essential to
each other.
Priesthood and government
In this setup we can now posit the question that was the object
of lively discussion in the assembly, and other related questions.
How can these two dimensions - lay and priestly - be harmon­
ized in our institution? Can they be harmonized in any way or only
in a set way?
This is a question of form of our Congregation as such, which
determines its identity as a body in the Church. It is not a question
of legal rights of individual members, but a question of the nature
and inner structure of our community as an apostolic organization.
In this sense, this issue affects us not merely as a Congregation, but
as an ecclesial body. For our vocation as a charism is for the others,

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it is a gift to the Church. Therefore, it is not simply a matter of
democratic government or basic rights or a certain theology of religious
life; it is, insead, a question of fidelity to a community experience
shaped by Don Bosco and lived in a certain ecclesial manner.
So this is the reality on which we must reflect - a community
of priests and laymen carrying on a vital exchange in the Spirit of
the riches of their different vocations, closely bound up together by
a common mission to youth and the working classes. To accomplish
this mission, Don Bosco in the last century organized a community
of priests and laymen with diversity of services, but unity of purpose.
He invented a pastoral system, called the "Preventive System", in which
the pastoral care deriving from the sacramental Order characterizes
and guides all its expressions; he, de facto, tied the priestly ministry
with the function of service which authority rendered in his houses.
This typical structure, set up by Don Bosco, is an historical fact sup­
ported by 150 years of existence and experience.
Today the signs of the times and the renewed ecclesiology of
Vatican II require a profound qualitative renewal of all the elements
of our religious life, especially of those modes of community living
and apostolic organization which appear still anchored to outdated
social and pastoral structures. Our Special General Chapter and our
many Special Provincial Chapters know all too well how demanding
this work of renewal is.
No we ask: do the signs of the times and the renewed ecclesiology
clearly require that no post of authority in our Congregation be con­
ditioned by the priestly ministry? In other words, is the priority of
service of the priesthood as set up and lived by Don Bosco, a merely
historical fact dependent on the mentality of his time, and therefore
amenable to change in force of social, cultural and ecclesial changes,
or is it an essential factor deliberately willed by Don Bosco for his
own form of religious community? Is it right to pinpoint in Don
Bosco's personality, especially in his extraordinary talents as educator
and leader, some personal aspects which were merely contingent to
his priestly ministry?
And consequently, would 150 years of Salesian history simply
indicate, on this matter, an historical adaptation to a situation existing
in the Church in those days, without implying a charismatic connection
purposely chosen as an essential part of the form of his Congregation?

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Three considerations
I have put these questions to myself and have reflected on them
for a long time, also because of the heavy responsibility placed by
art. 129 of the Constitutions on the Rector Major as the successor
of Don Bosco: "His main care shall be to promote in the members
a constant and renewed fidelity to their Salesian vocation, in fulfil.
ment of the mission confided by God to our Society."
Now, with regard to this delicate issue, I see that our Congrega­
tion has up to this time replied through the formal declarations of
the Special General Chapter, where the issue was taken up, carefully
studied and formally spelled out in our Constitutions.
It seems to me that here we are dealing with something that
touches the very essence of our organization as a religious community.
Why do I feel this way?
I have asked myself when and why any one factor should be
considered essential to our Salesian charism, and I have come up with
three conditions:
1. the explicit and verifiable will of the Founder,
2. the intrinsic nexus of such factor with our mission, and
3. the formal declaration by the Church.
I think, therefore, that in order to introduce the change we have
been talking about, we should find objective, clear, and sure reasons
with regard to at least these three factors. In the presence of a
possible doubt whether or not any one element belonged to the essence
of our Congregation, we could not proceed with the change for the
only reason that a change is possible. We must proceed with Salesian
certitude, based on serious and objectively valid reasons. For instance,
it should be made absolutely clear that the ministerial priestly char­
acter is in reality indifferent to, or unnecessary in, the service or
exercise of our own type of authority. For if this were disproved
and we nonetheless proceeded with the change, we would run the risk
of renouncing an explicit choice of our Founder, with the inevitable
consequence of depriving our Congregation and the whole Salesian
Family of one of its essential values. And by doing this, we would
in time make less truly Salesian. the members of our Family and,
therefore, the very figure of the Salesian Coadjutor Brother that we
want to promote.

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Stady, calm and time are need.ed
I felt it was my duty to exl,ress these thoughts a! a way of
wofrfiittDneoospnsii"6niogr".tooa.nmdI ytahmelovgi"eluadrootfrh'*aatbnaedlhsoirnedesapicoth.nosfiEbyviloieruyryhIthoairsn, gf-ethltthef-aretCewontaogsreesgxaapitrdieosniss
,ctthe"fir;uta'ICwi,ne"i.ttgmIw*nusislstlthhte.ooelmophteiauoavsonet.tiomdtwoeeavrswedtlsouepdrseeyhdntoehauwilsaddl.iecsoesunpeseirdteialrlwaiittrebaneencsosamcoheisfevicetl'emaernTathnoidsf
e;;G;";tl surely help us to wo-rk with greater intensity towards
over-coming every residue of clericalism amon'g us, towards achieving
a right
*a"1"
apf,r.cirtion of the
priri..rtu, towards
specific vocation of the Coadjutor Brother,
strengthening the twin dimension l^y
and
priestly
But to
-carrwyhoicnhthisisinutnrifninsiischetod
ouf apostolic congregation.
task, my dear confreres' we
still
n-ati-enled-d6Tdpoehle"e"p;ntticyohooonp,rvfeglrscshttouti,ondnaiy-ls, .hrceuaHslueoma.wrecaehxnupdairren,tisdmaseser-edIftlesoaciytdioobune'faoIrrteei,rsothomisteeaddonietn'sramntohytefsri'hrmuast
a
stimulus to further reseatch.
But there is more. This
Congtess
must
give
birth
to
a
new
sensitivity
each of ,,
intoowuor rckofn-gretgha"tiroenm-ovaal osf-eanlsl ittihveityintehqartraslihSoisutl,dtepnrsoimonpst,
doifsc,homu,foSrtusl,epriaas'sbiornosthaenrldineseslsfiswh iltleenddebnycieDsownhBicohscaoreasthtehevesroyunleogfatoiounr
communities.
by
oi
othTrerh,eBSlecosecsrieetatdyinMDtyoootnhf "bBreoslsohcnoog"inlhdgagdtiovtehaeuCscoonrnegsarcesiosguuasrtainonencsesw.iollIefndbtebhiynegGfoaoudnmdaiennrged
irrrr--"n, in the hands of God and of Mary' There are teligious
institotions, as you know, which would seem to be tather the result
of circomsia.r..s und human ingenuity than the authentic working of
ii. ffoty Spirit. This is not the way our Congregation was born'
,,The salesian society," our constitutions tell us,
,rot orrly by human ug"o.y, but by the providence
"came into being
of God" (Art' 1)'
iGi "trf.rr."Ll rCt"hrai"pgtlro, f,,hDi"son."pB.roiesncocer,cawliezerd"rwd iitnh
the Acts of the Special
certainty that he was

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49-
led by Divine Ptovidence. He wished that his sons should never
lose sight of the intensity of this divine intervention" (No. 8). This
"intensity" is so evident that Pius XI did not hesitate to say that in
Don Bosco "the supernatural became natulal." Ptoof of this are
his exttaordinary gifts, healings, ptophecies, the reading of consciences,
- and his dreams those mysterious, imperative and compelling events
that were like heaven-sent road maps for his life's journey. Proof of
this is also the devil's opposition at every step in the foundation of
the Society; but the greatest proof is his own intimate conviction.
Allow me to quote two instances in his life. The evening of
February 2, L876 in a talk to his directors Don Bosco said; "I see
that the Iife of Don Bosco is deeply intertwined with the life of
the C.ongregation, and so let us talk about it! It is for the glory
of God, for the salvation of souls, and for the growth of our Congeg-
ation that we make these things known. To tell you the truth, other
Congregations and Orders had at their origins some divine inspiration,
some vision, some exffaordinary event, but on the whole, they had
few or very few of them. Instead, the situation is altogether different
rpith us. It could be said that there was not one event that was
not known beforehand. Our Congregation did not take one single
step without the backing up of some supernatural event: it did not
make one change, one
Iord's previous order"
improvement,
(\\B 12, 69).
one development without the
'"Each of us.. be convinced,"
Don Bosco said in another occasion, and please notice the forceful
word he used: be conainced, "that it is Our Lady herself who wants
our Congregation... I am going to tell you not iust another drram,
but something that Our Lady herself graciously showed me" (BM
[,Engl. edition] 3, 25).
If this is the situation, then a conclus,ion
many
sr to
-the
is inescapable: our Salesian vocation,
priesthood, is a gift from above that
t- o
one among the
th€ Brotherhood
makes sense only in
the order of faith, and it will always remain mysterious, with the
same clarity and obscurity of faith. Our Salesian identity can, then,
be grasped
our knees.
in
the
light
of
Faith
-
and that means, most of all, on
4

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50
Canclusion:
I will conclude with an incident from Don Bosco's life. The
Saint was grievously iLL at Yaruze in 1871. He was assisted with
filial care by Coadjutot Brother Petet Enria, who stood by his bedside
night and day. fn one of the letters that this Brother wrote to Turin
to report on his patient's condition, he penned these moving words:
"Dear Brother Buz,zetti, my pain is so intense I cannot write. f can
it. hardly stand Vho would not feel saddened at the sigHt of so loving
a father being,bedridden for so long a time?... It is two o'clock
in the morining... He seems to be falling asleep... I wish you a
happy holiday. I'll spend it here... at tbe bedside of ny and yout
Fatber" (MB 10, 258).
As long as the Coadjutor Brothets will have this kind of love
fogoifvrseaDncomrinfiecBeao(cnslcoeotaicr-eprhoeaonwfdaosmf wiytr-ilti,ivningagsatwlo2nitghA-aNys4o.tu)h, edoyuurrwinCiglol nhthgarevesegeathtdioiasnysswpehiarreist
a litde ill or tired, their faithfulness, their apostolic courage, their
retrigious spirit would heal it.
May Our Lady and Don Bosco bless you, my dearest Coadiutor
Brothers, as I do, too, from my heart. This is also the message and
the good wish I ask you to take to your confreres, especially tlle
Coadjutor Brothers, who did not have your good luck of sharing in
those marvelous and unforgettable days.
3. Gonvocation of the World Gongress of the Salesian Gooper.
ators
lVitb a letter uritten lroru Cacboeira do Carnpo, Brazil, on May
24,1975, tbe Rector Maior called tbe'Vorld Cangress ol tbe Salesian
Cooperators lor tbe year 1976. Here is tbe text ol his letter:
"My dearest Salesian Cooperators and all members of Don Bosco's
Family, The Centennial of the approval by the Holy See of the Asso-
- - ciation of the Salesian Cooperators
is coming up very soon.
the lay branch of our Family
In order to fost€r a renewal of the spirit and mission of our
Founder, and a stronger bond of union with the other groups of the

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-51 -
Salesian Family in the climate of the Special General Chapter, and in
order to carry out the dispositions of the new Regulations, after hearing
the request of the Cooperators' Provisional \\7orld Council, I have
decided to call together the ITorld Congress of the Salesian Cooperators
at the Generalate in Rome for October 30 - November 5,1976.
In view of the renewal of the Association according to the spirit
of the Vatican Council and of the Special General Chapter, in view
also of the ongoing experimentation of the new Regulations and their
hoped-for final draft at the )O(I General Chapter, and finally in view
of the concurrence of the Congress with the celebration of the First
Centennial of the Salesian Mssions, after accepting the suggestions
of the Provisional !7orld Council, which is charged with the preparation
of the Congress through local, provincial and national congresses, the
following topics were chosen for discussion at the Congress:
1. Genetal Theme: "The tesponsibilities of the Salesian Coope-
rators to family, society and Church."
2. Remarks and proposals for the final drafting of the Regulations
of the Cooperators to be presented to the Dil General Chapter.
3. The missionary endeavor of the Salesian Cooperators.
Considering the timeliness of the Salesian vocation as evidenced
by the many groups of "Young Cooperators" in many parts of the
I world, wish that a tepresentation of Young Cooperators be present
at the Congress, and that a Meeting of Young Cooperatos be held at
intemational level at the end of the Congress. Both Congress and
Meeting will give the Cooperators the opportunity to meet, in a friendly
spitit and in a missionary atmosphere, with the Salesians, the Daughters
of Mary Help of Christians and the other groups of our Family around
the Successor of St. Peter.
May Don Bosco and Mary Help of Christians bless you and guide
you in your preparation for the Congress and eventually bring it to a
successful completion.
Fr. Lours RrccBnr
Your in Don Bosco,

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VII. FBOM THE PROVINCIAL NEWSLETTEHS
l. Ghilean Province: "1975 Salesian Week"
More axd ruore meetillgs are being held by aarious menbers ol tbe
Salesian Faruily lor tbe purpose ol increasing tbeir auareness of tbe
Salesian rzission and coordinating tbeir rtzany programs. The "Salesian
'Week", beld in Santiago Chile, August lL tbrougb 17, and reported
in tbe Cbilean neusletter of tbe same montb, is a typical case.
Tbroagb tbe initiatiue ol tbe Proaincial Fr, Sergio Corcu@s, an
organizing comruittee uas set ilp affiong the Directors and Mother
Superiors ol setteral b,ouses, pastors, and otber people in charge of tbe
most dioersilied Salesian dctioities in Santiago, Cbile. A surnnary of
its actioities and conclasions is giaen bere.
L. Goal anl. Obiectiaes ol the Salesian Veek:
a) The Salesian Week is a tine for reflection and for unity in tbe
Salesian work in Santiago. The Salesian presence in Chile is a signi-
ficant contribution to education and to parish work: thousands of
youngsters and adults find personal and communal fulfilLnent in it.
\\fle must, however, review and update our programs.
T7e must also become more avare of the unity that we must
achieve among rhe various sectors of our work. In particular, we must
find a time in the year, when students, teachers, priests, teligious and
laymen can meet together hnd dialog and get to know each other
better.
b) Tbe Salesian Week is a time tor growtb in lidelity to the local
Churcb and to its pastoral actioities. Such fidelity is a characteristic
of the Salesian modus operandi. During the lfeek a study will be
made of the Salesians' role in the archdiocese of Santiago, and there
will be a meeting with the "Shepherd", Card. Silva Henriquez.
c\\ The Salesian 'Week is a tine for renewal ol Salesian aalues.
Some of them need greater emphasis. For instance, our involvement
in the local church, the Preventive System, our ideal of a Salesian

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boatding school, our care for the poor, our helping the young and
the adults to grou/ in their faith.
d) Tbe Salesian Veek is d tine for witnessing oat real seraice
ta tbe national cornrnunity. The Salesians of Chile are aware of serving
their nation today in the young and the poor, according to Don Bosco's
program of making them into "good Christians and honest citizens."
The city of Santiago and the whole country musr be told what the
Salesians are doing, not to solicit their applause, but to achieve a sense
of co-munity and solidarity with them.
2. The Salesian Week's theme was: "Our fideliry to the educa-
tional plan of Don Bosco."
3. The'Week's Progtam.
Besides the numerous meetings dedicated to shadng information
and reflection, and besides a series of talks on "The Educational Plan
of Don Bosco", the program called for a "Songs-with-a-message
Festival" on Monday, a lecture and discussion on "Tlre Social Action
of the Members of the Salesian Family" on Tuesday, sports events on
\\$Tednesday, an acade.mic entertainment on Friday, a Youth Mass with
the Cardinal on Saturday, and a "Religious Celebration of our Sales-
ian Vocation" on Sunday.
2. Spain: A Missionary Exhibit on the Boad
Seaeral prooincial neusletters lron Spain report on tbe Mistionary
Exhibit on the Road, organized by the Madril. Salesian Missions Ol-
fice. Vitbin tbe last three years tbe Exbibit bas toured almost all tbe
Salesian bouses in Spain. The lollouing is a sammar! ol tbe report
sent in by Fr. E. Gonzalo Gallego, uho is in cbarge of the Exbibitt
After t}ree years on the road it might be interesting to know
what this exhibit has accomplished. This vas without doubt the most
practical
Missions
means for creating
Crntennial, both on
the right kind
account of the
onufmabtemr oosfphheoruese'sfowrhethree
it was shown, and on account of the variety of media that were used.
n Btiefly, it was displayed L35 houses (including some belonging
to the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians); it was seen by over

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54
174, OO0 people, of which 23,000 were boys, 96,000 students, and
55,000 adults. One hundred and twenty-one meditations were preached,
174 Masses celebrated: 239 homilies and 28L lectures given, and 260
showing of fiLn documentaries. Finally, almost $ 33,000 worth of
religious articles was sold and $24,300 worth of offerings was
collected.
Among the minuses we must list the occasional element of surprise
or lack of preparation and a certain amount of preju&ce in certain
people who ate against what they consider a traditional way of present-
ing things missionary. A certain unwillingness to take part in liturgical or
prayer meetings was also noticed in a few houses. trf we do not want
to merely rouse feelings of surprise, curiosity and short-lived empty
compassion in the boys and pepole who come to visit the exhibit, we
must use the exhibit as a pastoral activity and make it a source of
divine grace and of true commitment to the apostolate.
The impact of the exhibit on our older pupils was particularly
noticeable. \\[,[ren we try to teach them, we at times tell the- and
give them things that pa,mper their egos too much and challenge their
Iives too litde; but when they see horizons of personal dedication
and genetous sacrifice, tlrey respond first with awed admiration, then
with enthusiastic acceptance of the challenge.
I At the end of this project, feel that the Spanish confreres have
grasped the great value and the magnificent possibilites, in the field
of education and apostolic training, of a Missions Exhibit. For next
year we plan to revamp it completely, and add nerv materials and new
themes. !7e will show it preferably in those few Salesian houses
where it had not been shown before, and then we will carry it outside
our diocese.
3. Adriatic Province: Education and Guidance Week
It uas held in Aquila (northeast of Rome) lor a limited group ol
conlreres (32) under tbe guidaruce ol tbe Cauncillor for Youth Apostolate
Fr. Giooenale Dbo, in mid-August.
Hete is a samfizar! ol tbe report on its actiuities:
Those who attended the study !7eek had two main objectives in

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mind, fia1 is, to become more aware of the problems concerning
vocational guidance, and to ma'ke a group experience.
EacJr day began with the Eucharistic celebration. There was a
lecture in the morning, followed by group meetings. In the afternoon
there were more group meetings and then the general assembly to
pool the experiences of the groups and to check on the day's activities
and organization.
The general theme was "Education and Guidance", and the
general aim was "to help those in attendance to perceive how our
educative mission is directed to the building up of a new society and
of the Kingdom of God, and how in the process this touches the
personal vocation of each boy."
Il was not our pufpose to search for ways and means of tecruiting
new Salesian vocations; ouf purpose was, father, to become ouselves
more aware that "our educative work must be directed towards placing
every young man in the optimal condition of discovering his own call
and building his own identity."
Here ate some of the major points that emerged from our discus-
sions:
1. The final and all-encompassing o$ective of guidance is to
enable a young man to achieve a sense of personal identity in his
particular life situation, in a Christian perspective and in his continuous
growth process.
2. This objective must be achieved primarily ,by the young man
himself through an ever deeper understanding of himself and of fus
environment, through his constant effort at freeing himself ftom
unwholesome inner and outer conditioning, and through his effort at
organizing his own life in the light of Faith.
3. Our guidance does not aim at taking over the young man's
responsibility, but at encouraging, stimulating and creating a climate
in which he feels confident and willing enough to assume his own
responsibility.
No ready-made solutions were offered. An effort was made,
instead, to understand our position as guidance counsellors, to acquire
common attitudes, to take some definite steps towards removing
long-standing difficulties and above all to camy out out mission more
firlly.

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4. Galcutta Province: Youth Rally
For some years the sixty clerics ol Salesian Callege, Sonada, in
northeastern India haae been uorking in sorrue twenty neigbboring
aillages and *ying to organize a youtb center in eacb ol theru. Tbe
Septenber Prouincial Newsletter canied this account of tbeir actiuities,
and in particular of tbe grand celebration at the beginning ol tbe yedr.
"On March 23,1975, a grcat crowd of youngsters gathered in the
Salesian College playground. It was for the 1975 Youth Rally. The
Youth Rally has been an annual feature of the College for some years.
But 1,975 Youth Rally was a unique one. An experienced person such
as Fr. J. Verzotto says; "It.was a success with flying colours, though
it was organized by inexperienced hands."
The day started at 10 A.M., when all the youngsters gathered in
front of their Youth Centre flags and Mt. S. Mitra, Acting S.D.O.
(Subdivisional Officer) of Darjeeling hoisted the national flag and
1,200 voices sang the National Anthem. After this the Youth C,entre
anthem was sung and the inaugural speech was given by M". Mira,
itnhewmhiocthtohoefeoxuhor rYteodutthheCbeonytsre"sto. Adfotegrotohdisatnhdeb"eMgeolaod" "(f-6te,wohricghalias
affatr) was opened, in which all the youngsters present took part.
The Dstrict Commissioner from Darieeling paid a short visit. He was
impressed by all the work done by the students for the local youth.
At lunch ime 1,200 packets (lunch bags) were distributed to these poor
youtrgsters, and all the Brothers had lunch with these poor youngsters.
It increased the cordiality and familiarity berween boys and Brothers
very mucJr.
Mr. R.S. Rai, Ex-superintendent of Darjeeling Tea Gardens, presid-
ed over the variety entertainment, which began at 2:30 p.m. Each
Youth Centre gave a number or two, and Bro. Augustine Kottisseril
gave a magic show, which all enjoyed. AIR Kurseong (of the radio
station of his town) attended the variety show. Besides recording
part of the Programme, he alsci interviewed youngsters from different
villages. During the following week, he put on the ai a hall hour pro-
gtamryie about Salesian College Youth Centres. The concluding speech
was given by M". R.S. Rai, who praised the work done by the Brothers
of Salesian College.

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The Youth Rally has given our Youth Cenres new impetus and
interest, so much needed especially at the start of the new scholastic
year, attet a break of three months of winter holidays. It was also
a gre^t learning experience for the Brothers.
Now requests for o'pening new Youth Centres are increasing. At
present there are twenty Youth Centres. !7e may increase the number
when the first Course (i.e., the first-year students) will arrive from
Sunnyside. There are distant villages that.feel the beneficial influences
of Salesian College Youth Centtes. Sithong village, which is some
25 kilometers away, is a clear example. Fr. Verzotto has visited the
Christian families there, through the encouragement and effort of some
Brothers a Youth Clu,b has been started there.
Apostolic creativity has given rise to new apostolic ventures.
Brothers have organised well prepared SuDg Masses in Nepali for a
number of villages where thete ate Catholics. Ths non-Catholic friends
of Youth Centres are invited on the occasion. The number of tfiose
in attendance and .the devotion they have manifested on such occasions
are a source of edification even for us.
Anothet interesting venture is that a Youth Centre for girls has
been opened ,,by the Sisters of Ft. Helen's School, Kurseong, in Tuag,
with the help of tlre Brothers of Tung Youth Centre. !7e hope tliat
soon this number will increase."

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VIII. PONTI,F!CAL MAGISTERIUM
1. Three Words to the Newly Ordained Priests
On tbe Feast ol Saints Peter and Paul, June 29tb, Paul, VI narked
tbe tuelfth anniaersary ol his coronation by ordaining 359 deacons
to tbe piesthood. Among tben tbere uere also )7 Salesians, represeflt-
ing seaeral prooinces.
Tbe
Father's
lollowing
bomily to
istbtehecatendxitd-atesalrdnuorsitnign
itthseenotrirdeitnya-tionolcethreeffHionoyl.y
(d. Osser,aatare Romano, Engl. ed., July 10,1975, pp. 1-2):
"Dearly beloued. sons and brothers,
We cannot pass over in silence three words, words that in them-
selves sum up the intrinsic truth of the mystery of priestly ordination,
and which we simply propose to your memory as chapters, which you
yourselves along the journey of our lives must continually temember
and explore.
Priesthood is uocdtion
The first word, as you know, is "vocation". You have been called.
Called by God, called by Christ, called by the Church. Whatever may
have been the manner in which your vocation made iself heard in the
inmost depths of your consciousness and in tJre extemal reality of your
expetience, each of you must remernber this fact, a fact that marks
his existence: the divine choice made of your person. The word of
"IJesus has
chose
descended
you" (Jn.
ftom the Gospel even to your
1:16); to each of you Christ
human existence:
has said: "Come,
follow me" (Mt. 19:21); and for all of you the same call resounHed
-youaftitsrahcetrisveo, flibmeerant"in(gMat.nd4;i1m9p).erative: "Follow me and I will make
Your are fortunate, beloved sons and brothers. You are fortunate
because you have had the grace, the wisdom and the courage to listen
to and accept this decisive invitation. It has upset the normal and

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atttactive plans of your life; it has snatched you away from the com-
pany of yout dear ones and your peers (Mt. 19:27-29); it has even
asked from you the renunciation of coniugal love, in order to extol in
you an extraordinary fullness of love for the sake of the Kingdom of
heaven
it has
m- adtehaytoius,
for faith and for love of the brethern (Mt.
exceptional individuals, nearer, by virtue
19:12);
of the
priestly character, to the angels than to the men of this world (d. Mt.
22:30;1Cor.7:8); it has infused, and even imposed, an exclusive
spitituality (cf. Gal. 5:16), which nevertheless still knows how to
understand and evaluate everything (cf. t Cor. 2zl4ff..; In. l4tl7);
and with the acceptance of your oblation it has set you upon the
exciting adventure of the following of Christ (cf. Mt. 8:19; Lk. 22:35).
You ate indeed fortunate! Reflect always on this exalting good
fortune of your vocation, and never doubt, never wonder whether you
have mistaken your choice, a choice inspired by a superlative charism
of wisdom and love (cf. Mt. l9:lL;1 Cor. l2:4ff..). And never
turn back. Jesus himself teaches you this: "Once the hand is laid
on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the lcingdom of God"
(Lk. 9:62). This is the law of a vocation: a total and definitive 1es.
Priestly Ordination
Then there is a second word, wholly divine this one. !ilhat do
we call it? Canon Law calls it priestly ordination. But what does
priestly ordination mean, what does it involve? \\7hat is the efficacy
of this sacramental action that continues the essence, the truth and
the supernatural newness of the present rite? Let us pay close
attention.
This is the focal point not only of the present ceremony, but of
the mystery of the Church. It is a question of nothing less than the
- transmission of spiritual powers powers that the
self infuses into the chosen disciple, who is raised
Holy Spirit
to the rank
him-
of a
minister of God, for Christ, in the Church. Remember the Ri'sen
Christ speaking to the disciples and breathing upon them: "Receive
the Holy Spirit" (In. 20:22). At that moment, a contact, an impres-
sion, a character formed, and still forms, him who receives the sacram-
ent of Holy Orders; he ,becomes able to dispense "the mysteries of
God" (1 Cor.4:1; 1 Pet.4:10). Brothers and sons, let us never
forget this most special relationship that priestly otdination creates
berween us and God: we become vehicles of divine action. "Holy

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Orders," says Saint Thohas, "involves principally the conferring
of a power" (Suppl. 34, 2 ad 2), which in itself rranscends human
possibility, and which can only derive from God and be entrusted to
the ministry of man. Think of the power of "consecrating, offering,
administering the Body and Blood of him, our Savior, and of remitting
and retaining sins" (DS 1754). It this is so, and it is so, our mind
must nev€r cease to be fulI of wonderment: we must be absorbed in
the contemplation of the mystery of our ordination, as we shall never
sufficiendy grasp what the Lord has accomplished within us. Our
whole life will not suffice to exhaust the meditation of the inexhaustible
wealth of the great things accomplished by the pow€r and goodness
of God. !7ith the Blessed Virgin we shall always say; "Fecit mihi
magna qui potens est: the Alnighty has done great rllings for me"
(Lk 1:49).
Priesthood is ntission
Vocation and ordination! And here is the third word in which
the present celebration is summed up: the word is "mission". \\7e
know this well, but now let us allow ourselves to be completely
peneffated with the meaning and the demands of the Catholic priest-
hood. Priesthood is not just a personal dignity for the person upon
whom it is conferred; it is not an end in itself.
The ptiesthood is a ministry, a service, a mediation between
God and the people. The priesthood is meant for the Church, for the
community, for the brethren; it is meant for the world. In this regard,
Chtist's word gives this value to the priesthood. On the very evening
of his resurrection, he said to his Apostles: "Peace be with you. As the
Fatlrer sent me, so am I sending you" (Jn. 20:21).
The priesthood is apostolic. The priesthood is missionary. The
priesthood is the exercise of mediation. The priesthood is essentially
social. And so it is that, as if to shake us out of the elation that the
sacromental mystery has now kindled in us, Christ adds this over-
whelning order and programme: "Go, therefore, and take the Gospel
to all the nations" (Mt. 28:19).
in this regard too our pdestly spirituality will have to include a
permanent and progressive act of awareness. Each one of you will
I have to repeat to himself; am destined to the service of the Church,

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to the service of the people. The priesthood is charity. Woe to him
who considers that he can put it to his own selfish use. The total gift
of his own life opens up a new matvel before the generous priest:
the panorama of mankind. Perhaps, at a given moment, when he real-
ized that because of his vocation he had been set apart from his own
social backgtound (cf. Act 13:2) and destined to the very specialized
activity of the rcligious ministry, he was doubtful of ever again being
able to have direct and effective contact with contemporary society
or with the individuals who make it up. Now he must realize that
he was wrong. If there is a service that calls for those who exercise
it to be immersed in the many-sided and tumultuous experiences of
society, even more so than the teacher, the doctor, or the man in
public life it is the service of the priestly ministry. The Lord tells you
that you are the salt of the earth, the light of the world (Mt. 5: 13-15).
An affinity, a feeling, a need, bom out of the very consciousness of his
priesdy nature itself, obliges the ministet of the !7ord, of grace, of
charity, not only to make himself available for every dialogue, every
invitation sincerely given to him, but also himself
initiative in seeking out those who may have need
to
of
take
-him
pastoral
whether
they are willing or not. This active and apostolic approach (cf. Mt.
l8 l2) today more than ever should emerge in the figure of the
priest. A manifestly supematural, sensitive and attentive love ,must
charucterize his ministry, especially for the effective promoti.ng of social
justice, in accordance with the spirit and the fotms of Christian sociol-
ow. This must find its inspiration and energy in the Gospel and in
the school of the Church's Magisterium, and not in other sources
which are alien to Christian principles. "The love of Christ overwhelns
us" (2 Cor. 5: 14), and no other stimulus can take its place or better it.
Fil.elity to yow actioity
And so we tell you in Christ's own words: "Look around you,
look at the fields; akeady they are white, rcady for harvest" (Jn. 4:)5).
Ifle shall presume to ,point out in a prophetic way the apostolic
panorama which lies before each of you: the world needs you! The
world is waiting for you. Even in the hostile cry which it sometimes
hurls at you, the world is proclaiming its hunger for truth, for iustice,
for renewal, which only your ministry can satisfy. Know how to accept

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as an invitation the very reproach which perhaps, and often unjusdy,
the world hurls against the messengers of the Gospel. Know how
to listen to the goan of the poor, the candid voice of the child, the
thoughtful cry of youth, the complaint of the tired worker, the sigh
of the suffering and the oiticism of the thinker. Never be afraid!
Nolite tinere. The Lord has repeated it (Cf. Mt. 10: D; Lk. L2t32).
The Iotd is with you (cf. Mt. 28:20). And the Church, Mother and
Teacher, is helping you and loving you, and, through your fidelity
to your activity, waiting for Chdst to continue his work of rcalizing
salvation."
2. A Greeting to Youth on Vacation
"Opening tbis windou..."
St. Peter's square
a huge croud ol
p-ilgraimt snoaonfld,
-Santhdeayb,elsatlkyitol3utthn,uPinodpoewPaoaael rVl.oloksianwg
among tbem naruy young people wbo
bad iast finisbed. tbeir linal exarninations ol tbe school year and were
starting their oacations. He greeted. tbern witb tbe lollowirug rnessag€
(cl. Osseraatore Roruano, Engl. ed., July 24, L975, p. 2):
"Opening this window, it comes to us spontaneously to seek long-
ingly with the spirit, those to whom to address our special greeting,
out friendly word. !7ho are these special people? Today they are tlre
young, t}ey are the students, who, having finished their examinations,
are going on holiday. Perhaps our understanding of youth, nostalgia
of the past memories that with loving care bring our spirit near the
present generation, help us discover, with respectful discernment, some
of their deep feelings which are of special concern to our pastoral
office.
Ifhich feelings? The feeling of liberation, for example, from the
effort of school work, {rom academic study, from the toil of learning
things which are beautiful, if you like, but alien to the instictive and
personal activity of one's own spirit; the feeling of relaxation, of being
able to return to one's own native way of thinking and living. If this
is a respite from the effort of studying, if it is really a pause in the
fatigue of memorizing and learning, it is a good thing. This moment
of relaxation is necessary, it is wise, also because it may serve for a
psychological turning of the spirit to itself. This can be fruitful for

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63
the most precious science of all, the science of knowing oneself, of
reflecting, almost dreaming, about one's own conscience, of medslling
freely a personality of one's own. !7ell, then, welcome the summer
vacation, a time free of other commitments, but occupied in exploting
the secrets of one's own life.
Another feeling at this season may be, on the other hand, the
instinctive one of applying oneself to whatever one likes. This may be
instinct for physical exercise, for pitting oneself against nature, the sea,
the mountains, a time for excutsions and, rcday more than evet, tourism:
journeys that teach us to read the gteat book of the physical, historical
and artistic reality that sutrounds us. If so, then we will repeat, wel-
come the summer vacation, as physical effort and as a living exercise
of cultute.
Are there other feelings worthy of filling with intelligence and
energy the free time that the holidays offer, particularly to the young,
who are .ighdy eager to discover some ideal reason that will illuminate
the path along which life must advance? In this way the holidays
would be filled with those data that today are most lacking in the
human and spiritual formation of the present generation.
\\7e will just say that the world of faith, of prayer, of God's word
is a very wide field, extremely fruitful of ideals that are strong, bright,
new and human, truly human. Ve hope that the young people on
holiday will discover them with great joy, each day of their lives.
Our greetings, our best wishes, and our blessings to these young
people and to all the people who wish to,be young and vibrant."

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IX. OBITUARY NOTICES
Fr. Seoerio Aparicio
t * at Valleluen5o (Zamon - Spain) Nov. 14, 1941, at Cambados (Pontevedra -
Spain) lult 27, t975,33 years old, 16 prof., 6 priest.
' In his brief Salesian life he was outstanding for his fidelity to his
religious duties: poverty, piery, sacrifice, priestly zeal al;.d dedication to youth.
A true son of Don Bosco in supervising his boys and helping his students.
His high sense of responsibility made him successful wherever he worked.
Fr. Calogero Aronica
t * at Naro (Agrigento - Italv) Dec. 19, 1916, in Catania (Sicily - kaly) May 22,
1975,59 years old, 41 prof., 32 priest, 10 director.
'Richly talented in mind and heart, he was highly esteemed in the
various houses where he worked. He was an excellent teacher aad a
dynamic director. Earlier this year he had been elected Provincial Delegate
of the Past-Pupils, who were finding in him a f.athet, an advisor, a brother.
A heart attack suddenly took him to his reward.
Fr. Michael ,Ascolese
* piezzs di Pandola, Montoro (Avellino - Italy) Nov. 25, 1916, t at Rawson
(Chubut - Argentina) luly 28, 1975, 58 yeam old, 42 prof.,31 priest.
"I always placed my vocation in the hands of my heavenly Mother, and
I hope she will help me persevere to the very end of my life." This is
what he said when he asked to be admitted to his first profession at L6,
and the Blessed Mother ganted his request. His end came suddenly shortly
after he had returned from a visit to his relatives in Italy. As a faithful
son of Don Bosco, he had loved music and had used it in his apostolate
among the young in Patagonia and Bolivia.

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Fr. Enilio Barbericb
t * at Bann bet Landstubl (Germaoy) July 31, 1905, at Mindelheim (Germauy)
June 14, 1975, almost 70 years old, 49 prof., 50 priest, 17 direcor.
He used his rich musical talent, especially as a deric arid as a yormg
priest, in his educational and apostolic work with the choir and the band.
When his Superiors realized he also had administrative ability, he was made
ecooomer. He discharged the office of director with competence and love.
His availability, his deep understanding of human problems, and his faith-
fulaess to Don Bosco and the Church are well known to all who came in
contact with him. He died of heart failure shortly before his 70th birt*rday.
Fr. Giooanni Battista Bertossi
* at Elumignano, Talmnssons (Udine - Italy) Dec. L9, L921, f at Rosario (fugen-
tina) June 27, L975,51 years old, 35 ptrof.,25 priest, 6 director.
He was a man of intense pdestly piery, strong and demanding charactel
coupled with fine sensitivity. Accustomed to a very active life, he suffered
in his last years when, having been made Provincial Seoetary, he could no
longer exercise a ftrll-time apostolate among the boys. Nevertheless, he
spent his energies preaching, hearing con{essions and giving spiritual guidance.
He died of heart attack.
Fr. Casimiro Budaitis (formerly Budaoitius)
" at Seduva (Lithuania) Attg. 27, L9L2, 7 in Lisbon (Pornrgal) June 2, 1975, 62
years old, 44 prof.,35 priest.
He srudied philosophy in Belgium and theology in Turin. After he was
not permitted to return to his native country, he went with other Lithuanians
to Pornrgal, where he vorked like a true son of Don BoSco. He was Directot
of the Boys' Club, teacher, organist, spiritual director, and economer. He
distinguished himself for his open and sincere piery, his cheetfulness that
befriended him to the youngsters, and his untiring activity for our Con-
gregation.
5

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Fr. Bendetto Carilosso
t * at Pirassununga (56o Paulo - Brazil) Mardr 25, 1905, in 56o Paolo (Brazil)
June 30, L975, to years old, 49 prcf.,40 priest, 23 director.
A priest according to the heart of Don Bosco, he did not spare himself
in caring for the suffering aod the poor. Afflicted with Pukin5ea's desease
dudng his last fifteen years, he became an example of Christian faith and
resignation to his confteres. Even then he was happy to help with confessions
at the Boys'Club.
Fr. Giacotao Catara
* at Serina (Bergamo - Italy) September 20, 7906, f there (he belonged to the
Community of Alberoni, Venice) Aug. 1, 1975, 68 years old, 48 prof., 40 priest,
J director.
Charitable and ready to serve at all times in spite of his poor hedth,
he had rerurned to Italy from the Middle East in 1967, af.ter he had spent
most of his life as an elementary school teacher, band leader, catechist and
director in Istanbul. He spent his last eight years in the community of
Alberoni, Venice, as a teacher and confessor, esteemed for his simplicity of
heart and his caring for the children, t}e sick and the neighboring religious
communities. He was vacationing with his relatives when the Lord called
him to himself.
Fr. Pietro Chini
* at Sepo di Taio (Trento - Itdv) Sept 8, 1896, t at Codigoto (Ferara - It ly)
April l, 1975,78 years old, 52 prof..,45 priest.
In his eulogy the Archbishop of Ferrara said about him: "Fr. Chini
was a tireless worker, first in his srudies, then during his military service,
then and finally in his Salesian priesthood. His spent his 45 years as a
priest in total dedication, up to this past Easter, which he made holy and
happy for so many penitents. He was like Don Bosco, especially in making
his presence among the boys of the Boys' Club an instrument of friendship
- and of apostolate. His faith was strong like a rock and built on the Rock
of the Church, the Pope. Like Don Bosco, he lived a life of serene, eucharistic
and Marian piety... He was a humble workef of redeption and salvation for
many people."

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Fr. Anato Decleene
t * at Bierne (Northern France) Nlay 20, LBgz, at Cuiabd (Mato Grosso - Brazil)
May 28, 1974, 82 yeas old, 50 prof', 45 priest.
After 7 years of military service, at the age of 30 he entered the
novitiate. Sent to the Missions of Mato Grosso, he fitst worked among
the Bororos at Sangmdouto. After his priesdy ordination, he_sp-ent over
*"ory years in the-difficult apostolate of the hinterland: he rode hundreds
of mile tn a donkey's back, under the seafing sun and the torrential shol,ers
of that tropical ,oo., to minister to the Christians in the remotest villages
otshfoeutmhlse,ojhuunet"geaiveles.roy,,vAchanerimereda,sf*oqitruhatoehrueetrebe,ovdteoiersssePebakyfisnouguslihsn"igmwhsaeisslfh.visaBsmetsoikdttneoos,\\cralanerddinghgeefosoorfugtthhheet
medicinal properties of the regional flora.
Coad.. Bro. Gioaanni De Montis
t * at Ortueri (Nuoto - Italy) Sept. 2J, 1924, at Valdocco (Turin ' Italy) May 4,
L975, 50 years old, 30 Prof'
He will long be remembefed for his ad-irable patience in his sufferings,
his capacity for-friendship, his sense of dedication to duty and to humble
service.
Fr. Paolo Diaz
t ll, * in Montevideo (Uruguay) Dec. 15, 1905, there Aug.
1975, 69 years old,
48 prof., 38 priest.
He spent his religious and priestly life in an atmosPhere of simplicity
and friendship. He uied his talents as a teacher, musician 1.d painter to
enrich the spirit of his pupils. A long sickness prepared him for his reward.
Fr. Janes Doyle
t * in Liverpool (Lancashire - Great Britain) Dec. 17, 1907, at Boode (Great
Britain) lulry 9, L975,67 yeam old, 50 prof.,42 pdest, 20 director'
He spent mosr of his Salesian life in South Africa. He was a tireless
wofker, an observant religious, and a dedicated priest, The confreres of

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South Aftica owe much to him for the foundation and development of the
salesian- vork there, especially
Town, he vas a much sought
in Transvaal. Dudng his last fears, at cape
after and highry esieemed by the confreres
and
y"t
the boys as
iD England
a confessor.
on a visit to
The Lord cauia-nim to his riward while he
his family, and exactly while he was making
his thanlsgiving after Mass.
Coad. Bro. Affrcdo Feruixdez
t *_ia Slltander (Spain) Febr. 15, L9O),
1975,72 years old, 54 prof.
at Manga, Montevideo (Uruguay) May 22,
rnjssionary in the Chaco rgglon, he spent his life teaching the
*a rcligious truths
He always took_
to
a
people
special
of verl
care oi
limitenlefigious
the chil&en and
background
the y"oungst..r,
uo.uttt""y.
them
ment
he was able to reach the adults. His sense of self-"deniai
from material things was his outstanding characteristic.
"arnrJd,hd"eora,rcjhh-
Coad. Bro. Ernesto Ferndndez
t *_at Tlachichuca, Puebla (Mexico) May 2r, rgg4,
il 1975,90 years old, prof.
in Guadalajara (Mexico) Jan. l,
Stria, lsIIarenqdwr9da1sif9f9aicsutwrltuioeerskSewarl,ietshailawana,sytoshleiadvtyafapiliaethbeleinnvaisGniodondcedhaenbdey*inuDlo.thnHeBeBolssecussoffe:edraeMdmoamthnaenory.f
HMstop9airer.xiwntissa-tusrpeveethrtrshyeeecosubsptuliiiorgrinvitnivogtahflattohgt eefanl2gla.0.yb,usllen. Cddoehnrigmhreisgaanstidimonapredsmudreainmllgegartohnouerphthoeerforoeictwrd,a.aisyssaaos.rrfuirtrhndey,
Fr. Janes Foley
*-at Tarbert (Kgrry - I*gna_l Febr. 27, tgt6, t
1975,59 years old, 38 prof., 28 priest.
in Iondon (England) May 5,
He dedicated his almost entire life to
England. An oxford graduate, he loved the
of learning, and always tried in his apostolate
ing to the ideal of a gentleman des*ibed by
ctuelatucrhein-gorinr,irofuarmsocuhsocoelsnreinr
to form his srudents accord-
card. Newman, that is, the

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cultured man steeped io religion and humanity. As Principal of our schools
in Farnborough .od toodoo, he established sound and petmanent academic
paditions. H"e worked to the end of his life. The Lord called him suddenly,
during a meeting of the Past Pupils.
Fr. Antonio Carcia de Vinuesa
t * at Marmolejo (Ja6n - Spain) Nov. 11, 1899, in Madrid (spain) August 6, 1975,
75 years old, 54 prof., 45 priest, 11 director.
A man of God, of intense prayer and faith in all his activities, he was
an examplary
Congregation
religious
anJ its
and a zealous confessor. He had
spirit. He was most active in
a deep love for the
the recruitment of
,o."Iioot and in the search for benefactors for our foundations'
Mons. Secondo Garcla
f * at Laguna de Negrillos (Le6n ' Spain) Dec' 4, 1899, in Romg (Italy) June 6,
Lg7i,7; years oldl 55 prof., 47 priest, 9 director, 3 Apostolic Administrator of
Up#, Otfuo.o (Veneztrela), 20 Bishop Vicar Apostolic of Puetto Ayacucho' He
was 7 months teturned.
Dynamic and cheerful, he spent himself in his mission of evangelization.
As a Salesian he otganized our technical school in Camcas and the administra-
tion of the provinie. As Apostolic Administrator, he not only cared for
the see of his Vicariate, where he built a new cathedral, an episcopal residence,
the Pius XI Professional School for boys and St. MazzarclTo School for
girls, but he extended his activity to the entire territory by establishing
ichools, parishes, chaplaincies, catechetical centers, and expeditions into the
Upper [rinoco with new mission centers. His characteristics were an
exc-eptional physical
friendliness:- people
endurance, a simple
felt deeply loyal to
and living
him, and
tfrauiltyh,haonndorea d-cawphteivnaetivnegr
they could a" ni- a favor oi a service. His lesson to us is devotion to the
Church and love for the young and the poor.
Fr. Fedele Giollredi
I * at Montemagno (Asti - Italy) Nov. 14, l9l), atlanzo Torinese (Italy) June 7,
197r, 67 years old, 44 ptof.,35 Priest.

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He was an enthusiastic teacher and educator. He loved his boys,:and
followed them even after graduation. After suffering a first heari attack
in January 1966, he was forced to curtail his activities, but continued to
spend as much time as possible with his boys, especially during recrearion.
Death came suddenly at the dawn of the last school day. The large *owd
that atteoded his funeral was indicative of the great rovi he had b-een able
to engender in the hearts of boys, parents and confreres,
Fr. Daoid, Gioppi
t * at Torbole (Trento - Itdy) Der'.22, 1913, at Negrar (Verona - Italy) April 21,
L975, 6L years old, 42 ptof.,32 priest, 3 directou
. Prayer, work, poverty, availability aad fairh were his chief ways of
witnessing to his Salesianity and priesthood. Everyrvhere, in particular among
lIins
boy,s, he spread
his last hours he
his unique and abiding senje
asked to have the Beatitudes
of the
read to
piesence
him.
of
God.
Fr. Ludwig Glaser
" at Edesheim-Pfalz (Germany) Febr. 3, 190r, t at Madenhausen-Aulhausen (Ger-
many) JuIy 22, 1975,72 years old, 44 prof., 35 priest, 17 director .
that
After his q1din21iqn, he was made economer at
he held with great competence for 14 years. He
tHheelnen*e.'rbu,rig'J, "-
office
direttor
G
at Saarbrticken and Marienhausen, and during his 17-year tenure he develop-
ed these foundations to a rematkable degreJ. From-1970 to his death, he
was a pastor. He was held in great esteem by his parishioners as a zealius
and untiring shepherd and as a good friend of the children. For many years
he served the Province as Provincial counsellor with his well-balanced-advice
and wide experience.
Coad.. Bro. Vitaliano Grinta
* in Pes,aro (Italy) July 7,1884, f at Lanuvio (Rome - Italy) Aug. 2j, lg7r,9l
years old, 45 prof..
He was in his 40's when he quit serving as the head steward of the
Barberini princes in Rome, and began working as a servant of christ in the
Salesian congegation. He was for many ye.lr a competent and dedicated

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infirmarian. Gregarious and friendly by nature and deliberation, he spread
genuine cheerfulness among confreres and boys. He summed up his long
fue in his spirirual testameut with these words: "FulI of trust I draw blose
to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who wanted me to be what I am", that is,
we could add to explain, a simple, faithful and good religious.
Cleric Peter Hung
t * in Ninh Binh (Viemam) Apr. 20, 1951, in Saigon (Vietnam) May 20, 7974,
2) years old, 4 prof.
, He had to overcome many difficulties in his life. In spite of his shyness
and stuttering, he achieved brilliant success on the theater stage. Generously
he offered his services to the community, and cared for the prisoners of
war. As general assistant of the boarders and day srudents, he fostered in
them a love of discipline and serious study. He left behind a shining example
of persevering effort, faith and charity.
Fr. Sigisrnond Koualik
t * at Radzyn Podlaski (Poland) Not. 18, L9r1, in Vrodaw (Poland) Aug. 21,
1975, 4, years old, 24 prof., 16 priest.
He worked in his priestly ministry with gteat zeal and love for souls,
but because of poor health he was forced.to give up his work. He spent
his last years as a Chaplain at the Milkow Hospital. Always ready to selve
his brothers, he was much loved and appreciated by them.
Fr. Arnaldo Uuera
t * in Asunci6n (Paraeuay) July 26, 1905, there Mary 28, 69 yearc old, 52 prof.,
44 priest.
A straightforward Salesian, he found practical ways of bringing God's
love to the young, especially to the poorer olt€si After his work as a
military chaplain in the Chaco 'W'ar, he rebuilt the agricultural school at
Ypacaral, amidst many sacrifices and misunderstandings. He opened the trade
scJrool at Salesianito. As pastor, he defended the workingmen and later
organi;ed them in aD. atea that was considered "the cancer of the city".
For this social action he was elected City Councillor of Asunci6n, and used

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his influence to fight for social justice and public morality. His catchy
cJreerfluness, his candid simplicity and his sincere dedication to the cause
of the poor made him the "priest-friend of all".
Fr. Frederick Litd.aaer
* t in Soest (Germany) March 21, 1927, in Hannover (Germany) June 1, 1975, 49
years old, 19 prof., 9 priest.
After some years of teaching in some of our schools, he became military
chaplain at Nienburg near Hannover. He served his soldiers with much
z*,a7, an.d was loved by them as a good priest and friend. At the begining
of this year was struck down by a disease which the doctors were unable
to diagnose; during his last feqr months he was kept alive through an
artificial kidney. His premature death was a great loss to the German
province.
Fr. Julias Marachdl
t * in Chaudfontaine (Belgium) April 6, 1903, in Ndchin (belonging to the com-
muniry of Toumai, Befuium) June 1, 1975, 72 years old, 5) prof.., 44 pfiest,
9 director.
In spite of his poor health since his youth, he was very active as a
school teacher, as the one in charge of the formation of novices and young
coafreres, as economer and director in several houses. He was also very
active in the apostolate of the press and preaching. Unable to go personally
to the Missions, he was deeply concerned, down to his last days, with the
evangelization of the pagans, and introduced into Belgium and developed
St. Paul the Apostle's !7ork founded by Monsignor Mathias.
Fr. Francis Mlrmol
t * at Jerez de la Frontera (Cdnz - Spain) Oct. 1, 1886, in Bandel (India) May 4,
L974, 87 yeats old, 69 ptol.,56 priest.
A pioneer in the missions in India, he used to visit his Christian com-
6rrni1is5 frequently. He loved the young. He loved community life. He
never complained about anyone. He was ready to help everybody. Always
wiling to obey, always cheerful. His fine qualities captivated him the

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friendship of all, in particular of the school boys, whose confessor and in-
firmarian he was.
Coad. Bro. Antonio Martinez
t * at Luchana-Baracaldo (Vizcaya - Spain) Dec. 7, 1940, in Salamanca (Spain)
Apfil 25, L975, 14 years old, 15 prof.
He was esteemed for his good example and his kindness. He put his
knowledge of technical engineering to the service of his boys. Neat, orderly,
balanced in his work, deeply involved in the activities of the community, he
made friends easily. He died suddenly while he was accompanying his
boys to the lab. after enjoying a lively recreation with them.
Coal. &rc. Bexedetto Martins
I * at Palmital (S. Paulo - Btazil) Jan. 19, 1916, at Lorena (S. Paulo - Bmzil)
May 25, L975,59 years old, 21 prof.
He was infirmarian, carpenter, automechanic. He distinguished himself
for piety, humility, and hard work. When he died a sudden, but not un-
prepared death, he was feverishly building a monument to the Blessed Mother
in the St. Louis'Youth Center.
Fr. Fiorenzo Mora
t * at Purdpero (Michoacdn - Mexico) Febr. 22, 188r, in Zamoru (Mexico) Febr.
16, 1975,92 yeats old, 45 prof., 61 priest.
He rvas 15 years a priest when Don Bosco's smile won him over to
the Salesian Congregation. For 33 years he spent himself unstintingly on
the island of Cuba. He was a fisher of souls in all places and at all times,
Iike a true Salesian. He suffered persecution, imprisonment and exile in the
Marxist revolutions first in Mexico and finally in Cuba.
Coad. Bro. Giusto Pastore Oriuela
* at MachetC (Columbia) Ocl25, 1889,'l in Bogotd (Columbia) lune 7,1975,
85 years old, 55 prof.

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He enteted the Congregation mature in years, and he quickly matured
into an examplary religious.
the infirmities in his advaoced
He loved his
age, he never
vmoisrsked-
farming. In
the community
spite of
practices
of piety. He died a serene and holy death vhile praying with his confreres.
Fr. Roberto Pardo
f * in Villavicencio (Columbia) June 10, 1887, in Bogotd (Columbia) luly 7,1975,
88 years old, 71 prof., 63 priest, 20 director.
Distiaguished preacher, littdrateur, and biogmpher. He dedicated all
his energies to the young both in the patishes where he served for many
years and in other Salesian houses, some of which qtete founded by him.
Down to his last few months he vas involved in catechetical work, especially
among the sick chil&en of Agua de Dios. He ueasured the name of
Salesian more than all the honors conferred upon him by the governments
of Columbia and Venezuela for his merits in the field of education. He
considered the celebration of his Diamond Jubilee as an extraorrlinary g166s.
Fr. Francisco Jaaier P€rez
t * at Sauce CortoArroyo (Buenos Aires - fugentina) Dec. 2r, 1888, in La Plata
(fugentina) Aug. 15, 1975,86 years old, 66 prof., 48 priest, 28 director.
"I was always a catechist." This statement, which he made on his 86th
birthday, sums up his lifelong effort to bring the young to the Lord. During
his almost thirty years as director, he manifested great love for his con-
freres and for the Congregation. He spent his last years in the aPostolate
of the coufessional. The Blessed Mother took him to his heavenly reward
on the day of her glorious Assumption.
Fr. Fraxcis Piecba
t * in trGiazenice (Poland) Oct. 4, 19L2, in O5wiecim (Poland) lune 4, 1975,
62 years old, l8 prof., 29 priest.
He was first economet, then vicar. In 1960 he was struck down by
paralysis. For the last two years of his life he was confessor of the con'
freres in O5wiecim. He was a humble, diligent and good-hearted priest. In
spite of his paralysis, .he was always ready to help with simplicity and
cheerfulness.

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Fr. Gregory Py
* in t(r'mming (China) Marcl'r 12, l9L9,l in Hong Kong Apr. L5, L975,56 years
old, JJ prof., 22 priest.
Fr. Gregory suffered excruciating pains during the last months of his life
on account of his incurable disease. In spite of the splitting headaches
and progressive blindness caused by the disease, he continued to the end to
write and translate books on Don Bosco and Don Rua' Even in the midst
of his sufferings he radiated Salesian joy and cheerfulness on the confreres
around him. He cultivated a tender devotion to Mary Help of Christians
and a sincere love for his Salesian vocation.
Fr. Michael Ramirez
t * in Pichi Mahuida (Argentina) Nov. 21, 1908, in Patagones (Argentina) July 31,
7975, 66 year old, 49 prof.,40 Priest.
A man of prodigious and constant activity, he began his day at 4:30 AM'
At the age of. Z6
and carrled the
he was still in charge of studies and
heaviest teaching load permissible,
discipline in a
in our school
school,
in the
mornings and in the public school in the afternoons. He &rected the city's
polyphJnic choir and the instrumental band, which he had founded for the
pooi boyr in the slums. His youngstels admired his precision, orderliness
and dedication, and loved him in a special manner'
Codd. Bro. Sauerio Scerbo
t * at Amato (Catanzaro - Italy) Nov. 26, L925, there May 8, L975, 49 years
old,22 prof.
He was infirmarian, librarian, head of the carpentry shop, and physical
education teacher. He believed in work as a means to perfection and as an
expression of evangelical poverty. He is remembered in the many com-
6r'ni1is5 vhere he worked, for his deeply felt piery, his faithfulness to his
tasks, and his simple trust in Divine Providence.
Fr. Louis Tisserand
t * at La Talaudilre (lafue - Fraoce) June 1, 1910, in Paris (France) Aug. 24,
1975, 65 years old, 44 ptof..,36 priest.

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He died in the Iord as he had lived for him, amidst many zuffedngs.
Firct in France, then in the mission of Somo Makenene in Africa, he was
an educator and an aposde in the genuine Salesian tradition.
Fr. Longino Ulinouski
t * at Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil) Dec. 27,1910, there luly 29,
4 1975, years old, 22 prof..,12 priest.
Fr. Giaseppe Virzl
t * at Cesatd (Messina - Italy) Der,. 72, L91?, in Catania (Italy) June 8, .1875,
51 years old,45 prot.,35 prigst, 12 director.
Vith a degree in Classical Education, he taught in high schools and
colleges in Italy with gteat distinction. In L942 he was Chaplain in Libya,
urhere he was taken prisoner; he spent three years in pdson in Tunisia. Set
free after the war, he was made director and pastor in various foundations
in Sicily. ID 1970 he was forsed to retire by his alnost total loss of eye-
sight. His heroic and examplary resignation was a soluce of inspiration to
all his confreres.
Fr. Ferdinand Viistefeld.
t * in Altenessen (Germany) luly 22, 1894, at Marienhausen-Rtidesheim (Germany)
May 18, L975,80 years old, 54 prof..,47 priest.
Ordained priest in Turin (Italy), he worked hom L927 to 1958 in
various houses in Austria and Germany. Consistendy he sought the salva-
tion of the souls of his youngsters, and he showed himself to be a faithful
son of Don Bosco. In his last years he dedicated much of his time to
mini56y of the confessional.