Acts_1973_272.ASC :: RM Letters

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ll, lnstructlons and norms (none in this lssue)

lll. Gommunlcatlons (pago 44)

1. Province modlflcations 2. ,Provincial appolntments 3. World

- - ,Congress of Salesian Brothers 4. The ,PAS becomes U,PS 5.

- - European Conventlon on the Preventive System 6. ,Preparation

- Course for Future Mlsslonarles 7. Brotherly Solldarity roaches

- L 200,000,000

lV. Actlvltles of the Superlor Gouncll and matters of general lnterest

(page 51)

V, Documents (page 56)

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Vll. Pontlflcal Maglsterium (page 83)

1. Ten ways to help modern man pray

Vlll. wNltehclnrotlhoogyCh(upracghe-953) . Mlssion Sunday

better

ln the

l-igh2t .o,Rf ethbeuilHdolnlyg

unity

Year.

Third list for 1973.

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8.O.S. - ROMA

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l. LETTER OF THE RECTOR MAJOR

Rone, October L973

My dear confr?res and sons,

I greet you with two items of family news rhat I know will

bdng you much pleasure. You wilfl recall that the Councillor for

Youth Apostolate, Father Castillo, was appointed coadj,utor bishop

of Trujillo, Venezuela, some time ago. In accord with the Superior

Councitr I have now a,ppointed his successor. I believe it was no

surprise to the Provincials that Father Juvenal Dho, vice-Rector

Magnificus of the PAS (Ro'me) was the one to be elected to the

Superior Council. His accomplishments in this field of acri,viry

ate indeed considerable; and with Salesian simplicity he has

accepted the position and will place his excellent scientific pre-

paration and practical operience at rhe service of the Congre-

gation. I ask the prayers and collaboration of all confrbres for

Father Dho in his new responsibilities.

And ,now to the Special Provincial Charpters. The Superior

Council has put in three very busy months and at the time of

writing has almost finished studying the SPCrs for approval.

\\7ith the many deficiencies inherent in human nature, the task

has nevertheless been carried out seriously and diligently.

The highway of post-capitular renewal

\\7e must first of all express our deep gratitude to the Re-

gional Concillons and the members of the various Commissions,

who have worked without stint and made a fine contribution to

the analysis of each document received.

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I Speaking .personally, the contact made with the Provincial

I Charpters gave me much food for thought. saw these Provincial

communities (so vastly different) all engaged in a common task,

surmormting peculiar local problems and applying to their regions

the imptessive renewal programme of the SGC.

I {elt that God was in our midst: there was such an abundance

of goodwill, practical proposals, btave decisions for renewal and

fidelity to Don Bosco coupled with the acceptance of today's

dif{iculties. Naturally, other problems were inevitably manifest,

and thete \\nefe cases of uncertainty, mirsunderstanding and

puzzlement.

But every document gave clear indications of fundamental

loyalty to the SGC and

the Congregation. This

an indisputable love

makes us confident

for Don

that, i{

Bosco and

we unite

our efforts, we shall succeed in carrying out the behests of the

SGC, deqpite the difficulties and ob,stacles that co,me with rnodern

times and circumstances.

The apptoval of the SPC deliberations has indeed matked

out in apructical. and detailed way the

in translating the SGC into rcaltty;

highway we

and I am

have to follow

confident that

every Province will accept this as a deeply responsible duty and

will also bear in mind any adiustments made by the Superior

Council.

These are our preliminary stE)s, and, together with the

e:petiences of other Religious Institutes and of the Church itself

in these ,post+onciliar times, they make us aware drat we are

treading a delicate path indeed.

The process ol decentralization

'\\U[hen I reflect on ,my task as Rector Majot at this point

I I in our history, am conscious of the grave tesponsibility have

of carrying our article L29 of. the new Constitutions. I always

read it with a sense of feav < The Rectot Majot is the suc'cessor

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of Don Bosco and the father and centre of unity for the whole

Salesian Pamily >.

I I reflect deeply and often on rhese words; discuss them

with other su,periors and people who can shed light on them so

I that may realise all the vast implications, the reqponsibilities

and the problems they entail.

For this purpose, whfle setting the wheels of renewal rolling

I in all the Provinces of the Congregation, want you to ,ponder

with me on the reqponsibility that weighs so heavily on me and

the Superior Council.

'We are on the point of beginning orrt ,process of decentra-

llzation as directed by the SGC. On the other hand the sa,me

SGC was well aware of the grave dangers that would {rccompany

a d*enttaltzation that was not well understood and nor in

harmony with the life-giving energies contained in those things

that unite the Congegation; and so it stated, << Government at

world level ensures the overall unity of the Society in its work

and action r>.(1)

My dear confrEres, you see plainly how important, nay

fundamental, it is to give full and adequare trea."nent to this

delicate and ungent matter; we are all involved in it: indeed the

very life and existence of our C-ongregation depend on it. So

my subject is: -

DECENTRALIZATION AND UNITY IN THE CONGREGATION TODAY

I have said that we are all involved; and so I beg every Salesian

I to ,peruse these pages carefully. F,specially do ap,peal to those

who are directly and immediately responsible for uanslating the

directives into practice. What follows now will clarify in a

concrete way how far the renewal required by the SGC is inti-

(1) Const. 124.

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Dately bound up with (indeed subordinated to) the balance and

harmony of the two components: decentralization and unity.

To really get to gtipo with the subject it would be well to

re-read the Acts of SC,C nos. 138, 636, and, especially 7L1-725;

and also the new Constitutions, atticles lD-127.

I want to make it cleat that it is not a matter of treating unity

and decentruTization sepatately, as though they were mutually

opposed. This is certainly not the case! 'We need to be convinced

that one implies the other: lively unity in the Congregation

finds its fulfiLment these days in decentraliration; just as genuine

decenmalization implies a unifying effort that is explicit and

practical.

The will of the SGC is that the Congegation be vitally one

in its decenffaliz.ation. It directs that the d*entralization be a

fle pluralistic rcalization of its mission: << Province is responsible

for structures to maintain unity with the centre and within its

own confines, and also those structutes which will,make it possible

to fulfil our Salesian mission ln a way whic} meets local needs >.(2)

It is plain that this matter requires serious tteatment and

doctrinal reflection; and some confrBres may find this rather

I difficult. Nevertheless believe the problem demands this sort

of approach, and it will throw light on the difficulties the times

impose on the Congregation.

I. UNITY IN THE CONGHEGATION

To datify this matter it would be well to examine into the

nature of our Congegation.

To consider unity and decentralizatiot as sim'ply sociological

and juridical is just not good enough. Our assessment 'must be

based on faith: we have to consider the Salesian vocation-identity

in the Church.

(2) ASC,C 139

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A pro'pos of this we need to ponder a number of basic

principles as ser down by the SGC. They will consrirute the

platform for our reflections. These fundamental principles contain

a wealth of docmine. My letter is hardly the place for dwelling

on_and dilating

feel I ought to

in depth-which is a task

touch briefly on a number

for experts; but I

of points, not only

because they are basic, but also because they will be of considerabll

help in viewing the problem of our unity and decenmalization in

proPer perspective.

Our Society is an ecclesial reality

This is a,mo6t important principle. The Society of St. Francis

of Sales is not j,ust

logical lwel; it is

an < institution al orgarization

a living part of the Church

> at

and

the socio-

shares its

nature.

Now the Church, as desoibed by the Council, (3) is a reality

It with a <( sacramental > character. is a living << organism >>

made up of two elements that cannot ,be separated, u dirin.

element, animating and unifying, arrt a hu,man element with a

social dimension. The human element is naturally dependent

on changing tirnes; but ir is inseparably linked with the divine

element and cannot be reduced to any of the purely human insti-

tutional forms.

This sacramental reality needs to be stressed these days

because the intense process of seo,larization that is taking place

is imperilling the tealization of what constitutes the peculiai < na-

ture > of the Church. Present day cultural changes make certain

revisions in the hun:an elements of the Church inevitable, and

this is_ especially so in the sociological field. Ve have to accept

that the anthropological sciences have progressed and require

oiticism that is ruly objective. But it would be naive to overiook

the main oharacteristic of the <( narute > of the Church, its << vital

(3) Cf. Lumen Genti',m n. 8

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principle )> and the specificully u sacramental )> manner whereby

it is invotrved in the social plans.

Out overall vision becomes falsified and obscuted and

lifeless if we are not convinced of the operating pfesence of Jesus

Christ and the enlivening influence of his Holy Spirit who make

the Church the Mystical Body of the Lord.

it Now our hu,mble Society is a sma'll living part of the Church's

sacramental reality. Hence it is comect to state that has a

charismatic ,rrto.. whereby its institution a1' and social aspect is

organically linked to the presence of Jesus and the influence of

rris fuirit. This is well put by the first article of our new consti-

tutions: << ITith humble gfaritude we believe that the Salesian

Society came into being not only by human agency 'but by the

prorii"n . of God. It ls this active pr€sence of the Spirit which

is the firm basis of our hope and it utges us to fidelity >.

At the base of orrr co.-on vocation there is the very real

gi.ft of God, the lively presence of the Spitit; and this is the

origin and explanation of the unity of the Congregation.- The

bonds of our communion go far deeper than simple hu-man

friendship; they certainly do not exclude it-indeed they favour

it and aie benefited by its presence. But one must delve deeper

squtioll:tecoamnme,muninioenntisthaeoglorfgtiathnatincosmuepspfroormt otfhethHisolyasSsepvierriat.tioTno:

.i Fro. the Christian angle we can go in search of << communion >>

only because it has already been bestowed beforehand by God in

Christ and in the Holy Spirit who imbues us. Every desire for

union demands a permanent state of being-aheady-united; and

this does not depend on usi it is not due to our natural capacity

to open u,p to others; it is because God has- made 'us his children

and lo-heirs of his Son. The gift of unity is beyond our powers

of disposal: it detives from God, is 'perfected in God, and one

cannot dispose of God >.(4)

(4) Von Balthasar: Co-munio: un plogrmma su <( Communio D, tr' 1,

1972, p. 6.

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This basic aspect of our << communion of unity > is duly

emphasised by our Sffi.

In the Constitutions Salesians are defined as a << community

of the baptized, rr,(r) <, united by the bond of chafity and sfunple

vows )>, hence with << one heart and one soul in supporting one

another and in loving and serving God >. Our whole consecratd

life is viewed in this light; it is a means to << greatly favour such

communion >>.(6) In the profession form,ula the Salesian engages

to live in the Salesian Society, one in spirit and in action with his

brothers.(7)

So to our lirst basic principle: we have to consider unity

and decentrufization in the light of the true nature of the Con-

gregation as an institution of Religious Life in the Church-to

tr€at it as a $ft of God and so avoid the deviations that res,ult

from << horizontalism >>. As changes come about we ,must strive

to ,show forth this presence of the fuirit in us and << in our own

Salesian way try to becoms signs of and bearers of the love of

God for young people, especially those who are the poorest and

most in need >.(8)

Our Society has its own proper and special charism

rDflhy is our humible Society to be considered a living patt of

the Church? A thoughtf,ul and practical. answer to this is to be

found in the first document of the SGC.

When we speak of our proper charism we are not saying

that Don Bosco was a thinking genius discovering new theological

and anthropological dimensions; we do not claim he was an

Au,gustine of Hippo or a modern anthropologist; but we do see

(5) Const. 2.

(6) Const. 51.

(7) Const. 74.

(8) Const. 2.

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in him the original qualities of a Founder-the amazingly fruitful

collaboration whereby he used the gifts bestowed on him by the

Holy Spfuit, multiplying his talents and spreading them thtoughout

the world for the salvation of the young.

These gifts exhibit a gteat variery: Taken together as a

whole they constitute our vocation-identity-they are the com-

ponents of the vital unity in our Society. The SGC lists them

and defines them clearly and thoroughly. Hete are the main ones.

- The Lord and his Spirit are actively present among us

urging us to apply to today's needs the permanent gift bestowed

on Don Bosco.(9)

The << mission > given us by the Ch,urch.(lO)

- \\)(hat constitutes the < Salesian Spirit >.(11)

- Our own special way ol living the Gospel.(12)

- Our way of providing an apostolic presence: the Pte-

- ventive System.(13)

- Our particular community life and its family spitit.(14)

!(hen we refer to the Congregation's proper charism we are

touching on an aspect that is closely linked with its << divine

element >; it constitutes its identity and is indispensable for its

existence. This set-up means that il the Congtegation is not

united it ceases to exist.

It is to the book of our Constitutions we must turn for our

authentic and proper charism-its definition, its component parts

and the way we put it into practice.

< Outlining for us the essential features of our vocation it

offers us a way of life, ready to reach the fullness of love: "I

(9) ASGC 1-22.

(10) ASGC 23.57.

(11) ASGC 85-105.

(12) ASC,C Lo6t27.

(1r) ASGC 58-84,91, 360, )65:, Const. 25.

(14) Cfr. ASGC 84, 481-503.

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will run the way of your cornmands; you will give freedom to

my heart." , (15)

The Constitutions are the official key to our particular vo-

cation; the principles they contain have received the Church's

authoritative confirmation. \\7e find in them << the spiritual riches

of our Salesian traditions and the basic norms for the life of

our Society >. They thus << give direction to our profession and

shed a radiance on our fidelity >, &d they assure us <( that the

way of life we have chosen is true to the Gospel >.(16)

It follows that the Constitutions are our ,point of reference

par excelence when dealing with our religious life and its charac-

teristic aims; they are the greatest criterion of unity the Con-

gregation possesses.

Anotber basic principle: Decentralization cannot ignore or

tamper with the component parts of our particular charism as

defined'in the Constitutions. Rather ir must translate them into

concrete situations. The reason is of course that decentrulbation

irnplies greater participation and reqponsibility, caring for and

furthering the spiritual riches that make u,p our vocation. Hence

unity and decenmalization necessarily and basically mean that every

Province must itrxFrove its understanding of the characteristic

properties of our spirit and know, study and practise the Consti-

tutions. If this is lacking, the very faibric that constitutes the life

and unity of the Congregation will f.all, apat.

The Salesian Society is a genuine Religious Congregation

A further step in our argument: The Society of St. Francis

of Sales (as an institution) is not sirnply a mighty apostolic work-

force; it is not at all. a mere spiritual brotherhood. Before the

SGC ,maybe some thought along tl:ese lines, perhaps even

suggesting that our Congregation should have evolved into a

(15) Const.: Foreword.

(16) Const. 200.

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Secular Institute. But the SGC has clarified also this facet of

our vocation-identity. It formally declated that the Society of

St. Francis of Sales is a << Religious Congregation >, specifically

distinct from a << Secular Institute >. Hence to consider such a

change seriously (even hy,pothetically) would make one guilty of

an arbitrary and inadmissable tampering with our identity.

There is not the slightest doubt that today the signs of the

times urgendy require us to evolve and, adapt ourselves, with the

many social and oultural cJranges this entails; but we have always

to respect the requirements of our identity in the << form >> of our

life as set out explicitly by the Constitutions. The early history

of our Society makes it abundantly cleat that Don Bosco wanted

his closest collaborators.to live in a Religious Congregation, albeit

with maximum flexibility.( 17)

I Don Bosco wrote to the Vicar Ca,pitular of Turin, << aim

to set u'p a Society in which the members retain all their civil

rights as fat as the governing authorities are concerned, yet at the

same time constitute a genuine moral body in the eyes of the

Church ,.( 18)

His first collaborators u/ere not at all attracted by the idea

of being << Religious >> (<< lrati > (19) was the popular expression);

but they understood very clearly that that was what Don Bosco

wanted of them;

<< "Frate" of not,

IanshdaJllonhont

Cagliero was quoted

leave Don Bosco ,.(20)

saying,

\\U7ith a canonical clarity that is no accident the new Consti-

tutions affitm, << Our Society is made up of clerical and lay reli-

gious who live in community and make public profession of the

evangelical counsels. I7ithin the Church it is a Pontifical Institute

of exemrpt religious living an active life enbracing different

rites >.(21)

(17) ASGC 12&180.

(18) MB VII 56.

(19)

(20)

ITI

y54+7r; ,A.nnali

pp. L2 k

)1.

(21) Const. 3.

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The Secular Institutes (such as the Volunteers of Don bosco)

carry out thefu vocation in

-in common but immersed

another form of life: << without

in the world's structufes ,r.(22)

life

< Life in common >, in the best meaning of the phrase, is

what distinguishes Religious congregations from secular Insti

tutes. The Conciliar Decree on Religious Life speaks of the

foundation of << common life >, drawing its inspiration from the

early Christian comm,unities as described in th. Acts of the

Apostles: << Now the company of those who believed were of one

heart and soul, and no one said that any ol the things which he

possessed was his own, but they all had everything in com-

mon >>.(23)

In << Perfectae Caritatis >> a numter of practical conseq,uences

are listed, such as: community life of authentic brotheiliness;

prayer in common; the unity of me,mbers in the salne spirit as

a source of energy for the apostolate.(24)

Our SGC spoke clearly of the local Salesian communiry

as a group of < members who arc attachd, to the same canonically

etected house; they live a common life in unity of sf:irit with

the superior, and carry out with corunon responsibility their

apostolic acriviry >>.(25)

It is worth repeating that any member who wants to direct

the redimensioning and decentralization towards a Secular Institute

would be harming t}e Congregarion's identity, and with it the

common vocation of the whole Salesian Fa,mily. Certainly the

Congegation may be flanked by one or more male or female

Institutes; but this does not take from the Congregation the very

identity by which it carries out a partiaulm mission towands othei

groups of the Family.

And here ue aruioe at anotber irnportant basic principle:

(22) ASGC 168.

(2r) ASGC 4,12.

(24) d. Pedectae Caritatis 15.

(25) Const. 181.

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Loyalry to his vocation requires that each confr}re sincerely_choose

to'belong to the Congregation as such, according to the kind of

Goqpel-life it envisagis. To forage round for novel norurs of

religious life, to reject the << c-hoice of belonging > would be a

facile path to deviations; the consequences can easily be imagined.

fhe Satesian Society operates at world level

The SGC reminds us that our Congregation is not a fede-

ration of independent comrnunities; it is one single Society << made

up of proviniial communities, and these in turn of local com-

munities ,r.(26)

the

it. The Constitutions say, <, The Rectot Major, as superior of

Salesian Sociery, exeicises full authotity ovet

He has

ordinary jurisdiction over all the provinces, houses and memters

in qpiritual martefs... and is the official lepresentative of the

Society ,>.(27)

These words are not quoted in a foolish anxiety to emphasise

constitutional right

to be exercised io

which

a n"*

no one

sense of

disputes, and which today

service and collegiality' I

quote them to recall one of the aspects of our Congtegation's

iientity: we are not a federation of independant communities, but

a single Society, a genuine world<ommunity!

Assuredly in this single Society we have to renew and

strengthen the lively sense of << communion > and also show

r.rp..t

roiy ,

for

are

proper autonomy; but << communion

not-in op,position to unity-they are

> an'd

part of

<< auto-

it. In

fact, communion pr.irppo.es diversity and this autonomy (which

does not ,mean independence) assures respect for << diversity in

the har,mony of communion >>.

(26) Const. 124.

(27) Const. 130.

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llhis consideration has no small bearing on the way we think

out and actuate our decentralization-it .*t be effected without

severing our important world unity, for this gives a special

characteristic world witness to our Salesian vocation and an orgurr-

izational efficiency in service and avarlability for the church.(2g)

. Dol Bosco spoke of this marter in the First General chapter,

stating clearly: << S7e are still taking our first stqps; our norL*

are not yet very great; and up to now all have looked tb the

o_mtory as their centre. And as we forge ahead we must srudy

4.y3rr of keeping these ties firm; otherwise before long we

shall be

union.

pursuing divergent paths and losing our

rfe must do our utmost to remain

close bonis of

united in one

spirit >.(29)

Autbority at tbe seruice of otbers

These critical times prompt me to make mention of the

Rector Major, the Superior council and the provincials with

their respective Councils; these constitute an important and sen-

sitive means_ of preserving world unity. The

(or better, their ministry of authoriry) musr

service they

be exercisei

render

in the

Congregation << at every level... in Christ,s name, in imitation of

him, and in the

to brothers ,r, it

qpirit of Don Bosco

., aims at fostering

>; it is a <.. service rendered

charity among the members,

co-ordinating common effofts, animating, oii.rtutirrg, making righi

decisions and correcting wrong ones, tJrealirte our"mission">.(30)

<< At the different levels (local, provincial and worrdwide) the

cenfte which in Don Bosco's mind guarantees unity is the respec-

tive su'perior >.(31) The central government must << ensure the

overall unity of the Society in its work and action ,>.(32)

(28)

(29)

ASGC: various

MB XIII 286.

pages,

esp.

713-722

(very

important).

(30) Const. 125.

(31) ASGC 720.

(32) Const. 124.

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The Rector Major's main preoccupation is <-to promote

in the members u

and renewed fidelity to their Salesian

vocation >>.(3)) T"hoinsrtiusnwt hy the Regulations state clearly that

the Rector'Major should < keep in active contact with provirrces,

houses and mem,bers >>, and on theit paft the members are re-

minded of their drrty of < keeping united with the Rectot Maior

and accepting his ditectives ,r.O4)

tt i

authoriry

i" this robustly unifying

is considered in its source

sense that the ministry of

Q5) and in its_ practice:

o."o,*wfS.trn"hi'peicr.o.twirolhimttot ulieanntiStcaieoollsmcl,ie,emvitheyuul.nsyiToshnuhuatwsre,i.towihnnhtoih.lenree*pdRaronemdcwtotoihttrihenMgstahatmhjeoeerugafnoouitottyhd,tohogreirftyogtlhroatenohidd,t

and the development of the entire Sociery >>,(36)

One of the main tasks of the Superior Council

mote fraternal ,union between the different Provinces

is the task of the Regional Councillors to further in a

is to <<

"q.p(e3c7ia)l

pto'

<< It

way

an active and positive sease of brothethood and family spirit in

the relationships between conf$res, bervreen the ,provinces and

the Rector Major and his council, and between the Provincials

themselves ,.(38)

The Provincial << exercises a sefvice of charity and pastoral

zeal in the building up of the provincial community in_brothetly

love >,(39) and < t. r"uitr his office in union with the Rector

Ma'jorIt>.i(s40p1lain that the world-unity of the Society is not just

a matter o-f tactics ot otgantzatioh, a means of getting the best

(31) C.orLst, L29.

(34) Ree. 95.

(r5) ASGC 721.

(15) Const. 131.

(17) Const. 134.

(38) Reg. 128 (1).

(39) Const. 167.

(40) Const. 159'

2.7 Page 17

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-17 -

out of our labours, a strengthening of the framework of the

Congregation to ensure its solidity: it has a fat deeper value.

\\[hen we say, for instance, that the Rector Major is the <( cenme

of unity >> for the whole Congregation, we do not refer to ,mere

organization, but to our charismatic communion. Indeed insofar

as the Su,perior rspresents Christ, he is the fosteret of unity and

the principle of communion. This is an inescapable point of

reference.

An obvious earnest of the world di.'rnension of the Congre-

gation in the General Chapter. Its raison d'6tre and its internal

dynarnic and juddical form convincingly express such a dimension.

It has no similarity to a political parliament. Its level is cha-

rismatic, it deals with the unity of the Congegation-a unity

that aTready exists but which is diligently pursued by means of

dialogue, community reflection, and in the wealth of divemity

found in each provincial communiry.

Our world uniry is arcefity, but it is not like a castle built

once and for all in which we are permanently established. It

is something active, a rcahty that grows and evolves; but unfor-

tunately it can &ag its feet, it can wither, and it is subject to

rifts and crises. It is the goal towards which we labour with

dif{iculty. Sometimes it seems merely an ideal; but we must

keop seeking it untiringly and with purity of intention, with

hu,mility and courage; fidelity to Don Bosco and his spirit must

be our driving force.

Our next basic principle: Ve are a world co-,-unity. This

implies real bonds of communion that transcend the confines of

the Province. In this com,munion we should bear in mind the

privileged service enjoyed by the General Chapter and the Rector

Major. << The General Cha,pter is the principal sign in the Society

of unity and diversity )>. << A11 members shall teadily accq>t its

(41) Perfectae Caritatis 14.

2.8 Page 18

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-18-

deliberations, whicJr become of obligation as soon as they are

prom',lgated by the Rector Major ,>.(42)

And the Rector Major is << the sucrcessor of Don Bosco >>,

the < father and centre of unity >, the focal point of the whole

Congregation, the soruce whence flow genuine incitements to untiy.

To pursue this train of thought further: the Congregation draws

its sustenance from him, and in union with him and the Superior

Council it finds evident expression, the effective communion of

the Provinces in the concrete unity of a single reality that

operates on a world-wide scale.

2. HOW DECENTBALIZATION WORKS

So far we have tried to establish a number of basic principles

on the gtounds that the future changes and the evolving of the

Congegation must be in keoping with its vocation-identity. Ary

uansfomation that damages the real essence of the Sociery of

St. Francis of Sales (as Don Bosco wanted it and as the Church

approved it) would not be a ,process of growth-it would e a

suicidal deviation.

Now let us strive to understand in depth just how we must

set about our decenralization and unification.

The provincial community in the world community

The SGC views the provincial community in a new light;

and if we are to understand properly what is involved in the

present process of the Congregation's decenffallzation, we must

grasp this well.(43)

(42) C.onst. l5l, L52.

(4r) ASGC L19, L85,506,512.

2.9 Page 19

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Normally and technicaTTy a Province is a projection of the

Congregation that, in some arca of the world, translates into

practice the concept of the << Particular Salesian Com-unity >,

decenffalized and autonomous. << The Province u,nites the various

local communities into a larger community. It is canonically

erected when the necessary and sufficient conditions exist for

the effective carrying out of the life and mission of the Congre-

gation in a specific juridical area with t'he autonomy that belongs

to a Province according to the Constitutions >.(44) It is the main

job of decentralization to perfect the structure of the Provincial

community and the relations between its houses.

A practical example would be a Province in a region that

has its own pmrliar social and cultural characteristics. Smaight

away the dyna,mics of the Salesian vocation would be influenced

by two ,preoccupations: spiritually-how ro remain faithful to

the identity of the Congrqgation founded ,by Don Bosco; and

socially-how to become tnrly involved in the culture and needs

of the locality.

It is in this double action of union that is centripetal, and

diversification that is centrifugal, that we illustrate clearly our

post+apitular stiving for decentralization in unity.

There in only one Salesian Congregation in the Church, but

the cultures and human situations within which it is called to

work vary according to times and places. This calls for an active

diversification; the Congregation's unity must eschew uniformity

and be both cohesive and differentiated, as becomes a world-

wide organization.

However, to attain an harmonious diversity it is necessary

that differences of ,pluralism be drawn together concordantly by

the centripetal force of unity. In essence every Province must be

the Congregation insodar as it practises the one Salesian vocarion.

The world community and the provincial community must

be mutually integrated, for the former incorporates the latter.

(44) Const. L62.

2.10 Page 20

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-20-

This is not iust some conventional inclusion-jt derives from

the very nature of things. The commnnion of a federation of

independent communities is attained through a juridical act,

external and subsequent. It is quite a different case with pro-

vincial co-munities and the wotld community: theit relationships

are those of living members in a single Iiving body.

To arrive at this kind of integration, this close incorpora-

tion, it is not enough to indulge in wishful thinking, or occasional

official reports, whether on gtounds o[ ex'pediency, bureauctary

or even diplomacy. \\7e need to be continually engtossed in the

communion that belongs to our vocation, a pennanently ,purposeful

attitude prompted by our fidelity to Don Bosco.

A Province cannot be a genuine << Particular Salesian Com-

munity > if it does not achieve the vocation-identity of the

whole Congtegation. Indeed no Province is loyal to its'members

if it does not lead them beyond the Province into the unity of

the Vorld Congregation.

Tensions and dangers

'We are all. awarc that rt the centripetal and cenrifugal

forces clash there will be tensions; and every tension can dege-

nerate into a conflict if one of the opposing forces ptevails over

the other to the desriment of the latter.

Unforunately we have all come up against rather serious

problems on both sides. Iflhat follows will help clarily our line

of utg,r-.t t.

On the side of unity there is the danger of falling into

uniformity, a << centralis,m > that ignores to,pogtaphical differences

and disregards the various cultual and social needs and the

principle of subsidiafity; it fails to give the necessary emphasis

to the new dimensions of co-responsibility and dialogue.

On the other hand we afe witnessi.g in these years a ve-

ritable chain reaction against every kind of uniformity. And the

3 Pages 21-30

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3.1 Page 21

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-2L-

imFetus of this reaction is such that not only does it aim to

destroy the serious fault of << centralism r>, but even the very

cenme itself.

Action that is prompted solely by reaction is ftaught with

dangers. The consequences of such an attitude are evident and

hardly need to be instanced. The Rector Major, with his Council,

has a real need of frank and regular dialogue with altr, to continue

and increase his effort to be the <( centre of unity >>, whilst making

every effort to eschew the defects that may arise from centralism.

Please help us all to increase our constant service, our im-

, portant and indispensable << central duty of guarding the vital

identity of the Congregation while avoiding the pitfalls of

uni,formity.

Decentrnlization, too, can be short-sighted and shut itself

u,p in painfully narrow confines, giving undue emphasis to the

local scene.

These days the following dangers in the Congegation are

not imaginary: religious and ecclesiastical nationalism, cultural

< superiotity complexes )>, exaggerated social democracy, ignoring

of the cenmal authority, and weakening of the bonds of world co-

responsibility.

The SGC wants us to be involved in the local apostolate; (45)

it has ,pointed out the possibility of Salesian service outside the

Congregation; (46) it has formulated new norms for formation,(47)

All this is good and vitalizing only if put into practice in the light

of what our identity requites; otherwise it sunders the bonds with

the Cenre, and attacks the vital value of our unity.

It is not out of the question to speak of the danger of

schism for certain groups because of sociological and cultural

reasons. Father Congar says, <( The place where schism enters

the Church, the equivocal danger-point, is reached when the bonds

(45) ASGC 185.

(46) ASGC 392.

(47) Const. 106.

3.2 Page 22

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-22-

are dravrn too tightly between Christianity and a culture, a

national interest, an enterprise that is human, personal, and above

all social >.(48)

The need for constant striving for balance

The tension between the two goals is not resolved by one

prevailing over the other: there is need of a constant effort to

strike a balance.

In a living organism this balance is not achieved once and

for all; nor is it a situation that can be solved by a formula. It

is the free and responsible gathering together of living forces;

hence it requires patient attention and constant effort to stimulate,

modify, correct and initiate. Indeed this balance needs daily

construction and maintenance. Thus the various goveming levels,

especially the Rector Major and the Superior Council, must do all

they can to achieve this balance, encouraging, urging, foreseeing

situations, reqpecting limits, filling the gaps.

Taking stock of the Congregation in its post-capitular

ttavatJ., we have to acknowledge that various dsssnllalizgd

structures of co-responsibility are not yet running smoothly,'and

divergence and change are the cas6 most in evidence.

I7e all see that pluralism is a rcalty throughout the Con-

gregation: it hardly needs further encouragement. lVhat it does

need is guidance and balance in the light of fidelity to our vocarion-

identity. (Pluralism does not mean that in the Congregation

these days << any old thing goes >!) The structures of co-respon-

sibility

have

urgent

need

set

and

functioning

the

local level. (Formation is an example.)

In achieving a proper balance the Rector Major and the

Supedor Council have the duty of emphasising the components

(48) Congar: Santa Iglesia, Barcelona L965, p. LL3.

3.3 Page 23

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_23_

of unity: indeed this is precisely the specific ministry of the central

government (the SGC calls this a ( strucur" of unity >).(49)

The << Practical Directives > of the first capitular docu,ment

stress the importance of renewal in greater avulabfity for sale-

sian pastoral activity on behalf of the local Chuch (and all the

world-wide variety this entails). It then goes on ro state

clearly, << But this legitimate pluralism requiies more effort on

our part to preserve udty, e.g., in fostedng a sense of mission

and common spirit, and in frequent and fraternal exchanges with

o_ther provincial communities and with the Rector Major who is

the visible sign of unity >.(50)

Taking on new responsibilities

My dear confrEres, ler us take a good hard look at the fact

that we have not yet got down to the practicalities of otganization

in our process of decentrahzation.

I referred above to the sffiuctures of decenffelized co-respon-

sibility; and indeed rhe new Constitutions have this to ,uy ,6ort

the principle of subsidiarity: << Authority of. any kind and at

every level m,usr leave to lower levels and to individuals whatever

can be done and decided by them. Alt this presupposes a just

distribution of power betqzeen the differeni orgrnr of go-

vernment r.(51)

Every provincial community should examine itself in this

alea; for if << leaving to the lower organs what can be done by

them > (52) ,means that they, through indolence or lack of ini-

tiative or false interpretations, do not get

they should, then the Congegation --n.

round

u real

rtoiskdooinf -gsawilhinagt

(49) ASGC 720.

(50) ASGC 185.

(51) Const. 127.

(52) ASGC 720.

3.4 Page 24

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24-

without a rudder. This specious decenmalization would open the

doot in more than one place to a situation of disorder and decay.

Here ate a few items for self-examination on our organi-

zational reqponsibilities, eqpecially at the provincial level:

- The Provincial and his Council have greater powers

regarding the a,ppointment of Rectors and Novicemasters.(5J)

- The Provincial Chapter is more important and possesses

a new function.(54)

- The method of formation and the programme of studies

are established by the Provinces.(55)

- Consultations ate held for the appointment of Provincials,

Provincial Councillors and Rectors.(r6)

- Structures

tered.(57)

goverlrment

the

Houses

may

al-

- Assemblies of membets have important functions.(58)

Following this letter is an a,ppendix with a list of decentra-

l:zation items decided on by the SGC. Even if it be inco,mplete,

it presents much matter for self-examination. It shows how

important it is for all concerned to face up to these responsibilities

seriously and efficiently.

Take for instance the consultations all confrBres ate asked

to participate in. If every member answered with sereniry, with

only the welfare of the community in mind, he would make a

valuable contribution to the choice of suitable confrEres for the

vadous << services > to the community. There should be no taking

the easy v/ay out by abstention; no personal feelings that arc

purely hu,man or factious.

(fi) Const. tL2, l8r, 187

(r4) Const. tLl, 180, 19r,

(55) Const. 106.

(56) Const. L69, t74, 181.

(r7) Const. r87, 189.

(5s1 Const. L94.

3.5 Page 25

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Then there is the vital matter of our personnel in formation.

A lack of confGres capable of giving them genuine maining; a

set-up that takes no account of the special needs of our men-in-

training, neglecting the very fundamentals of Salesian formation-

these are real and fatal vacuums, and the result will be a

lamentable decline in our mission and a distortion of our image

and identity.

The same tragedy would result if the novitiate (through

place, personnel or programme) were deprived of its important

function. And one could add other instances.

The SGC has passed on many taslrs to the intermediate

structures. You will naturalty appreciate how hard *d must

sffive, at the various levels, to make sure that they are carried

out according to the spirit and the reasons for which they were

requested. This is the way to make decentalization efficient and

give a real fillip to that unity which is our quickening element.

Turning intenrzed.iate stractares to best accoant

Another important ,matter to be organized as part of our

decentralization has to do with certain intermediate structures such

as Provincial Confetences and Groups of Provinces. These are

not just nominal get-togethers; they must form a genuine nexus

in decentralvaaon and should be fostered, encouraged and ex-

ploited with enthusiasm, sacdfice and capable personnel.(59)

Similarities, affinities and cultural conditions do not necess-

arily coincide with the confines of a Salesian Province; indeed

sometimes the opposite is the case. Hence every Province should

study local human needs and consult other Provinces with similar

problems. It is for t'his purpose that the last few years have

seen the setting up of these Provincial Confereflces and Groups

of Ptovinces. They are still in their early stages but they have a

(59) ASGC 7D-725.

3.6 Page 26

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-26-

great potential. For instance they could do much regarding the

con{rbres' initial and ongoing forrmation.

\\7e could well ask ourselves if we are giving them the

importance they deserve.

3. TOWARDS A CAMPAIGN OF FIDETITY

Let us get down to practicalities and work out a campaign

fCoornagollg-atioena. ch according to his own particular function in the

\\7e have to tune in to one another and combine our forces,

and make our plans in fidelity to our colnmon vocation in the

Church. The work we do and our mental outlook will dtaw

each individual to one pole rathet than the other; but we must

all join forces and achieve abafance between the two.

I repeat what I said at the beginning of this theme: we must

not approach this matter with the idea that decenmalization and

unity are mutually opposed. As we weigh the reguirements of

each, our attitude should be favourable and positive, without bias

or polemics. \\[hen faced with either of the errors (even if only

potential) of schism or stifling centralism, we must not ignore

the dangets I have alsnli6nsdJtut neither should we asslune

an attitude of attack. Our duty lies rather in working together

in harmony so as to foster the values inherent in both unity and

decentralization.

Indeed a campaign of fidelity implies an energetic initiative

and a keen sense of evaluation that will balance out the << forces in

tension >, promptly close any breaches and get to the heart of the

problem. This means hard wotk: observing, thinking, gathering

information, making contacts, engaging in dialogue and achieving

a long-sighted view of wide horizons that will make our organizing

enlightened and efficient. This is a grand work, eqpecially for those

invested with the ministry of authority, no matter at what level.

3.7 Page 27

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_27 _

Tension and charity

It will help to remember that the << unitydecentralization

tension >> is part of the <( sacramental > nature of the Church-and

a]so, by analogy, of our Congregation. This is where dociliry to

the Holy Spirit comes in; for this rension is basically a << spiritual

itfact >>, and not a sort of fashiona,ble concession. For this-reason

must live in the aura of charity, which means putting the

spiritual perspective before any technique or h.man vision. Th"r.-

fore: the Eucharist must be the cenmi of our ,lives; (60) ure must

pray fervently for God's action in the Congegation; (61) we musr

foster and defend the love of God in oui Houses and provinces

as the source and manner of our Salesian brotherliness.

I My dear confrBres, once again repeat: there is only one

way to build a fruitfuI unity with efficiency-it is a spiritualway

that corresponds to the nature of our vocation, which is a < spiritual

fact >>. Any other way means sterility, ermptineas, decay.

In this regard Blessed Michael Rua cited article 7 of the then

Constitutions: << Al1 the members shall live together in common,

bound only by the chain of brotherly love and the simple vows, a

chain which unites them in such a manner as to make them one in

heart and soul in order ro love and serve God >>.(62) Then he

added, << These words come from the heam of Don Bosco burning

with charity. Th.y show us that while charity is the ..r.n . of

Christian life, even more is it the soul of the Religious life >.

<< These few lines sound the characteristic note of our Society.

\\U7ithout mutual affection, without being united in the same spirit,

Salesians would eke out a wretched and unhappy e-istence. Living

together in such numbers they would srill be isolated and theii

work would bear no fruit.

<< All the efforts of our Superiots are brought to bear to avert

(60) Const. 61

(51) Const. 58.

(62) Const. (new) 51.

3.8 Page 28

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-28-

so great an evil. Visits, conferences and rendicontos have as their

purpose to unite us in one heart and soul. This is the teason why

I write circular letters to you several times each yeat >>.(6))

As the SGG guages the situation

The SGC documents may have their human shortcomings; but

it is essential to consider them as the focal point for all confGres

if we wish to attain this harmony and unity in our decenmalization

during these days of divergent thought and opinions.

The Constitutions define the General Chapter as a fuaternal

ass,mbly of Salesians and << the,principal sign in the Society of unity

and diversiry >>.{64) The deliberations of the SGC were the fruit

of m.uch pteparation, study and hardship; they involved the world-

wide participation of our confrbres; they must be for every one

of us the point of convergence par excellence. They form the

common ground we stand 6n-lsvs for Don Bosco. Here is our

corrmon meeting-place for young and old, no matter how varied

ideological differences may be, for << under the guidance of the

Holy Spirit the entite Society, through its General Chapter, seeks

to ascertain at a glven moment of history, the will of the heavenly

Father so as to serve the Church better ,r.(65)

It is the i,mportant duty of every Province and local Com-

munity to see that all. changes are constantly verified and checked

against the components of our Salesian identity as set out by the

Chapter, viz., the sense of the presence of God among us, or'1r

mission, our Salesian spirit, our own style of teligious life, the

family qpirit in our corunon life, out preventive system, and so on.

![hen communities measure their activities against the norms

of the Chapter, they should not leave the task entfuely in the

(63) Don Rua: Circular Letters, p. 446 et seq.

(64) C-onst. 151.

(65) Const. 151.

3.9 Page 29

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-29-

hands of a particular or private group, for this would run the risk

of being subjective; t'he process should be put on an official and

community level so as to ensure that the findi"gs are reliable and

objective. The studies and opinions oI experts are certainly useful;

but they always require (especially in certain cases and situations)

the judgement of the Rector Major and his Council. This is the

only way to be definitely sure of the authentic validity of. any

change; it is the criterion of identiry for cetain pluralistic situations.

The SGC has put in the spade work; but our checking and

comparing is not therefore a cut and dried affair, for it is a case

of constant measuring against vital realities in rapid evolution,

against local and personal situations that bring to light our <( two

poles >i in a new dimension. Detailed and careful examination must

be carried out in a positive manner and with spiritual vision. This

will prevent us from adopting a legalistic and << go-by-the-book >>

attitude, and our work will be thoughtful and stimulating, leading

to the rediscovery of the magnificent values of Salesianity, its

Iattfwiaiclltiveensuarnedtheantththuesipnrgocaesspseoctfsc, hiatsngeelewmiellnatscqsuoirefuthlleoqfu'ipcrkoemniisneg.

rcalization and development of the special identity given us by God

and manifested in Don Bosco.

Fostering unity

Our carnpaign of fideliry requires a new dedication that is

more awafe and energetic so as to quicken and activate our Sale-

sian identity. Here are a few pointers that should be of practical

help. They will strengthen the unity that is born of the harmo-

nious development of the two poles and so it is essential that

they function well. Their importance is emphasised by the number

of times the SGC retr.rrned to them.

- There should be << frequent and fraternal exchanges with

other provincial comm,unities and with the Rector Major u.(66)

(66) ASGC 185.

3.10 Page 30

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- 4 ffis unity should be maintained and advanced by means

of suitable and efficient structures of co-responsibility, formation,

communication, government and exchange r>.(67)

- q ffi5 communion is increased by our spirit of solidarity

with one another, ,participation in the apostolic interests of the

Society, communication and the exchange of information regarding

the wotk of the confrEres, and our union with the Rector Major

and his Council >.(68)

- << The Rector Major will kee'p in active contact with

provinces, houses and members. He shall seek the collaboration

of all, promote meetings, spread knowledge of the apostolic work

of the Congregation >.(69)

tUTe find the documents of the SGC constantly concerned with

the need to foster and strengthen the contacts and exchanges

between the periphery and thg 6gni1g-in all sorts of suitable ways.

No matter whete we are, we must f.eel and really be a Congregation,

a comm,unity of men who live and wotk in vastly different lands

but who are conscious of being an integral part of the one body,

sharing, giving, receiving its life-giving Salesian values.

Meetings arud gatberings

Regarding the many different kinds of meetings to be amanged

by the Rector Major and his Council, \\ile are working out a

general plan, integrated and gradual. This will be discussed in

good time with the people concerned so that the gatherings will

meet the needs of all parties concerned.

\\7e know from experience just how useful a meeting can be

when well prepared, with good practical agenda and in which

specified ,problerns are proposed for examination, discussion and

solution. And there are other advantages too. Much good comes

(67) ASGC 1r7

(68) Const.55.

(69) Ree. 95.

4 Pages 31-40

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4.1 Page 31

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-31 -

from personal contacts,

exchaqeing experiences;

Iaivnindgdiianlocgouemi-sunuitly*,rypfrayf*rni*g"ttog"wethheenr,

camied out in a qpirit of co,rrmunion that trils to fathom and

respect trhose values that sustain and enliven our vocation and

enrich our mission.

_ Similarly in the

?rovinces, meetings

case of Provincial

amanged between

conferences and Groups

different sections are very

helpful.

As is the case with all our activities, these initiatives require

discretion and a sense of proportion. \\we do not want to develop

< meeting-itis >, holding meeting after meeting on every con-

ceivable theme. This only wastes time and -oniy, and the ..ugr.

results are not worth the trouble.

But it would be wrong and harmful to neglect those properly

organized meetings which experience tells ui are fruit-ful'ani

irreplaceable.

Circulation of Salesian news

The SGC more than once insisted on the need for commu_

nication and information as efficacious and necessary means for

unity in the c-ongregation-after all, to share such knowledge is

elementary and basic. r7e are scattered over five continents and

9ur family traclition clamours for family news: the joys, sorrows,

initiatives, mials, problems, achievements. W'e want ioknow whai

is going on in that great and complex {amily which is the

Congregation.

- G bom;-bTahrgdeSdawlesitiahn,allilkesoartnsyoofthinerfoprmersaotinonthefrsoemdays,

is continually

varied uni

complicated instruments of the sr255 mgdi4-news that is put

over with technical finesse and that demands his attentioo, oft.n

disturbing and distracting.

than

The consequences for the religious life

would apF,*at, It has been said that

are

the

often more serious

TV permits us to

know what is happening on the other side of the world and

4.2 Page 32

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-32-

prevents us from knowing what is going

,ror"r. The mass media inundate us with a

folonodYno+f tneowusr

very

from

everywhere, so t"hat we frrn the risk of finding our interests

o,rtrid. the house and becoming indifferent to our own com-

munity; v/e afe ignorant of the very things that should be neatest

our hearts-whut it hupp.ning among our own confrBres'

I,f this became our sad lot, then the image of the Con-

gregation would blur, we should lose our esteem fot the Salesian

ilirlrior, and our bonds with Don Bosco and the Church would

weaken.

On the other hand, a regular and stimulating flow of news

<a<btooubt eolounrgCro,ng-ure.gJastitorennwgthilel nirltihveencoomumruSnaiolensiaanndideuanlsit,yhoetfrpouusr

Society.

Hence local Superiors must take to heart the matter of Sale-

sian news. It is their task to see that the news c-hannels are open

and efficient; they should widen

especially should ih.y r.. that there

and multi'ply

is a-place for <

S'h.al-ets-ia'n

And

news

lr. sessions Not very long ago, when the mass media were not

so well develo,ped and allpervading as today, these << Salesian news

sessions ,, had their proper place in the personal and common

lives of Salesians. I wonder if we can say the same today!

There are many causes why a Salesian might tall' away ot

even leave the Society: it would'be a piry if one of them were

the lack of a binding fraternal spirit and its resultant loss of the

sense of belonging to the Congregation.

Let us then see that Salesian news is duly circulated' (It

is obvious that charity or prudence may counsel some exceptions,

of course.) This ciiculatlon demands communion among the

confGres, i.e., a give and take in brotherly trust and family spirit,

bearing in mind that all must be for the building u'p- of the Body

of chr-ist and the good of the congregation. Even the inevitable

unpleasant things that happen can be turned to good account as

warnings and hence a spur to chariry.

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Tbe Acts ol tbe Saperior Council

There is another important facet to our communications.

Out Congregation has its own spirit, its own style and mission,

and it is plain that those who cary the primary responsibiJiry

for not wasting these riches and keeping them vital and active

always and everywhere, should use the most fitting means in

their duty to reach everybody.

One of the main means of informing the confrBres and

passing or,r directives that circumstances dictate for the fostering

of community spirit and unity is the Acts of the Su,perior Council.

Admittedly the Acts are sdlI a long way ftom being the

perfect article; but they are a valuable and irreplaceable service

which we have tried hard to improve. The translation into the

principal lan'guages of the Congregation is a step forward, and

progress has been made in their timing and punctuality. \\7hile

there is room for improvement in the content there is surely

matter in every issue that is of intetest to a Salesian. \\7e shall

welcome any useful suggestions that would maks the Acts more

interesting and vital.

However it must be added that al7 effors 1e im['rove the

Acts are useless if they are not read. Unfortunately one hears

ftom time to time that they do not reach the confrlres or the.

comrnunity. This means Salesians are being deprived of a very

important source of family information, with all the negative

I consequences have spoken of.

My dear confrEres, I am sure you must agfee that aly

Salesian news is worth our special attention-indeed our pre-

ference. Basically it is a matter of love for our own spiritual

family, our mother the Congegation. The more we know about

it the greater the love we have for it. But we cannot love

what is unknown to us.

It is only to be expeaed that to care nothing about what

goes on in the Society must weaken our attachment and esteem

for the Congregation and its interests, our sense of co-munion

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-34-

(which is the source of our vital energy), urd fr"ily our sense

of vocation-identity.

I \\7hfle inviting every confGre to read the Acts, must also

insist with Provincials and Rectors to take practical steps that

they be read in our communities, and certain parts of particular

interest or imlrcrtance comrnented upon. The Spiritual Reading

period prescribed by the Regulations would be an excellent time

for this.

Proaincial neuslet ters

At this point it seems natural to put in a plea that infor-

mation be sent to the Generalate fairly frequently. We heed these

contacts, letters, etc. News is thus passed round, ideas penetrate;

and these things make an organization like ours (wotking in all

continents in such diverse ways) feel and work as one single

body in its spirit and its methods. And here I must congratulate

and thank the many Provinces who send us their news letters.

It is pleasing to see the constant effort to improve them.

You will have noticed that the Acts have added a new

section for the news letters, inserting excerpts that seem especially

interesting for other Provinces.

Some have tried out the idea of enlarging the horizons of

their news lettets to include Salesian matters of general i11s1s51-

an excellent idea.

Brotberly Solidarity

A most efficacious and practical expression of our family's

,niversal com,munion is Brotherly Solidarity-brothers helping

less foftunate brothers, materially or otherwise.

This kind of giving is particularly valuable when it is

regularly the fruit of renunciation and sacrifice, zealous enterprise,

services, etc., on the part of con{rBres who wish to realise and

share the needs of others.

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Our well-known Solidarity Campaign has been running for

some years, and many Provinces have given more than material

help to those in need. Unfortunately not every request can be met

adequately, and this is all the more dismessing when the need

is great.

A striking fact about the Solidarity Fund is that quite a

few of the ,poorer Provincial communities have made considerable

personal sacrifices to help others. It is quite moving to receive

their contributions and to read of the sacrifices entailed. These

confrEres live in extreme ,poverty; and in gratihrde for what help

they have received from the Solidarity Campaign, they are humbly

desirous in thefu turn to do something for their more needy

brothers. Ttoly, the greater the poverty, the greater the sym,pathy

for others in need.

The dund is always open, and I do not need to insist that

all Provinces take part in contrib.uting. These pages record my

thanks to those many Provinces who have already planned their

I qpiritual (eqpecially Lenten) and charitable help; and hope no

Province will fail to parricipate. It is not a request for alms:

it is a conscious act of giving and receiving whereby we creare

and strengthen a practical bond of charity throughout the Con-

gregation-all of us are dhe richer for it. It would be worth

while reading what Don Rua wrote about the << fraternal charity

drive >> he organized in 1898 to help the house in Concepcion,

Chile.(70) Its ideas and sentiments are valid even today.

Knowing Don Bosco better

Returning to our beginnings will re-engender our enthu-

siasm; (71) and this will be greatly aided by the << Institute of

Salesian Spirituality > and the << Don Bosco Srudy Centre > which

(70) Don Rua: Circular Letters, p. 305

(71) ASGC. 186187.

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will normally function at the PAS beginning this present academic

year. There is a lot of ground to cover before Don Bosco is teally

and completely known: it is an activity to be otganized gradually

and metlodically, stirring up the intetest of the younger genera-

tions especially, and setting up the most efficient means.

The person of Don Bosco, his work and his words, when

studied devotedly, have the .power to atffact and unite. Unfor-

tunately many Salesians, especially the younger confrhes, have a

lot of headway to ,make up-possibly due to a reaction (under-

standable in its way, but by now quite anachronistic) and maybe

also to lack of adequate and suitable op,portunities. l\\ds4ntimg

those concerned should ask themselves what is being planned to

make sue our novices and young men really get to know

Don Bosco-not a mere superficial knowledge, not just his

biogta,phy, but his thinking, his spirit, his ,methods, etc. I realise

the many problems in actuating such a programme; but it is a

fundamental matter for the life of the Congegation, so difficulties

must not deter

the Generalate

us:

practical

shall try

solutions iust must be

to help in every way

found. From

we can. 'We

must move promptly to restore this knowledge and enthuse the

confGres, for one cannot value the unknown. Knowing Don Bosco

is a key to unity, one of its basic elements.

Loae lor the Congregation

The expansion and cohesion of the Congregation in its golden

era were mainly due to the esteem, dedication and filial love the

members had for it. Basically, true love of Don Bosco cannot

be separated from love of the Congtegation-for taken all in all,

the Congegation is the projection and continuance of Don Bosco

in the world.

This two-fold love for Don Bosco and the Congtegation uras

clearly manifest, and it encoutaged many vocations, helped over-

come difficult problems, welded the family into a solid unity, and

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- 5l -

was the driving force for great undertakings. Despite a kind of

superficial aqpect which was understandable in those days (today

it is called < triumphalism >), qre are dealing with something

of no small value, and it still exists. In the lait analysis it boifi

down to love for the Spirit of the Lond who unites us, gives us

our mission and helps us achieve it.

However this attitude is not an inborn sentiment; it does

not come to us automatically with our religious profession; in

some places nowadays it is not even fashionable. So it needs to

be patiently inculcated and increased right from the. beginning of

out Salesian formation.

To this end it will greatly help to cultivate with serenity

and fidelity what could be called the << magisterium > of the

Congregation. Members should be invited and urged to integrate

their acceptance of this magisterium by a pemonal study that

prcpares the ground for the oficial teaching to be carried out and

assimilated.

Today when there is question of any kind of teaching that

stems from authority, we are faced with resistance or reluctance.

I7e must vraste no time in discovering ways and means to render

- it acceptable for it contains the principle of a greater guarantee

of truth, a kind of ordinary hierarchical magisterium.

In Religion we school ourselves in the service of God: so

contact with the Master, both ecclesial and religious, is necessary

fot 'li[e, for progress, for perfection. Those appointed for the

purpose have the right and duty to clority, expound and spread

the magnificent ideas and essential principles that make for unity

If and imbue us with the Salesian spirit. Su,periors are <( sancti-

fiers > {irst and foremost, they must logically also be <( masters >.

Unity in our Superiors

T7e have from Don Bosco's own lips how concerned he

was for unity when he thought of superiors in the future who

would not have lived by his side and would not have enjoyed his

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-38

dose personal friendship and the fidelity that vrent naturally

with it.(72) In the history of the Society, this bond of affection

between the Superiors and the Rector Maior has a:lways been a

potent vehicle of unity and a means of battling through many

difficult situations.(73) Today we need to renew these ties,

especially on the patt of the Provincials, theh Councils, and

Provincial Conferences. This will make fot a strong and effective

union of hearts, minds and wills ready to tackle our serious post-

capitular problems and the risks involved in decentralaation, so

that the sdtd framework of the Congtegation will not be damaged.

My dear confGres, this has been a long lettet; but the theme

is vast and involves the vital interests o( the Congregation. For

tlis reason I renew my fequest that you give your attention to

these pages, re-reading, if need be, those parts that will be of

practical help. 'We are faced with a problem that is fat greater

than mere << rcotganization >; it is a case of ecclesial fidelity and

spiritual docility to the Lotd. The Congegation, the provincial

community, unity and decentrulization, centre and peti'phery,

centripetal and centifugal energies-these are all facets of a single

reality which is at the heart of out very vocation.

Our belief involves all these things. Fi&lity to Don Bosco

these ti,mes is a daily challenge of initiative and deep faith. The

future of the Congregation truly depends on the <( sweat of our

brow r> and our loyal and irrevocable << choice to belong >.

May Mary Help of Christians attain for us the gtace necessary

to achieve this goal.

Let us be united in the Breaking of Bread.

Affectionately yours in Don Bosco,

Father Lours Rrccrm,

Rector Maior

(72) IvIB XIII, 885.

(71) Don Rua: Circular Letters, pp. 95, 182; and Don Ricaldone: Fidelity

to St. John Bosco, p,79 et seq.

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DEcENrRArrrorr#t'I#*Rs AccoRDrNG

TO TI{E SPECIAL GENERAL CIIAPTER

\\Vhat follows refers to the decenrralization of powers relative

to the Generalate and Provinces, not relative to the Provinces and

local communities.

Listed are:

l) Gouerning bodies which have received new powers from the SGC.

2\\ The decentralized powers according to subiect marter.

1. Governing bodies

The SGC has granted new powers, or extended existing ones,

for the following bodies (documentation is given in brackets)i

Prouincial Conlerence (new .powers: Reg. 130; cf. ASGC 724).

Proaincial Cbapter (extended powers: Const. 177, 193; Reg. L49,

175; ASGC 178, 183, 1"85, 512, 555d, 619).

Proaincial witb bis Council (extended powers: Consr. IL2, 783,

187; Reg. 12, 16, etc.).

2. Decentralized powerr

The SGS has decentralized from the Centre ro the province the

following faculties.

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a) OnceNrzerroN oF THE APoSToLATE

Reg. 4: Study of the practical details of the organization of the

<< educative 6smmr nity >.

Reg. 5: It is for the Provinces to decide what names to use

(oratory, youth centre, club, etc.) and what type of otganization

they refer to.

Reg. 7: Provincial ruling about adr:r,itting girls to certain activi-

ties of the youth centre.

Reg. 16: In agreement with the Councillot for the Missions,

the Provincial and his Council may sat up local mission offices and

otgantze so-called mission << ttr"furning >.

Reg. 72: Let each Prov,ince organize within its own limits the

ptomotion and care of vocations. It should establish the cdteria,

methods and the structu,res for the maining of vocations.

ASGC 185: Every Provrince should exam,ine its special pastotal

presence in the context of the local Church.

b) OnomzATroN oF coMMUNrrY LrFE

Lile in comfizon

Reg. 35: kt each community decide on opportune periods of

silence.

Reg. 36: Let the superior and the commurir,ity be very conscious

of theit bounden duty to keep their critical sense keenly alive and

theit conscience alert to their obligations ,in the choice of reading

matter, filn ,shows, radio and TV prcgrammes,

ASC,C 5l2z It is the duty of the Provincial Chapter and Council

to define the co--on aims of the Plovince as a whole and tlren to

study how these can best be carried out and to make the necessary

decisions, beginning with the most urgont cases.

ASGC 515e: The feasibility of setting up small communities,

and their actual nature, is left to the study and decision of each

Province, including also the question of the exercise of authority

in them.

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Prayer

Reg.46: The Provincial Chapter witl fix the way of carrying out

the Spiritual Reading.

Reg. 49: Ttre Provinoial Chapter wiII establish the mamer of

carrying out the Exercise for a Happy Death and the tri-monthly

and yearly retreats.

Reg. 41: Each Provi"nce will establish an opportune time for the

daily reading of the Necrology as a communify practice.

Reg. 54: In the compilation of a manual of prayers the Provinces

will furnish pofurters and directives.

ASCC 555d: Other practices of piety in accordance with tradi-

tion are left to each Provincial Chapter to decide: Firs't Friday,

montlrly commemotations of Mary Help of Christians and Don Bosco,

the Stations of the Cross on Fridays in Lent, Remembrance of the

Dead, Salesian and patronal feasts.

Pouerty

Reg. 63: The Province will lay down the norms for the con-

frbres' cession of copyright according to the legal requirements of

each country.

Reg. 65: It belongs to the Provincial Chapters to lay down specific

and practical norms with a view to establ,ishing throughou't the

Prov,ince a uniform and modest level of community life. In particular

they wfll control the use of personal equipment, the holidays per-

mitted to membens, the practical exercise of solidarity between the

different houses, and the contrributions to be made by the indrividual

commu,nities to the genera'l needs of the Province.

ASGC 619: The General Chapter encourages opportune experi-

ments in new forms of witness and service among the very poor.

These experiments, on both the provincial and local .level, must

have the approval of the Provincial and his Council.

ASGC 6202 The Provincial Chapters should study the pos-

sibility of:

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-42-

th-e

separation of the administration of the work itself from that

commu,nity; and if possible separaring the fiving from the

working quarters of the comm.unity.

- seeking

presentatives to

lay

the

help

board

administrarion,

adminisration.

possibly

electing

lay

re-

- grv,ing those who are in any way assmiated with our work a

periodic account of its economic situation.

Obedience

Reg. 137: The Provincial may suspend the execution of a sup-

erior order in special cases.

c) Fonrvretron

Const. 106: It is the task of the various Provinces to establish

the method of formation and the programme of study according to

the needs of each are.a and, in conformity with the directives of- the

Church and the Society. Their decisions shall be submitted to the

Superiot Council for approval.

Reg. 89: The Provincial and his Council have the responsibility

for the selection, raining and ongoing prepanation of those who

must form others. They are helped in this work by the Provincial

Conference and by the Superior Council.

d) Fonrvr oF THE Socrery

ASGC 183: Provincial Chapters and the respecive Councils

should study the method to be followed for the possible instirution

of the Permanent Deacon and the adequate preparation of candidates;

they should follow the experimenr atrentively with the looal Church

with a view to its future definitive realization.

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e) SrRUcruREs

Const. t93 The distinctive duties and features of those respons-

ible for the principal sectors of the educational and pastoral actMties

of the community shall be established by the Provincial Chapter.

Const. 187: It belongs to the Provincial with the consent of his

Counoil, after hearing the opinion of the lcal community, to decide

which departments of the educational and pastoral activity of the

house sharll be represented in the Council, and how many Council

members are to elected by the Assembly of the members.

Reg.: 149: The manner of determining substitution to the Gen'

eral Chapter w,ill be decided by the Provi,ncial Chapter.

f) Aorvrrr,nstRATroN

Reg. 187: The Provincial Chaptet will deciile on the frequency

of the local Economers' finanoial reports to the Provincial and

Prov'incial Economer.

Const. 197: The Provincial and his Council have power to

authorize the operations cited in at. 196 within the limits determined

by the Rector Major and his Council.

Reg. 175: To the Provincial Chapter is left the formulation of

detailed norms for administration at provincial and local levels re-

garding,those things cited in Reg. 175.

g) ArnorurMENTs

Const. 1,L2: The Provincial with his Council's consent and the

approval of the Rector Major appoints the Master of Novices.

Const. 183: The Rector of every local community is appointed

by the Provincial with the consent of his Council and with the

approval of the Rector Major, due regard having been paid to the

results of an opportune oonsutrtation carried out among all the mem-

bers of the Province. The .manr:et of making this consultation will

be dlcided by the Provinc'ial with the consent of his Council.

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III. COMMUNICATIONS

1. Province modifications

In July last the Superior Council decided to unite, the Provinces

of Quito and Cuenoa so as to form one Province with headqtrartem at

Quito. It will be called the Sacred Heart Province of Ecuador.

At the same time the Superior Cotmcil dedded to consritute the

Vicariate Apostolic of Mdndez y GuaTaquiza << ad experimenrum >>. In

acrordance with art. 166 of. the Constitutions the new Delegation

will be dependent on the Province of Qu,ito.

These decisions were taken by the Rector Major and his Council

af.ret a carefud sxamin4ti6n of the consultation conducted among the

interested confrBres, and the proposals of the local SPC's.

The decrees relative to thes€ changes are printed in the Documents

section (page 56).

2. Provincial appointments

The following confGres have been appointed Provincials:

Fatler Ser.vanon Besrannrca: Province of Bilbao (Spain).

Father Sar,varonE, Dp Bonrs: Roman Prov,ince (Italy).

Father Suveronr, Iscno: Province of New Rochel,le (United

States East).

Father Axtnouy MantrNrr,r,r: Province of Veneta Ovest (Ve-

rona - Italy).

Father Henny ResvussBn: Provrince of San Francisco (United

States !7est).

Father Fr,r.rx Rrzzrur: Central Province (Italy).

Father Tur.r.y Senron: Province of Veneta Est (Venice - Italy).

Father Cnenr.ns Ver,vsRDB: (unified) Province of Quito (Ecuador).

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3. Vorld C,ongss of Salesian Brot[ers

Further progress has been made in the preparation of the !florld

Congress of Salesian Brothers to be held at tfie Crenetalate, Rome,

n 1975.

On 5 August the Rector Major wrote to a,ll Provincials (and

< for the information of confGres >). His letter set out the reasons

why be called the Congress, its a,rms, details of the preparatory

Prov,incial and Regional Crcngresses, and the deadlines for the various

steps lead,ing up to the Congress. This notable venture will involve

the confGtes fot two years. (The Rector Major's letter ris printed

in the Documents section, page 58).

The Rector Major also arppointed by ,personal letter a << Central

Commission > (six Brothers and four priests) whose task is to or-

ganize the Congress. These confrBre,s are:

Father Mario Bassi (UPS - Rome).

Brother John Borchardt (I7alwinkel - South Germany).

Father James Crcllett (Chertsey - England)

Father Anthony Ferreita (teptesenting Latin America; residring at

Rome).

Btother Sean Harkin (Wartenstown - keland).

Brother Joseph Pellitteri (Mother House - Turin).

Father Alfred Roca (Barcelona - Spain).

Btother Rena,to Romaldi (Formation Commission - Rome).

Brother Henry Ruiz (Barcelona - Spain).

Brother Charles Tomasetrlo (Central Provinoe - Turin).

Tlre C*ntral C-ommission will h.h the Provinces and Regions

thrcugh the different stages and at the various levels. It will direct,

co-ordinate and stimulate their planning, studies and practical applica-

tion. The actual duties of the Commission are detailed in no. 3 of

the Appendix to the Rector Major's letter (pninted in the Documents

section of these Acts, page 61).

The Centlal Commission held its fiirst meeting at Rome (at the

Generalate) 7-10 September with all members present. It appointed

Brotlrer Renato Romaldi as co-ord,inator, with Fatlrer Mario Basii and

5.6 Page 46

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46-

Brother Charles Tomasello as his assistants (in order to ensure efficient

continuity in the C,ommission). The meetings worked to a tight sche-

dr.de under Brother Romaldi's direction.

The first task of tlre Commission was to exam,ine the present

situation of the Salesian Brother in the Society, and how far the

Congress preparations were u,nder way. A meeting with the s,ix Re-

gional Councillors btought to light the ptoblem of mul,ti-Iingual Regions

and the enormous distances entailed. So it was decided in those

cases to hold two or more inter-Provincial C-ongresses instead of one

Regional Congress. Suitable agreements were reached to co-ordi,nate

the work of tlre C,entral Commission and the Regional Councillors.

Next, the Commission studied how to tackle the programme

outlined in the Rector Major's letter.

!7orl-d

The various phases of the work procedure leading

Congress were worked out in further detail.

the

them-es

The Commission produced a blueprint of possible study

fot the various Regional and Prov'incial Co,ngresses for their

consideration and remarks.

- It also drew up a suggested list of how many Brothers and

priests should represent each Region.

- Finally it compiled an << essential bibtriography > dealing with

tlre Salesian Brother end the consecrated l,ayman in the Church.

The Rector Maior opened and ad&essed the Commission's first

session, and closed the week with a caref,ul exa,mination of its work.

In the homily preached during the concluding concelebration he used

the expression, << the undiscovered vocation of the Btother >, desiring

to call attention to the aotual sad 6act, and the need to remedy it

with study, common research, and of course the \\7orld Congress of

Salesian Brothers.

4. The PAS becomes UPS

\\fith hi,s << Nlotu Proprio >> Magisteriurn aitae, dated May 1,973,

Pope Paul VI made the Rome PAS a Pontifical University. (The

<, Motu Proprio >>, in Latin and English, is pninted in the Documents

section, page 67).

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-47-

5. The European Convention on the Preventive System

The European Convention on the Preventive Sysrem will be

held at the Rome Salesianum from 31 December to 5 Jamtary. It

is being oryaniznd by the Commission for Youth Apostolate in close

collaboration with the Higher Institute of Pedagogy of the UpS

(which is responsible for the scienrific and thematic aspect).

The Convention is not iust for students and theoreticians but

is directed towards << the men in the field >> whose task in the Salesian

Family ds education, and who will be able to take back with them,

practice and pass on to others the findings of the Convention.

This culmal venture will rry to pinpoint the <.r educative style >>

of Don Bosco in its historical roots (Chriitian tradition), in its actual

practice in Don Boscols day, in the universal practice of the Con-

gregation, and in its relation to present and fumre situations.

Speakers will include lecturers from the Higher Institute of

Pedagogy and wetrl-known academics from other nations. Lectures

will deal with four themes: the conrext in which Don Bosco

developed his educational system and the historical significance

thereof; the Preventive System in the face of modern educarional

sciencel the conditions and requirements of today's young people;

and the present situation of those responsible for the young and their

institutions.

The Convention is dubbed << European >> because of its location.

There is no reason why similar follow-up venrures should not take

place in other continents.

The treatment in depth of the educational system of Don Bosco

is worthy of our closest attention, for it aims at reinforcing the ideals

and the concern the Salesian Family has in facing up ro youth prob-

lems in a Salesian way

Provincials will soon be apprised of further details.

6. Ptepamtion Cource for future Missionaries

The annual << Preparation Course for Future Missionaries )> was

held at the Genenalate, Rome, ftom 2 to 26 September. Itvas attend-

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-48

ed by a gtoup of Salesians trelong:i"g to the 1973 Missioarary

Expedition.

The course was organized by Father Tohill, Councillor fot the

Missions, w,ith Father Altarel'os in charge. Eleven confrEres were able

to participate and they were all destined for Latin America' (Altogether

the 103rd. Mi,ssionary Expedition totals forty confrbres). Each

morning the future missionaties attended lectures given by faculty

members of various universities in Rome at the Spanish Pontifical

College; and the afternoons were spent in practical discussions on

Salesian missionary life. These latter were led by various superiors and

experts belonging to the Generatrate.

On 12 September the missionaries were received by the Holy

Father, and on 28 September left for the farewell ceremony which,

from tlre times of Don Bosco, has been kept annually in the Basilica

of Mary Help of Christians.

7. Brotherly Solidarity teaches L. 200,000,000

a) PnovrNcrs vHo HAVE coNTRTBUTED

Irar.Y

Adriatic

Generalate (Rome)

Ligure-Toscana

Subalpine

Veneta San Marco

BBr,cruu

South Belgium

Asre

Bombay

Calcutta

Madras

Lire

200,000

70,000

393,100

6o,ooo

365,000

28,870

400,000

2000,000

300,000

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THr Anapnrcas

Bolivia

Central America

Ecuador: Cuenca

Mexico: Guadalajaru

United States East

-49

Total receiued from 12 Jane to L0 Septeruber

Plus casb in band

Monies aaailable as at l0 Septenber 1973

480,000

732,000

L218,400

1,44,000

18,300

6409,670

L0129,024

rctle,egq

b) DrstuaurroN oF MoNrEs

EunopE,

Jugoslavia: for a means of ransport for pastoral

activities of the Province of Lubiana

Jugoslavia: for formation of personnel of Zagteb

Province

Jugoslavia:

tion of

for the needs

Rijek t

the

house

forma-

Asrn

India: for dre works run by our students of

theology, Bangalore

India: for the disaster victims, Krishnagar

Arnrce

Cape Verde: for missionary and catechetical apos-

tolate

Egypt: for aspilants, Alexandria

Egypt: for the Oratory, Cairc

Rwanda: for equipment for literacy centre, Musha

South Africa: for native parish of Grasmere

1000,000

600,000

300,000

500,000

5.10 Page 50

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Soum ArueRrce

-50

Argentina: for boarding school for native children,

Junin de los Andes

fugentina: for the < Zephyrinus Namu,ncuri Cen-

tre >, Salta

Bolivia: for social work, Muyurina

Brazil; for audiovisual aids, Humaiti

BmziJ.: fot the needs of Ponta Grossa $arish,

Porto Alegre

Brazi: for parish social centre, Porto Velho

Chi,le: fot the poor of Santiago social enterprise,

San Ramon

Colombia: for the leprosarium, Contratacion

Mexico: for mission jeep

Mexico: for the Retreat House

Peru: for the Salesian << People's Catechetical

Centre >>, Lima

Total rnonies disbursed frorn 12 June to l0 Septem-

ber 1973

Casb i.n hand

Grand total

,00,000

,oo,ooo

600,000

200,000

500,000

1000,000

600,000

1000,000

992,000

3000,000

,00,000

t6r92,000

146,694

t6538,694

c) Gnrrrenel sUMMARY

Monies receiaed up to l0 Septeruber 1973

Monies disbursed. ap to l0 Septenber L973

Cash in hand

200018,637

t9987t,943

t46,694

6 Pages 51-60

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6.1 Page 51

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IV. ACTIVITES OF THE SUPERIOR COUNCTL

AND MATTERS OF GENEBAL INTEREST

The Regional Councillors returned to Rome towards the end

of June; and July, August and September were busy months wi,th a

build-up of business to be attended to, and sometimes two meetings

per day.

1. Meetings of the Superior Council

The main maters dealt with at the meetings of the Cou,ncil

were: new appointments, completion of the examination of SpC de_

liberations, study of the councitrlors' visitation reports, sorting out

the resultant problems corrmon to the whole Salesian world- and

working out a line of action for the imrnediate future. A few words

about each:-

Appointments. The new Provincials were al4rointed according to

the more responsible and exacting procedr.re required by

There was also the choice of Father Castillo,s ro...rroi

the

(v.

pSpG. Cj.

and 56).

Tbe SPC's. The Deliberarions of the following provinces were

eynolned for apprcval: Argentina: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Cor-

doba, Rosario; Brazil: Carnpo Grande, Porto Alegre , Sao paulo; Cbile;

Bogoth; Mexicoz Guadalajaru, Cuenca and Quito; The philippines;

Lyons, Fmnce; the two German Provinces; the two USA provinces;

Uruguay; Central Prov,ince; Peru; Valencia, Spain; the Vietnam

Delegation; the Generalate.

The procedure for the examination of the SPC documenrs is

fully expilained in the Jan.-March Acts of this year, No. 269, page 54. It

is a matter of a purposeful and accurate study because of its great

6.2 Page 52

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-52-

importance. Indeod, as the Rector Major has pointed out, these de-

fiGrations formulated by

by the Superior Council

the provincial communities and approved

truly < point the v/ay > to our genuine

post+apitular activity.

Reports on oisitations. Besides the visitations of the six Regionals

dp"i,l, May and

Salesian houses

June

were

(as ,ln*dy noted

also made by the

above) visits to

Councillors fot

a nu'mber

Formation

and the Missions.

Detailed reports of all visitations were handed to the Superior

Council. The six reports of the Regional C.ouncillors indude a wealth

of statistical data ot the Provinces and their labours over the last

few years: numbers of confrtrcs, works undertaken, petsonnel move-

ments, etc., all set against ,the social, economica,l and pastoral back-

ground of the particular zones visited. The reports then review the

[ractical ,up..it of Salesian realities: religious life, {ormation of

Sd*iurrr, redimensioning, youth apostolate, apostolate for adults and

so on. Each report was examined, with the respective Regional

supplying the necessary clarifications and further 'information. The

problems emerging were treated as matters of urgency.

the

A line

reports

ol action

brought

for tbe

to light

irnrtediate future.

several problems

The

of a

examination of

generul nature

that involve the whole Society. These were dealt with in the Septem-

ber meetings; and in sorting them out certain practical directives

were formrrlated and will be proposed to the Congregation for the

immediate future. At the time of writing this short-term work

plan is still being elaborated.

STorthy of mention is this new note in fi€ Congregation: with

a view to doser collaboration with the Daughters of Mary Help of

Christians, the six Regional Councillors, in the last ten days of Septem'

ber, went in turn to meet the Superior Council of the FMA to give

a rundown on their visits to the Salesian world.

such

Many other matters were

as the unification of the

dealt with in the Council

Ptovinces of Ecuador, the

- sittings

exact inter-

pretation of article 195 of. the Constitutions (at the request of some

brovincials) and the Iforld Congress of the Salesian Brother... and

the list goes on.

6.3 Page 53

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-53 -

2. The work of the C,ommissions

From June to &ptember the four Crm,missions dealt mainly

with the following matte$.

The ColvrvrssroN FoR OucorNc Fonivrauox has put the finishing

touches to preparations for the << Four-month Courses of Ongoing

Formation r> for Salesians (venue: The Salesianum),

Thtee courses are envisaged for 1973-7974. The first is mainly

for confrdres from Italy and Spain and b.gns 20 October this year;

the second (Maich-J,une), mainly for confGres from Latin A,merica;

and the thfud (beginning October next year) will be mainly for con-

frBres from the East.

The Commission is also organizing the << Course for Novice-

masters > for the whole Congegation. This will be held ar Rome

next March.

Plans are also afoot to commemorate an important anniversary:

the centemary of the approval of the Salesian Constitutions (4 April,

1974).

In the past montls the Counciflor and his staff have been busy

in various parts of the Salesian world with conferences, sermons,

study-week addresses, retreats and days of recollection.

The CouryrrssroN FoR Younr Aposror.erB. The Commission for

Youth Apostolate is carrying on Father Castillo's initiatives, now

under the direction of Father Dho. The first important happening

is the << European C,onvention on the Preventive System > (detailed

in the Communications section, page 47). Two other subjmts of

considerable importance today are being studied: << Schools and rhe

Salesian Mi,ssion r> and << Shari,ng School Govemment w,ith Externs >.

Coururssrou ron Aour,r Apostor.ers. Vfe announce the ap-

pointment of two confrEres to cover certain duties: Fat}er Hector

Segneri takes over the d,irection of the Office of thg Salesian Press

and Social Commurrications; and Father Mario Cogliandrc becomes

the Secretary General of tl:e Salesian Cooperators.

At Orsay, France, last June, Father Raineri presided at a meeting

of the French Provincials (SDB and EMA) to d,iscr:,ss the Salesian

Bulletin.

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-54-

Father Rained also (at the end of August) represented the Rector

Majot at ttle < Fifth International Sym'posium on the Salesian Li{e >>

at Luxemboug. The theme of the Sy,mposium Iras <( The Salesian

Family >. It was attended by many Salesian scholars o{ note arrd

(for the first time) by Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Co-oper-

ators and Volunteers of Don Bosco.

The CourvrrssloN rN cHARcE oF THE MrssroNs organ'izsd f..

September a C-ourse of Prepatation for Departing Missionaries (v. Com-

m,nications section, WCe 47).

On 30 September Father Tohitrl'ur,ulli present at the fa'rewell

ceremony for the 10}d. Salesian Missionary Expedition.

3. Important functions in Mexico

In Octobet Mexico City will be the centre o{ many important

events. The Reotor Major and aertain Cor-mcil members wil'l be

present, together with the Provincials of the Pacific-Carribean region.

bne of the events will be the Fourth Latin-American Congress of

Salesian Past Pupils.

The meeting of the Major Superiors with the Provincials of the

Region entrusted to Father Henriquez is in obedience to the post-

.upitrlrt procedure required by the SGC. ASGC 761 (12) reads,

ou fh,tth"e

convenient tfuno the Rector Major and some of the

Superior C.ouncil will arrange meetings with the

members

Provinces

of the

made

different Regions to take

in the imrplementations

stock of

of the

the progress that has been

directives of the General

Chapter >.

The meeting will take place 2'12 October; and besides the

Rector Major and Father Hentique, the Councillom for Forrnation

and Youth Apostolate will also be prese,nt. After the Provincials'

r€,ports on the < SGC imptrementation >>, wi,ll follow an exhaustive

diicussion on Salesian themes which will be helped by experts in

their respective fortes.

< The work wf,ll

respective Provincials,

be tough

<< and the

>, Fatfier Henriquez wrote to his

programme exhaustive. It will cer-

taitrly be a tiring meeting. But its importance is truly exceptional,

6.5 Page 55

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-55-

and its fruits will be beyond measue for the future of our

Provinces. >>

The Fourth Congress of the I-atin-American Past i'upils wilt

also be held at Mexico Gty from 11-14 October. The Rector Majot

wiII attend its opening and closing; and the Councillor for Adult

Apostolate will attend all sessions. There will also be representation

from other National Federations of Past Pupils. This remarkable

event takes on further significance because of its theme: << The

Sa,lesian Past Pupils and J,ustice in Latin-America >>.

OtHBns Mnp,rrNcs. The uip to Mexico will give the Rector

NIajor a chance fot various encounters with confrEres. He will visit

Guadilajata (headquarters of the second Mexican ''Province), Guate-

mala, Managua and the Mexican missions; he will also visit Cuba;

then he will fly to Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Melbourne,

Hobart, Adelaide and Syd,ney. In Australia he will close the celebra-

tions of the 50th. anniversary of the arival, of the first Salesians in

the New Continent.

Father Viganb will visit the Salesian formation centres for

discussions with those responsible. He will visit Guatemala, San

Domingo, Ecuador, Peru, Chile aad Btaztl.

Father Raineri will meet a number of Provincials, and Delegates

of Co-operators and Past Pupfls at Paaafira, Catacas, Bogota, Me-

dellin, Quito, Santiago and La Paz.

Father Dho will travel to Bogoti to meet the Delegates of the

Pacific Region Youth Apostolate, and will visit the aspirants of

Mexico, C,olombia, Caracas and San Domi,ngo.

These comprehonsive metings between confrBres at the various

levels of the Congregation are truly an expression of a unanimous

desite for dialogue and rcnewal fot the ever-better fulfi,lment of

Don Bosco's mission in the wodd.

6.6 Page 56

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V. DOCUMENTS

1. Appointment of tte new Councillor for Apostolate of Youth

Letter of tbe Rector Maior sent to all Prcaincials (dated at Rome

25 July 1971).

Dear Father,

I am pleased

have appointed

to inform you

a successor to

tFhaatth'einr

accord with my Council

Casti,llo (now Coadjutor

Bishop of Trujillo in Venezuela). The new Councillor in charge of

Youth Apostolate is Father Juvenal Dho, vice-Rector of the PAS

and Professor of the Faculty of Educational Science.

Father Dho is well known and highly esteemed not only in the

C,ongregation but also in the Deparrments of the Holy See and in

many dioceses and Religious fnstitutes of men and women, especially

for his constructive work in youth problems as they relate to

vocation.

He has accspted my invitation with Salesian simplicity and will

place at the service of the Congtegation all his preparation and

expedence (which includes twenffive years in South America).

Please inform your confrEres of Fatleer Dho's appointment; and

I know he would Iike me to recommend both himself and his new

work to the prayers of all.

Vith every good wish,

Ferru,n Louls Rrccenr

2. The unification of the Provinces of Quito and Cuenca

(Decree of tbe Rector Maior, Fatber Louis Ncceri, dated at Rome

6 July 1973).

Taking into account tlre various consultations and the proposals

approved by tlr" Special Provincial Chapters of the Sacred Heart

6.7 Page 57

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-57

Province (Qu,ito) and the Mary H.lp of Chlistians Province (Cuonca),

the Rector Major and the Superior Cou,ncil, in their meeting

197), have consented to the unification of the two

of 4 July

Provinces

concerned.

Therefore in execution of this deliberation, I, Father Louis Ric-

ceri, Rector Major of the Salesian Society of St. John Bosco, by

v,irtue of the powers conferted on me by the Decree of the Sacred

Congregation of Religious and &cular Institutes (< Ad instituenda

experimenta >> of 4 June 1970) and by artide L62 of our Constitu-

tions, decree the discontinuance of the Provinces of the Sacred

Heart (Quito) and Mary HeIp of Christians (Cuenca), and the

etection of the si:ngle Province of Ecuador (The Sacred Heart Pro-

vince) with its headquarters at Quito. To the new Province will

belong all the territories, houses and personnel of the two former

Provinces.

This decree goes into force 15 August 1973, Feast of the

Assumption.

Fersrn Lours Rrccrnr

3. Erection of Delegation of M6ndez y Gualaquiza

(Decree of the Rector Major, Father Louis Ricceri, dated at Rorne

6 luly 1.973).

The Rector Major and his Council, at their meeting of 4luly 1.973,

taking into account the recommendations of the Special Provincial

Councils of the dismntinud Provinces of Ecuador, have decided as

follows.

The territory of the Vicariate Apostolic of Mdndez y Guala-

quiza is erected "ad experirnontum" as a Dolegation subject to the

new unified Province in accordance with article 165 of the

Constitutions.

After the er€ction of the new Provincial the Rector Major and

his Council wiltr proceed to the appointment of a Delegate for the

new Delegation, taki,ng due accourt of the urishes expressed in the

consultation conducted by the missionaries concerned.

6.8 Page 58

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-58-

He will be a member of the Provincial Council and further to

the usual powers of a Vricar Apostolic he may be endowed with

others delegated by the Provincial himself, with the exception of

what belongs to the Provincial Council in accordance vith the

Constitutions.

The Rector Major and the Superior Council hope that the decree

of reunification of tlre two Provinces, and the erection of the mis-

sionary territory into a Delegation, will be a spur to the new Province

to tetain its missionary oudook, and that the young will fild in it

an ever-inrcreasfurg oudet for their missionary generosity (SGC 463).

The communities too will find in this an easier path to renewa,l, and

the whole Provirrce, with its missionary andour, will be able to

manifest in a more lively way the apostolic vitality of the Con-

gregation (ibid.).

Farnrn Lours RrccBnr

4. The Vorld C,ongtee of Salesian Btothers

On 5 Aagast 1973 tbe Rector Major sent the lollowing letter

and appendix to all Proaincials lor tbe general inlornatioa ol all con-

frires regarding tbe'fortbcoming World. Congress ol Salesian Brothers.

The tuo docurzents follou.

My dear confrBres,

,- 1 q,fiting regarding the \\Forld Congress of Salesian Brothers.

I know that ,many provinces and regional groups arc abeady working

on its preparation, md I am very pleased that this is so. The Fot-

mation Commission, tfuough Bro. Renato Romaldi, is also collabor-

ating by eiving help and suggestions to the different group6. The

obiect of this present letter is to emphasise certain ideas which will

affect the preparation and therefore also the outcome of the Congress.

l. Tbe Reasons lor tbe Congress

The problem of the Salesian Brother is one which has tepercus-

sions on the very nature of the Congregation, which Don Bosco

6.9 Page 59

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-59-

orirt\\grhthafseenipsttghiedl_naedaedtntaiBtenoigrromob_vftpheo.otechhmrar*tetaalioiydnnSnetpsateelueh-rlpseceiemaoilnwveifgeniB<dththrctoiodlnetourhratfietctharsDerh-paoerrnnoerdefnoaBleuancovynodsamduclcelodorpnenarb-rosnt>ehem,dqianonusnktoeeaidnndlergtilensybJoiayclofunofnntththscrteeahehqdiefuniiSgtegiGcuonocCrnoere,.-f

seen in the new

grven by Vaticacl

conrexr

II. To

of religious

this end the

life and the needs of the times

SGC deoidd on the prepara,tion

and convocati,on of a World, Congress.

principles and guide lines leading up to this congress are ro

be found in rwo of the documents in

documents are of different smphasis

the

but

Acts of the SGC. These

motivated by the sa,-e

concem. The first lays down (ASGC 184):

<( lCith the intention of producing a more intense ,,commu.nion,,,

evem from the point of view of direct responsibility, the SGC, after

an ample debate on the subject of the Brother in the context of our

renewal, has decided that Brothers can become members of

at all levels (local, provincial ;d world). An adequate and

councils

gradual

move in this direction is therefore im,perative in order to renJer this

decision operative. Therefore:

_ a) eadt province should provide the Brothers with an adequate

religious and theological preparation, togerler with technical and pro-

fessional qualifications, in view of these new posts of responsibility;

D) wherever possible, posts of direct responsibiJity should be

given to them in *re different spheres of Salesian work, e.g. schools,

youth centres, publishing houses, etcl

c) the main point however at the moment is to change the mind

and attitude of the whole congregation towards the SalesLn Brother;

d) with this in view, provision should be made for:

L. a general meeti.g

each-group of provinces)

of the

within

Brothers of each

rwo years of the

region (or at

close of the

.least

SGC,

at which problems carn b€ aired and steps taken for a practical applica-

tion of the Chapter decisions;

2. a world meeting of Brothers some rime in the following two

years witfi representatives from each region. >

6.10 Page 60

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60-

The second document indudes the followfurg amongst t}e sug-

gestions for the post+apitular pfogramme:

<< a)As a srgn of support for what the SGC has said with

reference to Brothers, efforts should be made, at least in those ptov-

inces where the proportion of Brothers ,is similar to the figure for

the whole Congregation, to include a Brother amongst the provincial

councillors. Thi same principle should be followed in the case of

house councils.

6) During the first two years immediately following the Chapter

there should if possible be meeti,ngs of Brothers to study those points

in the documents of the Chapter which particularly concern them

with a view to the suggestion of practical applications. These'meetings

should be held in each province and all Brothers should take part in

them; thereafter similar meetings should be held in groups of prov-

inces, with the participation of Brothers elected in each; finally,

there should be a world congress w.ith representatives from each

region. r>

2. Tbose to uhom the initiatioe is directed

The \\7odd Congress of Brothers marks something new in the

Congregation's history. Its preparation, tealization and consequences

are destined to have an influence difficult to foresee on the Brothers,

on confrBres in general, actd on the whole future of the Congregation.

This congtess is in fact something which involves the whole Con-

gregation and not only a Part of it.

This is the authentic interpretation of ASGC t84, 4(,a) and (b),

and. 763, 4(b) where mention is made tespectively of the "I7orld

Congress of Brothers" preceded by "meetings of Brothers". The sense

of these expressions in their context is that although the Brothers

are of necessity the protagonism and immediate object of the \\7orld

Congress and of the provincial and regional meetings which precede

it, the Congr.gss is the responuibility of everyone, including the priests.

Each one is caltred upon to collabotate at his particular level along

the following lines:

7 Pages 61-70

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7.1 Page 61

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:61 -

The question: << U7ho is the Salesian brother? > leads automadc-

ally to another question: << What is the nature of the Congregation?

What is its mission and its spinit? >>. The Congregation as Don Bosco

wanted and founded it is u,nthinkable other than as an aposrolic

community of "consecrated laymen" and "clerics". \\(hat it amounts

to is that the problems of the Brothers are the problems of the

Congregation itself, our real and most vital problems.

History reveals the paradox rhat as far as the Brorhers' problems

are concerned those who should be most interested are not the

Brothers but the other confGres. It sometimes happens that it is

the "clerics" who are lacking in knowledge and esteem of the Brother's

vocation bmatrse of a rnentality produced by past history. Sdlesian

life, with its characteristic deep organic unity, implies a continual

interaction between Brothels and priests.

For these and other obvious reasons t}e Congress needs the

active particrpation also of our priests. It is intended to clarify many

points and resolve many difficulties. The rediscovery and reactivation

of the Brother will mean a greater fidelity to Don Bosco's idea and

a deepening of our own Salesian "community character".

These considerations become even more compelling when we

remember that tomorrow's wodd, ever more technical and scientific,

will require a new presence of the figure of the consecrated layman

and will qpen up entirely new horizons and possibilities for the

Salesian Brother.

3. The chiel objectiaes of tbe Vorld Congress, and ol tbe regional

and prouincial meetings

The objectives of the various congresses can be summarized as

follows:

1. To study the lay religious vocarion of the Brother in the

Salesian Congregation in the light of Don Bosco, the SGC, the re-

newed theology of Vatican II, and in the social and cultural contexr

of the present day.

2. To formulate practical plans for a true, up-dated and effective

presentation of this apostolic figure formulated by Don Bosco.

7.2 Page 62

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62-

3. To give to the C.ongtegation and the whole Salesian Family

a new awaren€ss and understanding of the rcality of the Btother and

the irreplaceable conuibution he brings to the common mission.

4. Reneual ol Salesian Vocation

It has been said that the Salesian Brother was a brilliant creation

of Don Bosco. At the present day in this technical and material

world this brilliant creation seems more relevant than ever' His

potential apostolic capacity has so far been only pardy understood.

A historical legacy, common to so many ateas in the Church, has

had its effect even amongst us of undervaluing the figure of the

cursecrated layman, a vocation old and at the same time new. A

negative contribution has also come from the lack of formation,

especially in the religious field.

Modern

need a clear

- times a^nd

apostolate of

the need

witness.

in future will

To this end a

bfue'lgl raenadtercosmtipllle-te

rediscovery of the Brothet's vocation is necessary, followed by a

re-launching of this new alrcstle in the new kind of world' The

apostolic initiative of the Salesian Brother will certainly open up in

our Salesian mission new means of evangelization, side by side with

the traditional ,methods duly up-dated. !7e must broaden our ,ideas

so as to give full scope to the Brother's vocation. This is the task

of the Congress: study, reflection, prayer; and everyone should feel

the obligation to take part in this work. Let us therefore set aside

all misgiving; let us ,look ahead with joy and enthusiasm to the

task awaiting us. The C-ongress and all that goes with it should be

if an occasion of strengthening amongst us, this should be necessary,

the bonds of true Salesian btotherhood.

5. Various dates

The organizational details for the prepan'ation of the various

phases leading to the \\7orld Congress of Brothers appear as an

Appendix to this l€ttor. Tlrey should be carefully observed so that

7.3 Page 63

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63-

we are able to reach our goal. To enable the work to be carried

out expeditiously the following calendar is suggested:

By 31st March,1,974 Completion of the provincial con-

glesses

By 30th September, L974 Completion of regional or inter-prov-

incial congresses

By 31st lanuary,l975 Despatch to tlre C,entral Commission

of the Acts of the regional or inter-prov-

incial congresses.

6. Conclusion

I end this letter with a renewed appeal for support and col-

laboration so that *1g 6sstings ,may be successful. They will help

to clear up ,misunderstandings, to olarify tnrths not well understood

at the present day, especially with regard to the nature and validity

of our religious vocation and the original idea of the figure of the

Salesian Brother.

May Mary Help of Christians the inspiration and support of

our Congregation, give us light and strengthen us with her blessing.

\\trith af ec'tionate grcetings and the request for a remembrance

in Your PraYers,

Fr. Lours Rrccrnr

Rector Maior

Appruorx

olOtbrgean'VizoartlidonCdoentgarielsssloorl

tbe preparation

Salesian Brotbers

l. Proaincial Cornrnission

Broth-er

This has the task of studying the figure of the Salesian

in the light of Salesian tradition, the Acts of the SGC,

Vatican II, and in the context of pnactical life.

7.4 Page 64

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-64

marm-er

It will be constituted on the Provincial's initiative in the

he considers most opportune, due regard being paid to an

adequate rqlresentation of priests.

so-on

The setting up of

as possible to the

this commission shall

Regional Superior and

the

communicated

Cenmal Com-

mission, with an indication of ttre confrBre in charge.

congr-ess,Ititswoilrlgasntuizdaytiothneadnedtatials,liozfaitohne.pneparation of the provincial

local

-conIdtitwionilsl

decide on the topics to be

and the guide-lines of the

studied, keeping in

Central Commission.

mind

feren-t

It will

topics in

foster initiatives and promote the study of the di4-

local communities and by in&vidual confrbres, witlr

a view to the provincial congress and the necessary development

of a new sensitivity of the figure of the Brother.

udll

b- e

It will

decided.

assign subjects to speakers

specify how representation

at the provincial

congress.

congress

prese-nt

It will

them to

dmw up the Acts of the

the regional commission.

provincial

congress

and

- The

congress.

members

uritt

b€

exofficio

members

the

provincial

2. Regional (or inter-proaincial) Corumission

less

- Its function is organizational

essential i,n the preparatory process.

and

technical,

but

none

the

with-theItprwovililncbiealssectouncperbnyedthaenRdewgiiollnainl cCluoduencbilolotrh,

in agreernent

Brothers and

priests.

congr--ess,AItittswleoialrslgtashntuaizdlafytitohthneeamdneedmtabtiaelsr.sliozwfaitiolhlneb. eprBeproathraetriso.n of the regional

the

v-,iewIst

will decide on the topics to be

of the ptovincial congtesses and

studied, bearing in mind

the general guidelines of

the Central Commissiqn.

7.5 Page 65

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-6)

coord-inatIet

will keep in

their work.

touch

with

the

provincial

commissions

and

the

p--rovIIittncwwiaiilllll

assign subjects to speakers at the regional congress.

integrate and draw up a synthesis of the work of

congresses and will send copies to the provincial

delegates to the regional congress.

' It will specify the details concerning representation of prov-

- inces and the election of ptovincial delegates.

- It will draw up the Acts of the regional congress.

Nore: By "region" is meant the collection of provinces having

the sa,-e Regional Councillor. \\V'hete ttre distance betweon prov-

inces, divetsity of language, or other reasonable cause does not allow

of the, holding of a single congress fot the whole region, several

inter-provincial congresses can be held, each with its own responsible

commission.

3. Central Cornrnission

Of its nature tlais commission will be international and com-

prehensive in scope; it will be composed of Brothers and priests.

neces-saryI.t will have the ,assistance of experts, as may be found

It will study the details of the preparation of the ITorld

Congress.

It wil,l work out,and suggest the general themes to be studied.

- It will provide a liaison with the regional or inter-provincial

- commiss,ions and udll co-ordinate their work.

will

-assigItn

will nominate the

subjects to them.

spoalets

fot

the

ITorld

Congress

and

the

re-gioInta,lwcoilnlgirnetsesgersa, taenadnwdil&l asewnducpopaiessytnothtehseisteogfionthae,l

work of

delegate

to the !florld Congess.

It will make proposals to the Superior Council concerning

- the representation of the regions and the election of regional delegates

for the I7orld C-ongress.

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4. Participants in tbe oarious congresses

Proaincial Congresses: AII the Brothers will take part (ASGC

7$, 4b\\ plus an adequate ropresentation of priests wi,th a know-

ledge of matters of rel,igious life and the specific problems of the

Brothers, according to arrangements laid down by the provincial

council after hearing the opinion of the provincial commission.

Regional or inter-proaincial Congresses: Those Brothers and

priests will take part who are elected by the provincial congresses,

following the rules drrawn up by the regional or inter-provincial

commission.

World Congress: Those Brothers and priests will take part who

are elected by the regional or inter-provincial congresses; following

the rules to be promulgated in due course by the Central Commission.

5. Acts of the Congresses

The Acts of the Congresses at the different levels rnust contain:

tions-anad

list of ,those taking Frt, wi,th their respective qualifica-

duties during the congtess, ,and in their norma,l Salesian

lives;

the date, place, and duration of the congress;

- themes dealt with;

- text of the r,eports and the respective speakerS.

- conclusions arrived at alrrd voting results.

-The Central Commission will need to have copies of everything.

The Acts of the \\7orld C-ongtess will be printed and. at the disposal

of all confrBres.

6. Informati.on and conespondence

All matters deatring with the above Congresses should be re-

ferred to:

The Central Cornmission

Salesian Brothers Congress

Casa Generalizia Salesiana

Via della Pisana LLLL

00163 Rorna

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5. Erection of the Pas to a Pontifical University

a) Letter (No. 237.940) from Cardinal Villot, Secretary ol State,

to tbe Rector Maior, Fatber Louis Ncceri (dated at tbe Vatican

11. August 1973).

Very Rev. Father,

I am pleased to forward to you herewith the << Motu Proprio >>

by which His Holiness Pope Paul VI has conferred the title of

University on the Salesian Pontifical Athenae,m.

I add my own congratulations and sincere good wishes for this

important.,recognition.

Most sincerely yours in Christ,

G. Cano. Vrr,r-or

b) latin text ol tbe < Motu Proprio > conlerring tbe title ol

Uniuersity on the Salesian Pontilical Atbenaeum.

Paulus PP. VI

Magisteri',m vitae, quo animi, praesertim i rniesp, et christianis

virtutibus excolerentur et perpolirentur docrinis, Societas S. Fran-

cisci Salesii quasi praeclara- here&tatem a S. Joanne Bosco, condirore

suo ac legrfero patre, accepit ac per temporum cursum sedulo exercefe

nisa est et amplificare, neque in praesenti id agere desinit. Nam egre-

gius ille Christi sacerdos ad quendam tradirur scrfu>sisse: << Srudium

et pietas verum te reddent Salesianum > (cfr. E. Ceria, Memorie Bio-

grafiche del Beato D. Bosco, Torino 1934, frl, p.28). Ipse enim,

<< gravissim,m educationis momentum in vita hominis eiusque influxum

semper maiorem in socialem huius aetatis progressum > (Conc. Vat. II,

Grav. educ., 1) praesentiens, ita suorum munus anno MDCCCLffiV

in proemio Constitution'rm Societatis Salesianae effinxit: << Catholicae

religionis ministris p"m,ra.,im somper fuit in adulescentr:Iis instituendis

maximam esse sollicitudinem adhibendam. Etenim iuventute malis aut

bonis moribus imbuta, bona aut mala ipsa hominum societas fiet. Ipse

Chdstus Dominus huius rei veritatis nobis clarum exemplum suppe-

ditavit praesertim cum parvulis ad se advocatis divinis manibus be-

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nediceret, atque clamaret: "sinigs parvulos venife ad me". Nostris

vero ternporibus longe maior urget necessitas > (A. Amadei, Memorie

Biografiche di S. Giovanni Bosco, Torino t939, X, p. 846).

Sodales vero Societatis Salesianae mirum illud a Sancto Funda-

tore et patre tfadihm artis eduoandi charisma pie receperunt non modo

quasi quoddam sacrum depositum custodiendum, sed etiam tamquam

uberrimum germen fideliter excolend,m. Quod quidem altiora et di-

ligentiora studia superiore et otgenisa, ut aiunt, institutione exercenda

deposcit, quibus omnia, quae in fontibus continentur, et catho]ico ser-

mone methodoque scientifica erplicentur et novrs postulatis apte tes-

pondeatur.

Propterea, tanti parentis vestigia secutus, B. Michael Rua, pro*i-

mus eiusdem in regenda Societate successor, cui non ita pridem Bea-

torum Caelitum honores Nosmet decrevi-us, mature, id est anno

McMrv, Fulgitii in Salassis, quem pagum Foglszzo Canavese vulgo

appellant, prope Augustam Taurinorum Institutum Theologicum In-

ternationale a S. Micha6le condidit, quod esset Salesianis sodalibus

primaria domus studiorum. Cui annis MCMilI et MCMXIV a Sede apos-

tolica est concessa facultas alumnos ad gradus academicos Baccalaurea-

tus et Licentiae in sacra theologia promovendi. Praeter hanc sedem

studiorum theologicorum, a MCM)O(III in ipsam urbem Augustem

Taurinorum, nomine indito S. Joannis Bosco, translatam, etiam Insti-

tutum phflosophicum scholasticos Salesianos exciniebat.

Denique anno MCMXL hoc doctrinarum domicfium, eiusdem Apos-

tolicae Sedis auctoritate, &gnitatem Pontificii Athenaei, ad Salesianos

discipulos pertinentis, est^pdrovectum, 9ud Facultates theologiae, philoso'

phiae, iutis canonici complecteretur.

Quod cum laetis esset auctum incrementis iuvat potissimum me-

morare Institutum disciplinarum paedagogicarum, omnibus patens, eidem

- accrevisse anno MCMIXV, Augusta Taurinorum relicta, in aedibus

permagnis, ornatis, instructis Romae est feliciter collocatum.

Huic Athenaeo Nosmet ipsi, optatum Joannis XXIII, Decessoris

Nostri rec, mem., ad effectum deducentes Pontificium Institutum AI-

tioris Latini141i5 semmisimus ac deinde addidimus, quo responderetur

<< ei qua Ecclesia angitur, sollicitudini inter clericos studia Latinitatis

promovendi eiusque magistros instituendi > (Alloc. ad Salesianos sodales

in Pont. Athenaeo eonrm habita 29 Oct.. 1966, A.A.S., LYIll, 1966,

pp. 1164-1165). Utroque eiusmodi fnstituto Paedagogico scilicet, quo

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<( ars artium > a Salesianis, quasi domestico usu in ipsam assuetis, do-

cetur qrrodque hac aeiate florere cognoscitur, et Lati.itatis scJrola, quae,

nonnullis difficultatibus pro huius saeculi moribus circumsaepta, ad

exoptatum profectum niti videtur, eidem magno disciplinarum domici-

lio Salesiano peculiaris indoles et commendatio inter consimiles Roma-

nas doctrinarum sedes accedunt.

cuius quidem Athenaei Facultates omni sollertia er indusrria praes-

tarunt operam ad illam studiorum superiorum promovenda- renova-

tionem ac progressionom, quam Sacra congregatio pro Institutione ca-

t!9lica, attentis auspiciis ac pfaecentis Concilii Vaticani II, diligenter

efficiendam ac provehendam constituit.

Nec praetereundum hoc esse videtur, quod ad eius vitalitatem per-

tinet: praeter scilicet quinque Romae erectas Facultates, in numerum

conferri etia- Sacrae Theologiae sectionem, quam dicunt, Augustae Tau-

rinorum condita-, pontificiam Facultatem Dsciplinarum Educationis a

Filiabus Mariae duxiliatricis in eadem urbe Augusta Taurinorum insti-

tutam atque cum Pontificio Athenaeo Salesiano consociatam, decem

deinde Salesianorum Instituta ad theologicos ctrrsus peragendos desti-

nata, Sacrae Theologiae Facultati ipsius Athenaei < atfihata >>, in variis

Europae, Asiae et Americae << regionibus dismibuta; atque fore spes est

ut et alia pro*ime his amumerentur.

Pontificium igitur Athenaeum Salesianum efficacem vitam exercet

et naviter operatur in toto fere tcrrarum orbe ea mente, ut viis et ra-

tionibus, quae proprie ad Studiorum Universitatum magisteria spectent,

doctrinis iam quadamtenus formatorum institutionem promoveat iuxta

peculiarem illum sancti Fundatoris spiritum, qui << systemate praeven-

tivo r>, quod vocant, explicatur, quique gemanam suam naturam et vim

ex Evangelio non sine divino consilio haurit.

Denique recens Speciale Salesianorum Capitulum Generale decre-

vit, ut Pontificium Athenaeum Salesianum, pastoralibus obtemperando

II C-oncilii Vaticani praeceptis, singulari rarione sibi propri',m haberet

doctrinas, ad apostolatum mavime pertinentes, penitus pervestigare et

collustrare, instante spectata necessitate iuventutem christiane insti-

tuendi, necnon postulationibus attentis hanc institutionem scientifice

fulciendi, ita ut fructuosus dialogus cum mundo ho&erno instaurari

possit.

Cum ergo religiosa ista Familia de optimis stu&is bene meruerit

et spes effulgeat fore, ut, novo sibi Pontificiae benignitatis munere col-

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lato, novas utilitates et in hac regione Ecclesiae et humanae atferut

consortioni, Nos motu prcprio et .Apostolica auctoritate decemimus

atque prontrntiamus Pontificium Athenaeum Salesianum, legiti me ere'

ctum atque iisdem S. Joannis Bosco ffis creditum, nunc et fur poste-

rum Pontificiam Studiorum Universitatem Salesianam esse nuncupan-

dum; pariterque praecipimus, ut nova haec appellatio in Statuta et

leges Athenaei, quod usque adhuc dicebatur, inducatur, quae quidem

vi sua pergunt valere.

Quaecumque vero a Nobis hisce Littetis motu ptoprio datis de'

creta sunt; ea omnia firma ac rata esse iubemus, conffariis quibusvis

nihil obstantibus.

Datum Romae, a,pud Sanctum Petrum, in festo Beatae Mariae Vir-

ginis Auxiliatdcis, die )OfiV mensis Maii, anno MCMIJO(III, Ponti-

ficatus Nostri decimo.

P.aur.us PP. VI

c) Englisb *anslation ol tbe Motu Proprio < Magisteriurn oitae >,

conlerring tbe title ol [Jnioersity on tbe Salesian Pontilical Athe-

naeun (formerly PAS; now UPS\\.

The fundamental principles of ,l,ife by which the young in partic'

ulat are uained and eJucated in Christian teachings and virtues have

been bequeathed to ttre Society of St. Francis of Sales as a precious

heritage from its Founder and Legislator, St. John Bosco; and over

the yeats the Society has endeavoured to practise and develop tlrem,

and stiltr perser/eres today. St. John Bosco, exemplary priest that

lre was, one wrote to one of his clerics, < Study and piety wifl

m,ake you a true Salesian , (cf. E. C-eria, IMB, Turin, 1934, Xy,

p. 28). Indeed he foresaw < the fundamental i,mportance of educa-

tion in the life of man and ,its growing influence in the social

progrcss of modern times>> (Vat. II, Grav. Educ. 1); and n 1874

he thus formulated the mission of his collaborators in the Introduc-

tion to the Const'itutions of the Salesialr Society: < Catholic priests

were always convinced of the need of putting every effort into the

education of the young. Sooiety will be good or bad depending on

whethet the young have been raised according to good or bad

8 Pages 71-80

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8.1 Page 71

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principles. Christ himself exemplified this truth very clearly when

he called to himself the Iitde children and bless€d them saying,

"Suffer the litde children to come unto me". I,n our times this need

is far more urgent> (A. Amadei, MB, Turin,1939, X, p. 896).

The members of the Salesian Society have received fro,m their

Father and Founder his remarkable educational charisma. It is not

iust a revered gift to be guarded jealously but a fruidut seed to

be faithfully nurtured. This task naturally requires to be stu&ed io

depth in an Institute of ltrigher Studies so that the principles may

be expounded scientificailly in a language underrstood by a.ll and

adequately meet mode(n rcquirements.

Thus in L904, Michael Rua, the Founder's first successor (whom

we recently decl,ared Blessed) founded in Foglizzo Canavese near

Turin an International Theologica,l I,nstitute dedicated to Saint Midrael:

it was to be the central seat of study for the Salesians. In l9l2

ail t914 the Holy See granted this Institute the faculry of con-

ferting the Licentiate and Baccalaureate. Furtlrcr to this theologate

(transferred ln 1923 to Turin) there was also tlre Don Bosco Phil-

osophate for Salesians.

Then in 1940 the Apostolic See raised this cenrre of studies to

the status of a Pontifical Atlrenaeum for Salesian srudents; it included

the Facr-il,ties of Theology, Phi,loso,phy and Canon Law.

This Salesian Pontifical Athenaeu,m gnew and developed; and a

pleasing feature was t}e addition of the Instir.ute of Pedagogy,

which was open to all students. In 1965 it was transferred ro Rome

to a new, ,larger and more suitable complex.

In pursuance of the desire of John )fiIII, our predecessor of

happy memory, we conferred and added to the dllsnasrrm thg

Higher Pontifical Institute of Latin. This was in answer to the

Church's consrant sollicitude to foster Latin Studies among derics

and to prepare professors in this discipline > (Address to the Salesi,ans

at PAS, 29 Oct. 1966; AAS LVIII, 1.966, pp. 1L64-1165).

The

arts ,

pedagogical

(this subject

section, where the Salesians teach the << art

fu 2 family madition for them) is flourishing;

and the Latin section is battling away despite the difficulties of to-

day's cultural attitudes. Each Insritute is clearly making every efforr

to achieve its desired end. F,rom them derives the special character

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this important Salesi,an Centre has among tlre academic institutes in

Rome, and it merits just commendation.

F,urthermore the Faculties at the Attrenaeum are making a keen

and constant contribution to reform and develop those higher studies

which (in accordance with the principles and norms of Vatican II)

the Sacred Congegation fot Catholic Education has fostered and

furthered.

And we must not overlook thia sign of vitali,ry in the

Atlrenaeum: besides the five Faoulties in Rome there is t}e Sacred

Theology section in T'urin, and ttrc Pon'tifical Faculty of Educational

Sciences, instituted by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians

(also in Tudn and associated wi,th the Salesian Athenaeu,m). Then

there ate the ten Salesialr Theological fnstitutes in various nations

in Europe, Asia and America, and which arc afhltated with the

Salesian Athenaeum; and there are hopes of others in the future.

Thus the PAS is effioient, vital and operating on a world-wide

basis, and its aim is to use tlre science and methods of the university

to educate and form those who will in turn be responsible for the

for,matiom of others; and this according to the Founder's spirit, the

Preventive System, which under divine inspiration draws its nature

and strengh from the Gospel.

Furthermore, the recent Special General Chapter of the Salesians

laid down that the Athenaeum, obedient to the pastoral directives of

Vatican II, should deepen and spread the knowledge of tlose

disciplines which are of greater use for the apostolate in view of the

wide-spread and growing urgency to train the young in Christian

lirring. And with these pressing needs in mind it is endeavouring to

place this formation on a scientific basis so that a fruitful dialogue

with the modern wodd will result.

Indeed this Religious Family is wonthy of high pmise for the

serious attentiorl it has consistently given to studies. We nourish

the hope that this new sign of Pontifical benevolence will spur it on

to further good work for the good of the Chutch and civil society.

So by virtue of our apostolic authority we decree and declare

that the Salesian Pontifical Athenaeum, canonically erected and

entrusted to the Sons of St. John Bosco, from now on be called

the Salesian Pontifical University. Likewise we establish that this

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new n4me be inserted into the statutes and laws of the here-

tofore-styled Athenaeum, which witrl retain their validity.

'We order that all that is deeeed in this << Moru Proprio > leter

be ratified and confirmed, all diqpositions to the conrrary nofwirh-

standing.

Given at St. Peter's, Rome, on the Feast of Mary Help of

Christians, 24 lvlay 1973, tlre 10th. year of our Pontificate

Peur PP. VI

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VI. FROM THE PROVINCIAL NEWSLETTERS

So far ue baoe receioed newsletters lroru forty-eigbt Proainces

(albeit witb a certain understandable irregularity). Recertt arriaals

shou a preference lor the speedy and econonoical daplicating macbine,

and, deal, uitb practical matters in a plain and simple style. Many

items are of genuine importance to tbe Proaincial corzzrnunities and

tbe Congregation in general.

Atl in all there is a wealtb ol good inlornatiue rnaterial, and

it is not easy to nake a cboice lor this section of tbe Acts; and

space does not allou ol a cornplete coaerage ol all tbe rnatter worth

reporting.

Tbese pages do not always giue preference to neus tbat is in

itseff nost irnportant, but ratber to iterns tbat carry ideas and

experiences tbat are not uidely known, or tbat are likely to saggest

and stimalate sinilar experinents elseubere.

While repeating our thanks to the Prouincials, be also iterate

oar reqaest tbat ruewsletters be sent regularly to the Rector Maior,

tbe interested Superiors, and to the Press Ottice.

1. Provincials to confrttes

a) Tur spEcrAL rASToRAL sERvrcEs oF THE Rrcron

The Rector must render three speci,al pastotal services to the

community. First of aJL, spiritual and apostolic incentive must

If emanate from him. anyone should have an abundance of courage

in these difficult moments in our history, it is certainJy the one who

has accepted tlre task of the responsibility of the.community. Secondly

the Rector must be dynamic and selflessly inspire this quality in

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-75-

others. I7e have to be practic.al Salesia,ns and realise that we must

work with ttre people we are given. 'S7e musr help them, g€r the

best out of them and increase their apostolic efficiency. Tbirdly, the

Rector is responsible for the formation of his confrBres. Life must

be seen as a <( school of formation >. Don Bosco worked hand for '

those who lived with him to assist them grow to maturity.

(Father Anthon) Calero - Cordoba, Spain - August 1973).

b) Rrlaxauor.l

Relaxation in a manner consonant with our religious stage is in

keeping with the Gospol: << Come away with me and rest awhile )).

Even Don Bosco felt the need to suspend his prodigious activities

and take time off for rest. A proper period of repose increases our

efficiency and restores our psychological balance (which these days is

subject to so much wear and tear). One of the causes of community

tensions is that time is used inefficiently and poorly programmed.

Periods for relaxation may and should be ptranned and revised if

we do not wish to jeopardise basic values,

{Fatber G. Sangalli - Ligure-Toqcano - June 1973 - page 2).

c) Pnnsor.urrrl solrDARrry

Our financial solidarity to tlle missicjns and to needy enterprises

is indeed important; but personnel solidarity is no less important.

For instance we could try to stir up some of the more mature

youngsters to sacri{ice a pafi of their Iives (one or two years) in

Africa or elsewhere; and

these other groups ttyng

rJren organize groups

at the same time to

live

suuppptoor,tththeeimdea-ls

of such a gesture of << ,service to others >. (Father Tunguy wrote to

me last December: < If in your travels you come across any young

people ready to work ,in with African youngsters, let me know >.)

Or again, we couJd make lcnown the anguished appeal of confrBres

at grips with inhuman problems. (Father Gimbert in Hairi, 92 yearc

old and almost blind, wrote to rne: << If only I could last another

twenty years! >).

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-76-

Missionary help goes a long way; for charity readies the way

for justice. As Father Raineri wrote: << Hungeting for justice means

- two things: denouncing injustice and endeavouring to suppress it

and we start by doing something ourselves >>.

(Fatber Michele Mouillard - Lyons, France - Feb., 1973, pp. 2-3).

2. T\\e China-Vietnam Province - The centenary of the birth of Mgt.

Versiglia

Tbe China-Vietnan Prooince has decided to cornmen orate the

centenary ol tbe birtb of Mgr. Versiglia - 5 June 1'973. The neus-

letter of lune-August 1973 relers to tbis.

In his circular of Z April 1973,Y. Rev. Father Provincial sug-

gested that each co--unity oryanze a solemn cornmemoration of

this centenary duting the scholastic year 1973-1974 <<in order to

revive his memory among the confrEres and make his resplendent

figu,re known to our boys. On the one hand such a commemoration

will serve to illustrate to them his heroic martytdom; and on the

ottrer hand the confrBres wil,l be duly impressed by the example of

his virtues. This is an excellent incitement towards the spiritual

renewal required by the )O( General Chapter )>.

The following reasons ate given fot such a commemoration.

a) Mgr Versiglia'was the first Salesian missionary in China, the

founder of the house at Macau and of the Salesian missions Heung

Shan and Shiu Chow.

b) He was the first Salesian bishop in Asia.

c) He was a man of outstanding virtues which can serve as a

pattern for our present Salesians. We can all admire and imitate in

him < the spiritual life, pr,ayer, the spirit of poverty, love of sacri{ice

and the cross )> so warmly recommended by His Holiness Paul VI

in his discourse to the membens of the Special General Chapter.

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-77 -

c) Mgr. Versiglia died a martyr of chadty, generously grving up

his own life in defence of chastity. His heroic death has won for

him the admiration of the whole Church. His Cause of Beatification

has already been some years in progress, and there is a well-grounded

hope that in two or dree years this much longed-for went wiLl take

place. It is therefore the duty of tlre Salesians of China nor to

allow his memory to fall into oblivion.

d) TIrc colebmtions of his cenrenary are in perfect harmony

with the missionary motto given this year by the Rector Major to

the whole Salesian Family.

V. Rev. Father Provincial naturally hopes that if the celebrations

at community level are successful, this << will enable the Provincial

Office to consider the feasibility of a com,memorarion to be held by

the whole Province >>.

3. Southern Province - Questionnaire on boy's rcffeat

Daring tbe scbolastic year tbe tbeology students ol Castellanz-

mare (Naples) assisted uitb tbe boys' retreat at tbe < Centre ol

Spirituality > ol the Prooince. Tbe lollouing qaestionnaire uas then

prepared, witb a request lor tbougbtful, answers witb a pastoral slant.

(Neusletter, May L973, pp. 3-4).

I7e took as a basic principle that the rerreat is closely bound

up with the education work of the community; hence this work is

seriously compromised, even negated, by deficiences in the retreat.

Hence the following questions.

mbeuinngi-tya'snWe,indhtuoaogtartauivlseepawisrot rtohkfe-threerwrweitahhrooliueft

it is a mere episode in the com-

prepalation or follow-up, without

*rioiry of the Institute?

the

b-oysw' hoawtnulseeve,ils,

a teffeat which is not a <( God+ncounter

with prayer that really comes from the

>> at

heart

and is not imposed by a bell; and seeing that the Iford of God

really means somephing to them?

8.8 Page 78

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-78-

labom- tioIn7'hoaftaulsl ethies.

a retreat without ttrc fuIl and enthusiastic col-

confrBres, especially the teachers (who need to

be also physigally present)?

deliv-ery

lfhat use is a retreat < delegated >

of the flock and run the risk of

to outsidets, who take

leading it who knows

where?

with-

\\[hat use is a retreat

life lived in Christian

if .it does not

fashion

put the boys in contact

if this only means

learning from our dedicated confrEres? (problem of behaviour

patterns).

and

-the

What use is a

where; glving

retreat without explaining the what, the how

due importance to the spiritual situation of

the boys; seeing that they meet the preacher, the organizers...)?

senio-r

\\7hat

lads, as

use is a retrerLt when imposed on

a structure of the college? (problem

all, especially the

of free assent).

toget-her,\\Vwhiatht

use

is a retreat when

account taken of

juniors and

the different

seniots are lumped

spiritual situations

and apostolic preferences?

- \\Vhat use is a retreat when 'immediately afterwards everyone

leaves for the hdlidays?

\\7ou-ld

\\flhat use

it not be

is a retreat when squeezed into two or t}ree days?

better to have monthly days of recollection that

would give an opprtunity for talks on Christian involvement with

subsequent follow-up?

lems-to

What

solve

use is a

(such as

retteat for boys

the existence of

who

God,

may have

of Christ,

major prob-

the validity

of the Gospels) and need to go bac,k to first principles?

thing-and\\Vthhaust

use is a

runs the

tetreat

risk of

which perforce must touch

treating nothing in depth?

every-

- Should the word <( retreat > be changed for something closer

to reality?

!7e think it is not good enough to adopt the attitude: << Stiltr,

something good always comes out of them r>; and to be satisfied if

everyone goes to confession and communion. This is not treating

the apostolate with the seriousness it deserves.

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'!7e are not out to destroy everything, but to ransform from

w,ithin what risks being (according to some lads at Castellammare)

<( iust one of the many strucrures imposed on us by r:he college >.

I7e need to be apostolically inventive and discover new forms

if we want this educative and pastoral means of Don Bosco to achieve

its desired results.

4. Province of Recife

Vocation'Veek

In tbe first ball of 1.973 tbe Salesian Cotlege ol Fortaleza, Brazil,

experimented witb a ueek ol << cornrnunication of the message ol

Cbristian liuing>>, wbich includ,ed rneetings, bible groups and bymns,

clirnaxing with a Vocation Week in lune. (Neusletter, Sept. 1973,

pp.10-11).

. The week was well prepared and aimed at boys n the 12-16

years age group. Forty-two turned up. First we had to prepare

the place: general meeting room, smaller rooms for group -i.tirrgr,

projection toom. Then a stack of plackards and posters for illustra,ting

Christ's call to the Church, to follow him in service to others, etc.

These were set up in strategic places.

The timetable was drawn up with oare, and only the mornings

were used, the afternoons being free for Ercrt, music, records and

reading.

The generdl structure of the week consisted in meetings. The

Salesian clerics from Nordeste, on holidays from Sao Paulo, were

immensely helpfirl, and their friendly presence enlivened the meetings,

groups, conversations and recreations.

The week ended with two imFressive ceremonies: perpetual

profession of a confrEre and ordination to deacon and lector of

two others.

The resuLts of the week exceeded our expecrations. Many of

the youngsters felt drawn to a more aurhentic Christian li[e, to

follow Christ more closely in their choice of religious life or the

married state.

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5. Salesian Fanily Convention

The Salesian Prouince of Verona (Italy), and tbe FMA Prouince

ol Padua planned togetber a << Conoention ol tbe Salesian Fami'ly ol

'Vest Veneto >>, and tbe lollowing matters were dealt uitb' (Neus'

letter, July 1973, pP. 6-7).

The scope of the Salesi'an Family Convention was to promote

the spirit of unity among the various goups making up the salesian

Family, and a fnaternal exchange for mutual enrichment and greater

apostolic outPut.

The salesians and rhe EMA were represented by their Provincials,

vice-Provincials, Delegates {or Co-opefatofs and Past Pupils, local

Superiors. There were also two C-o-operators, two Past Pupil

Presidents and a Salesian Brother.

The Convention held its fimt meeting 10 June at Padua and the

agenda consisted of three repofts on the tfuee aims: << The Salesian

Family wants

olic work >.

unity

in mutual friendship, in prayer and in apost-

The vice-Provincial, Father Zanena, spoke first and suggested

ways and means of fostering mutual friendship: to reflect on the

documents regarding the twin Congregations, the Union of Co-oper-

ators, ttre Past Pupils, the Volunteers of Don Bosco, etc., studying

also their history and their comrnon Father.

The second address was given by a Cooperator. She represented

Salesian prayer as the deep source of unity, and touched on the

sacramentdl li[e, devotion to Mary and loyalty to the Pope.

tion,TwhiethMrooftehreenr cPerotovinvcairaiol usspo,mkeeaonsn(t"orpri<tychienlonapmoseteotliincgsc,olplaabrotircai--

pation in parish councils, approved methods o{ association of boys

and girls, praytng togetiher, mutual efforts to further vocational

guidance, helping Co-operator and Past Pupil goups, missionary

activities and so on). This practicd talk contained a wealth of

proposals and opened up the way for discussion regarding the type

of work that could be done together.

9 Pages 81-90

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6. Ptovince of Leon - A tmvelling missionary exhibition

A'trauelling missionary exhibition, organized in tbe Proaince ol

Leon and entrusted. to Fatber Ezechial Gonzalo bas done tbe rounds

ol tbe Salesian Houses in Spain. Here are a lew facts regarding tbe

aefltare. (Newsletter, lune L973, pp. t7-78).

Airus. To contribute to the aim of the << Strenna >> to make

confrBtes more <( intensely mission-minded >; to make our pupils

aware of the missionary

area for their calling in

work

life;

toofatphperisCeonpgeroepglaetiocnon-necatesdawpiothssiobuler

Salesian work of a facet of the Society that is litde known and here

and now in dire need.

Results. 'S7e were pleasandy surprised at the effect the exhibi-

tion had everywhere; and foresee many fine possibilities for the

future. It stimulated natural curiosity, and even more, interest for

the message it carried. The boys and the externs were the most

imptessed. It proved an excellent way of making known the wide

extent of the Salesian activities, especidlly in the Third Vorld which

today arouses so much sympathy. The exhibition demonstnated its

validity as an education-aid in the vocational field and in opening

up new horizons.

Problerns. r$7e had to do a fair amount of improvising in our

presentation, as we were not expecting the great amount of interest

that was aroused. The time spent in each house was generally too

short to reach all the pu,pils easily; and even more so for the

outside people.

It was plain that in many places there is still a childish concep-

tion of missionary activity: and this meant that in some houses

the senior boys did not turn up. Each communi,ty needs a confrdre

whose task it is'to whip up enthusiasm for the missions.

Results. (The interior results are of course impossibir[e to assess.)

58 houses visited; 39250 youngsters saw the exhibition; 59 mission

Masses; 20 paraliturgies; 40 communrity meditations; 58 conference-

cum-film sessions; 92 sermons; 82 mission film showings; missionary

knick-knacks sold: 310,000 pese,tas; donations: 451,000 peseras.

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7. Prcvince of Belo Horizonte - < My vacation on the mission-field >

In some coantries tbose Salesians ubo uork in our colleges are

gioen the cbance of a aacation tbat is an enrbbing pastoral exper-

iBsrza6zsil.-(Neownsltebteterm, Aisspiorinl -1fi9e7ld3s).. Here is an interesting article trorn

the

Juaret6, February 1973. I

Rio Negro mission here.

have enjoyed

My reasons?

my second

I have to

holiday at

admit the

economic tourist attraction is great; but hardly sufficient justification.

No one berated me for being

than tourism that brought me

ehxetrrea;vaitgaanlsto-tooaknda

really

Iitde

it was more

courage.

The Acts of the SGC say that the tenewal of our missionary

enthusiasm is the best medicine for the comfortable life. How true!

I'm

I am not ashamed to admit that

not quite sure how. Today I

I lost my missionary

feel it coming back,

vbeug2t liIsnfa-ce

the fact that it cannot be. I lack the courage to p,ut with some of

I the city college com-forts. have often jokingly said to the confrbres

here that a missionary needs apostolicity, a sense of adventure and

a pootrs heart. I don't know how much I can claim of these

'qualitIiecsan-

I am ertainly found wanting.

guarantee that this period definitely

helped

cure

little

of my love of comfort. I made up my mind to stay all my time in

the one mission so as to live the ordinary daily life without being

treated as an outsider or visitor. I wanted to assimilate something

of the misionary spirit.

Now I return happy for I found what I was looking for. I feel

I have been toughened up a bit; my faith is stronger; my vocation

as a Salesian ard a priost has benefited. I learned something of

optimism and hope. I carry away with me the desire to do some-

tthoinggetfobracthkethmeirsesioansso-ftenevaesnIifcaitn.has to be done from afar. I want

Fathet Ivo

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VII. PONTIFICAL MAGISTERIUM

1. Ten ways to help modern man pray better

Vben Paul VI was asked. whetber efl prayed todal, he ansuered,

<Vbere the Cburcb is aliae, yes! >> To tbe packed, audienie of 22 August

be suggested ten ua?s to help Cbristians pril better.

O^ S^S^E9R!Vl AlT:UOKqEynR7OffManAsNlaOtiodnatiesd,ta3koeAnulrsounst

tbe Englisb

1973).

edition

tbe

!7hen we vould promite a religious renewal, ure think inevitably of

retum to prayer, both individual and collective. It is not without reason

that *re constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, that is, on the oficiar

of the chuch, is among the most importani documents of the recent

p-croauyenr-

cil. Prayer is the characteristic act of religion; therefore, if we wish to

impress a certain awarEncess upon religious life, an expression that meets

the needs and capacities of the people of our time, wi must invite them

and teach them to pray. lVhat an immense

us limil our talk to the most basic remarks.

subject!

indeed,

but

let

The breatb of the Mystical Bod.y

one question arises before all others: in these times does mari pray?

lMhere the Church is alive, he does. prayer is the breath of the

Mystical Body, its conversation with God, the opression of its love, its

striving towards the Father. Prayer is recognizing His providence in the

ngdeylns:rsay,m.iitcPiorsafycweoronifrseldstsheienvgejnotthyse,oiftneGicsoeadsss'siktyinPgeoofHplHiesisamtBirbceeyiinngg*aaanbrdletratocakpnidroawiinsleeodiguliirni gweaHaniksd-

all that comes to us from Him: prayeiis the schoor of christian life. That

ig to !ay, prayer is a flower that springs from rwo deep and vital roots:

the religiors sense (natural root), and the grace of the Hory Spirit (super-

natural rcot), which moves us to pray. One may even say that prayer is

the church's highest expression, but it is equally the church's norftshment

and basic principle: it is the classical mometrr when divine life begins to

move within the Church. Ttrerefore ptayer requires of us the gr""t.it oat"

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-84-

and the highest regard, tho"gh we must temembet, as the Co'nfil says,

that "the S-acred Liturgy does not exhaust the Church's sphere of action;

in fact it is necessary- that men be fust called to faith and conversion"

(Const. S. Conc.9).

How to lead rnan to Prayer

Here, then, is another gigantic obstacle to the religious renewal as

desired by the recent Council and as planned for the coming Holy Year:

how to bring men to prayer in these times?

For we must tecognize that the irreligiouoness of so many people

today makes it very dificult that the spirit of ouf contemporaries be

moved to ezrsy, spontaneous and joyful prayer. To simplify, ve will say

that this is so for two teasotrs. The first obiects radically to the very

existence of prayet, as if i,t wete trot turned to a divine Interlocutor, and

were thus superfluous, useless and eveo harmful to human selfsufrciency

and therefote to

neglects contact

the personality of modern man. The second in practice

with the experience of prayer, k*p-g lips and heart

closed, as one who dares not speak a foreign tongue, as one used to con-

ceiving of life without God ("like Francoise Sagan, who one day said to

a reporter: 'God! I never think of him!'")'

reason:

g-bigeacanutisce,obIiskteacilte,owr enosta,idth;ebunet endoftoinr sfuuperaisblien.gaFiontedonienytehrey

simple

human

heart, which sufiers so often, or falls into illogical scepticism, because

repressed within it is the voice that, for a thousand reasons, would call to

heaven, not as to an empty and terribly mysterious universe, but as to

Prime Being, absolute, creator, to the living God In fact, for what they

are \\yotth at least as psycho-social phenomena, one finds among today's

youth stfrnge forms of iollective mysticism. These are not always cases of

mystification, but rather seem a

tfue spdng at which it may

thirst for fu,

be quenched,

perhaps still unaware of the

but shcere in its wordless

acknowledgement irf what it is: thirst, deep thitst.

In any case, the problem of prayer-both private, and thug adapted to

the needs of age and bacsround, and collective, suitable, therefore, to com-

munity life-drawr our special attention, pafticularly as tegards the spiritual

rebirth for which ril/e are hoprng and pteparing.

A Suggested ilecalogue

!7e can put together empirically what could be called a decalogue of

suggestions that have been oftered to us by many who toil for the Kingdom

today. The list is simple and wil! perhaps not be without utility.

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85-

I. Faithful, intelligent and diligent applicatioo musr be given to the

liturgicd reform promoted by the Council and defined by the competent

Church authorities. Aay who imFede or injudiciously slow it down are

wasting a providential moment for a true revival and a felicitous spreading

of the Catholic religion in our own time. Anyone, on the other hand,

who takes advantage of the refor:n to indulge in arbitrary erperiments,

wastes energy and ofiends the ecclesial sense.

The time has come for a joyful and concordant observance of this

solemn "lex orandi" of the Church of fu: tle reformed liturgy.

II. A philosophical, scriptural, theological and pastoral catechesis con-

cerning divine worship, such as thar professed by the Church today, wifl

always be opportune. Prayer is not blird sentirnent; it is the projection

of the soul ill,,mina1sd by truth and moved by charity.

III. Authoritative voices exhort us to advise great caution in the

proctss of reforming traditional, popular religious customs, gaking care not

to extinguish religious feeling in trying to dothe it with new and more

authentic spiritual expressions. The taste for the true, the beautiful, the

simple, and for that which seryes the cspprrnigy, and also for the tadi-

tional (where it deserves to be honoured), must guide the exterior mani-

festations of worship, in seeking to preserve the people's afiection for it.

IV. The family must be a great school of piety, spirituality and reli-

gious fidelity. The Church has great trusr i'n rhe delicate, authoritative and

irreplaceable religious teaching supplied by parents.

V. Observing holy days of obligation is serious and fundamentally im-

portant as Dever before. The Church has granted facilities to make il pos-

sible. Anyone who is aware oI the inner meanhg and the practical utiliry

of this obligation ought to consider it not only a primary duty, but

equally a right, a necessity, an honour, a fortune, which no eager and

intelligent believer may f.ail, to fulfil without serious reasons.

Socially a unit

VI. The established community asserts its right to count all the faithful

as its own. Even if some of them have been granted a certain autonomy

in religious practice in distinct, homogeneous groups, they must not lack

understanding for ttre ecclesial spirit, which is that of being a people with

but one heart and one soul, that is, of being (even socially) a unit, of

being a Church.

VII. The celebration of divine worship, especially of the Holy Mass,

is alvays a very serious act. It must therefore be prepared and caried

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-86

out with gleat care in every aspect, induding the exterior ones (seriousness,

rlignity, schedule, length, etc.; let every word be simple and holy). In

this field the clergy have gteat responsibility in execution and setting

example,

VIII. The congtegation must likewise collaborate ia thg rlignified pel'

formance of religious functions: punctuality, composure, silence and, above

all, participation are essential. This is the fundamental point of the litur-

gical reform. On this everything has been said, but how much thete is

still to do!

IX. Full provision must be made for both aspects of prayer, the private

and ttre collective; as is stated in the liturgical rules.

X. As to music, what a problem! But let us take cpurage: it is not

insoluble. A new era is arising for Sacred Music. Many ask that the

Latin and Gregorian chant of the Gloria, the Credo, the Sanctus and the

Agnus Dei be kept for all countries. May God will that it be so. One

can study how this can be done.

How many things there are to do! But, in fact, how beautiful and

how simple! And, if they were observed, how suong theit spiritual in-

fluence would be in the communities of the faithful 6s1 ldnging the

wislred-for religious renerval to the Church and the world!

2. Rebuildinc unity within the Church

ln his ad.d,ress gioen at the general auilience ol 22 August, Paul VI

pointed oat one of tbe aims ot' the Holy Year; to rebuild. spiritual and

pbysical unity within the Cburcb. He eruphasised two disruptbe elernents

that ruilitated agains tbis anity; ancharitable "contestation" and the erro-

neoas opposition between the cltarisrnatic and. institutional Chutcb.

(The following translation is taken lrom the Englisb editiorl ot' tbe

OSSERVATORE ROMANO dated. 6 September t973).

How, dearest Brothers and Children, are we to set about resolving

the problems and ovotcoming the dificulties that the Church's Programme

for the Holy Year raises in all their enormous dimensions? Fol, let us say

again, the Holy Year, now approaching and already making itself felt in

Churches all over tlre world, is intended to have that character of general

reconciliation and sincere renewal of Cfuistian life which the recent Council

has bequeathed to us and of which we have often spoken. !7e wish to

impresse upon this event, ot better still, this movement that will be the

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-87 -

Holy Year, a quality of seriousness and eficary. We have several times

mentioned the gtave rlificulties that stand in the way of our intention-

shared, we hope, by tt. whole Catholic Churclr-and, as we look more

and more dosely at the moral, sociolqgical and historical realiry of our

time, fur which we have to demonstrate the validity of our aims, new pro-

blems and new obstacles become apparent. All this demands of us a pro.

found investigation of present religious and moral conditions, and a more

generous "estimate" more firmly based on trust in divine assistance.

Catbolics alter their own lasbion

for example, zue ve to overcome the di{ficulty of the division,

the disintegration which uofornrnately

within the Church? It is not that the

is now

Church

be found at many

openly divided in

levels

itself;

on the contrary, those very persons who create the discomfort and at tines

the interior torment of dissent and of irreooncilable wiflls, assert more than

ever before that they wish to be in the Church, or better, that they wish

to be "Church"-so imperious is the need, stemming from the Chdstian

vocation, of the organic and visible unity of the Mystical Body. Never

before has so much been said regarding commu[ion, and ofteq by those

very people who promote forms of association which are the opposite of

true commuoion. That is, they seek to be distinguished, to be separated

from the authentic brotherhood, ftom the univoca[ ecclesial family.- After

havtng perhaps tded to discredit the canonical, that is the iuridical, insti-

tutional, aspect of the Church, they would like to legdtze, by claiming the

widest tolerance, their own oficial membership in the Church, and annul

an; hypothesis of schism, or self-excommunication. That is to say, the

division so much felt in the Catholic Chu$h today is not so much in its

strucfttres as it is in the minds, in the ideas, in the attitude of maoy who

still, and often with a stubborn sense of their own superiority, call them-

selves Catholics, but after their own fashion, with a liberal and subjective

freedom of thought and of doctrinal position ioined to aD. afiogarfi ambition

for indisputable authenticity.

Dearest Brothers and Children, certaitrIy you are aware of the pheno-

mena, of some at least, of this situation, and you can ulderstand hour

deeply they fiIl our heart with loving grief. 11.611ilrling spiritual and

physical unity vithin the Church is today one of the Church,s most serious

and urgent problems. \\7e do not wish to trouble you by raising fearful

spectfes, but rather we wish to invite each of you on the occasion of the

Holy Year, to rc-establish in the Church a real feeling for its constirutional

,nity, love and sacrifice for its inner peace, zeal arLd desfue for a sincere

harmony between faith and chanty.

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"Contestation" that lacks cbarity

As far as the basic character of this talk permits, we may summarize,

in what we considet to be two main points, the negative diagnosis of this

deplorable state of afrabl

The first point concerns the spirit of contestation, become fashionable

nowadays: everyone in the ecdesial sphere who claims a modern, popular

and original style, has adopted this spirit, often with a batefaced irresponsi-

hility. In itself, contestation is aD attempt at identifying and correcting

errors deserving censure, and therefore aims at conversion, at reform, at an

increase of good will: and we will not ban positive contestation, if it should

remain thus. But, alas, contestation has become a kind of selfdestruction;

too often it lacks wisdom and love. It has become a faciTe habit, clouding

the vision of the beam in one's own eye to look more closd at the mote

in others'. It leads to judgements that are often rash about the Church's

defects, and indulges, even to the point of sympathizing and connivance,

the defects of the Church's adversaries, of those who deny the name of

fu, of those who subvert the social order. Contestation is completely on

the side of the most daring and dangerous reforms, and then withdraws its

humble and filial adhereace ftom the efiort at renewal which Catholicism

is trying to make in every sector of human life and activity. This negative

spirit gives rise to a f.aqle instinct towards distinguishing oneself from the

community, towards selfishly preferring one's own group, towards refusing

solidarity with the gtand cause of the apostolate striving for the Kingdom

of God. It talks of liberation and, without intending to, travels, bitter and

joyless, towards a "free analysis," that is towards a subiective statemetrt

which certaioly does not agree with the spirit of charity.

It is this very chatity that must cure the Church of the contagion of

a corrosive and contesting criticism which has penetrated here and there

deeply into the Mystical My: the chadsma of charity must be restored

to its rightful place, the fust: "Love is patient and kind; love is not iealous

or boastful; it is not afiogaat or rude. Love does not insist on its own

way; it is not imitable or resentful; it does not teioice at wrong, but

rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all

things, endures all things" (1 Cor. 13,4-7\\. And so forth. Remember this

hymn of St. Paul to charity: this---chariry, love-must purify legitimate,

sometimes even obligatory, contestation and re-accustom the Church to seek-

ing within itself its own heatt, in the depths of which beats the divine

heart, sweet and strong, of Christ: "Learm from me; for I am gende and

Iowly in heart," (Ml 11,29).

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-89

One Church only

And the second point? This concerns a distinction that slips easily

!s1 ,nlas1fully ftom the sphere of Iogic to that of experience-the dis-

tinction, let us say, between the institutional and the charismatic Church;

between the Church of Jesus Christ and that of the People guided by the

Holy Spirit; between the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church and a

church conceived according to one's own personal views or even according

to one's own subjective spiritual tastes. This point, too, will deserve our

reflection, especially as concerns the negative consequences deriving from

the shallow preference many tday are wont to give to a so<alled charismatic

church as compared with the traditional, institutional Church. And the

negative consequences are mainly two: disobedience and pluralism beyond

its legitimate limits. These are themes to be developed broadly and with

ftanlness; they will be our task on a future occasion, Qed yilling.

But now let us limit ourselves to denying the substantial distinction

between the institutional Church and the presumed purely charismatic

Church. What Church did Jesus actually found? Jesus fonuded Hls Church

upon Peter, upon the Apostles; He founded no other Churches. There are

not several Churches; complete and perfect in its conception, there exists

one only. And this is the Chuch to which Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit,

in order that the institutional Church may live though the animation of

the Holy Spirit. The charismata, that is the special gifts which the Holy

Spirit infuses in the Faithful, are as we know, for the benefit of the only

existing Church and for its diffusion throughout the world (cf. 1 Cor. 12).

Therefore we must restor€ that tnre "sense of the Church" which

answers to the divine purpose and which confers upon the Church that

interiornity, that vitality, the joy in being and working which bear wit-

ness to us and to our timo of the presence and the salvation of Christ

(cf. Jn. 17).

3. Mission Sunday in the light of the Holy Year

Pope Paal's lnessage lor Mission Sunday (to be held on 2l October).

(The following translation is taken lrom tbe Englisb edition ol the

OSSERVATOKE ROMANO dated 2 October 7973).

The Feast of Pentecost has'traditionally, been the occasion for Us to

ad&ess our Mission Sunday message to the Pastors and faithful throughout

the world. \\7e are convinced that this feast is a most fitting and significant

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time to draw attention to the preaching of the Gospel, which is the pri-

mary and essential mission of the Church. We have always held, and still

continue to hold, that, on this day specially consecrated to *re Holy Spirit,

the minds and hearts of men are more neady to welcome his divine inspi-

ration which is the only true solrce and nourisbment of missionty z@1.

The fact that this sa-e day sees the beginning of the spiritua.l movement

which will reach is fulfilment in Rome with the celebration of the Holy

Year of 1975 does not itr any way distract our attention from the missionary

cause which is neithet cotrtrary to nor separate ftom this iriportant religious

event.

The theme of renewal and the reconciliation of men with God aud

with one anotrher must henceforth arouse interest, reflection, and initiative

both in the Churches with an older Christian tradition and in the younger

Churches in mission countries. This theme vitl be the subject of common

research, the occasion for drawing men closer together, the path along

which to promote gieater unity of energy and pu4rose. Renewal must surely

include the renewal of the Church's missionary spirit since reconciliation

grusf qslfainly be among the ultimate aims of her work of evangelization.

Is not reconciliation the most outstanding feature which outlines, defines

aqd feveals "conversion"? In this context we do not use the term con-

version in the outdated and incorrect sense of an extrinsic or ttiumphalistic

conquest nor as the result of superficial proselytism. \\fhat We mean by

conversion is the truly evangelical turning towards God of the soul moved

by a fu:Jo which sees in him the fullness of all reality and the author of the

nroral order, and, what is even more important, urged on by charity which

sees God as a loving and merciful Father.

This message for Mission Sunday, then, should be seen in the perspec-

tive of the forthcoming Jubilee and it is Our sincere wish that all those

who hear this message and gasp the fundamental theme which it cotrtains,

will share the depth of Our call to action to the best of their abitty,

The phenonzenon of the decrease in nissionary aocations

This year there is one special theme which Ve take very much to heart

siace it has a qpecial right to Our solicirude as Pastor of tJ:e Chutch' This

theme arises from a painful phenomenon to which we have all been wimess

in recent times. !7e refer to the decrease in missionary vocations which is

iaking place at the very moment in hi,story when their support is most

trecessary in our missions. It would be superfluous here to refer to figures

and statistics or to attempt to compare or interpret numbers. It is suficient

that we be aware of the situation as it is in ordet to rcalize what it means

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-9L-

aod the dangers involved by this lack of personnel in a sector so vital for

the development of the faith and the growth of the chuch. our awateness

of the fact is sufficient to bring to Our mind amidst fsslings of apprehension,

the words of Christ our Saviour: Messis quidem multa, operarii autem

pauci (Mth. 9, 37-38; Cfr. Luc. L0,2).

Historical and sociological reasons which explain this decrease in vo.

cations are certainly not lacking; the religious crisis in a sectrlarized wotld,

the systematic attack on spititual values, certain methods of doubtfrrl vd[ue

ysed in the past; these arc some of the causes to which the phenomenon

attributed. There is a decrease everywhere in the number of

is therefore no wonder that the number of missionaries and

priests and

their colla-

borators is also diminishing. Must we therefore conclude that the faith is

being eclipsed or that the preaching of the Gospel has run its course? It

would be a most unhealthy attitude to insist on the dedamation of the

negative factors and thus dispense outselves from personal action and res-

ponsible commitment. The lack of vocations should be, in fact, a moti-

vation for the vhole ecclesial gqmm,n,i,ty to reflect, to awaken its generosity,

to rene\\r the call of Christ to the Lord of the harvest so that He may send

labourers into his harvest (ibid.).

Relationship betueen local missionaries and tbose lrorn otber countries

There is an expression of Vatican II which provides us with enlight-

enment on this point and helps us to consider what are our duties with

regard to the Missions: "fn order to be able to ofier to all men the mystery

of salvation and the life brought by God, the Church must become part

of all these groups for the same modve-e odena motu-which led christ

to bind himself, in virtue of his Incarnation, to the definite social and cul-

tural conditions of those human beings among whom He dwelt,, (Decree

Ad Gentes, N. 10). In this matter also Christ is our Teacher who points

out to us the path we must follow in order to make the mission more

efiective and fruitfirl: the path of direct contact, psychological efrnity, an

identity of life+tyle with the peoples to whom the Gosp-d is to be an-

nounced.

There can be no denying the f.act that, right from the beginning of

the Christian era until our o\\rn day, missionaries have accompliihed won-

ders_ in preaching the Gospel according to the mentality and th. l*goug.

of the peoples to whom they were sent. They have laid the foundations on

which rest the existence and independeace of the yo,,ng Churches whose

originality and vitality Ife ourself have found se 6elseling during Our

journeys in A.frica, in Asia and in Oceania.

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Today, however, under the pressrue of so many social and cultural

transformations, there are many missionaries whose anguished cry is: "How

is the vork we have begun going to continue?" Cetainly the seed of the

Gospel has borne fruit and, in relation to the past, there are more local

missionaries anaouncing the Good News but, for quite some time yet, the

African and Asian coultries will need vocations, that is priests, Sisters and

lay people, to answer the needs of. evangelization. !7e hear so many Bishops

,i th. p."t.ot time who repeated'ly ask: "Come to us, missionaries, corne

and help us in our countties".

The proportionate irrctease in locd vocations who answer the mis-

sionary catrl ii simultaneous with the decrease in the overall number of

missionaries from Europe, America oad. Canada who decide to leave their

own counffies. Added to this fact is the disquieting feature of aging per-

sonnel since half of the missionaries from foreign counlies arc aheady

advanced in years while there are few young people to take their place'

W'hat can be done in this situation? !7e wish to state the problem

clearly: there is local per,sonnel and this local personnel is being called

upon to take an ever-increasing Part in the evangelizryo" 9f their own

freople; there

uinily desire

also the personnel coming from other Churches who gen-

be of service and who, consequendy, must continue in

their, missionary commitment. It is not mercly a question of equilibrium:

the common cause of fu's Kingdom associates both ranks of evangelical

messengefs closely together so that they may collaborate closely with one

anothei. Such coilaboiation is necessafy and most certainly fruidul. \\7e do

not mean merely a working relationship but, rather, harmonious coordi-

nation which stoUa be the expression of ecclesial communion. \\7e there-

fore renew our call to Our iJroth.r, in the Episcopate that they give

serious consideration to the possibility of sending priests from their dioceses

so that the numbers may thus be better distribuled in the dillerent Chur-

ches. This is an aspect of pastoral proglapming which is already_necessary

and which is not confined by national or regional boundaries. Furure ca-

nonical legislation will facilitate this disribution'

Prornoting local oocations

I7e likewise appeal for promotion of local vocatiotrs. May they be

provided with an ad-equate formation and never allowed to suffocate for

iconomic or social background reasons. No vocation must be lost, no voca-

tion must remain undecided, none must fail to reach maturity for want of

means. Here we touch upon another aspect of the problem. The young

churches, for the most part, share the conditions of poverty and economic

insecgriry of the peoples among whom they accomplish their mission.

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-93

pcorinessetsq,useinsttleyr'sa, lBl rcohtrhisetrisanasndhacraretetchheistds uwryhotolahbeolpurawndithdoliiiturseticmeeatons

the

with none for the welfare of their fellow citizens. r07e have already said

iri the Encydical

for peace (Nos.

Populoram

76-77). It

Progressio

must not

that dwelopment is the new n4me

be forgotten that the nrissionaries

themselves ar9 among the first collaborators and assistants in the gigantic

undertaking for the social and economic development of new peoples

because they know best what are the needs of their feflow<itizens and

they ihclude this service also as part of their missionary mandate. It is they

who, in proportion to the help which they receive, take the sick into their

hospitals, direct the schools, promote in large measure the often tedious

development of their people. Undertaking the formation of rocal personnel,

therefore, means serving the cause of the Gospel and, at the same time,

the cause of progress and peace.

Reasons lor optinzisrn

If ![e have ro 6- estlined the most urgent needs r7e must also enu-

merate the motives for hope so that

sis and iudge the situation more

!7e may

calrnly.

poreusernot wa nmoerfefocrotsm-palerete

analy-

always

su-pported by the strength of God since the cause of the Gospel is lris cause:

all our trust rests in Him

the apostolate salficientia

and especially

nostra ex Deo

in matters

est (dr. 2

cConocr.e,rln,inqg -tqhe.

work of

But !7e

like to_ regf all

th- e

older

find it

nations

the positive elemenrs on the church's missionary horizon.

specially pleasing to think of all the young people from

who go, if even for a short time, to thl parishes and out-

posts in mission coutrtries where they give a wonderful account of them-

selves and acquire precious experience. There they get to know the real

problems of development without any distortions, there they have scope

for their creativity and they bring to these peoples a worth-while contii-

bution in the fields of. organization, culrure and social progress. r7e think

also of the priests, both religious and sec'lar, who sit forth from their

diocese or religious Instirute for the couotries of. Latin America and Africa

aonfdowrihgoinesatnabdlisthheoumtsistasniodningco"tuwnitnrnieinsg. "Trheelaytiohnasvheipsthbeerswuepepnotrht eoirf

places

older

churches and parishes who sustain their work and help directry their

apostolic and charitable undertatings. ![e think, too, of the coniacts at

an ecumenical level between Catholic missionaries and those of other ecclesial

commrrnities. Inspired

especially in the fields

they are by evangelical chanty,

health assistance and civic lifi,

these contacts,

as also in the

SthoeTd"iv1isiaonndodfetvheelocphmriesntitafnielfdasm,ilhyealpndtoheelrpasaelsoth-e

bad

!7e

impression left by

- hope to hasten

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-94-

the reconstitution of that unity longed fot by both parties so that their

witness to the faith may be more convincing and unmistakable-

ve feel that it is necessary in all justice to recall these facts so that

the painful phenomenon which is the zubject of this message may be put

in its proper perspective and not overshadow tkj real missionary situation.

Tbe Pontilical Mission-Aid' Societies

Mission Sunday which we will celebrate oext October should have a

salutary and stimulating effect, instilling a nev missionary dynamism into

the hearts of the faithful, a dynamism which is an essential element of our

faith. Not only will such a renewal of the missionary spirit be an offering

to God of pray-aenr daod penance but it

ary vocations

thui provide the

will bt':ng a fresh flowering of mission-

missions with the help they so sorely

need (Cfr. Decree, Ad Gentes, No. 36).

Once again, in conclusion to these points of Our message, \\fle wish

to recommend the Pontifical Mission-Aid Societies. These institutions, at

the servrce of the Pope and of the Bishops, foster fraternal relations among

the local Chuches and are particularly adapted for promoting a missionary

spirit among the whole leople of God. The principal aim of these Societies

is, in fact, the formation of a missionary conscience (Cfr. Decree, Ad Gentes,

No. 38) and ths fact that they are called Pontifical does not mean that

they are apart from the diocesan framework but that the local church,

through their services, can more effectively share in the overall activity of

*1s missionary Church. By underlining their importance here we are comply-

ing with the declarations of the Council which assigned to them a_ position

okeiegptin"tt.otucrehswpiothnstihbeiliwtyo.rkVteheeyrafiroerdt oainllg,Cahrwisotiraknswhtiochsuisptprourlyt

them and

universal.

At the same time we earnestly ask the Bishops and priests to pfomote them

in their respective Churches and parishes assudng them of the necessary

facilities for their proper functioning.

May the Lord bless this Mission Sunday for which we address this

appeal io you with all Out heart. \\7e wish to place this day under the

.piaa protection of St. ThdrBse of the Child Jesus the centenary, of whose

birth wi celebrate this year and we wish, furthermore, to place this day in

the perspective of the forthcoming Holy Year. The hour of the mission

has by to -."nt passed for the Church, and, in fact, for many peoples it

is only

are still

iust beginning.

most applicable

The words of our venerated predecessor, Pius

in our time: Nibil actura, si quid.4gendum.,.Yes

XI"

in'

deed, nothing has been done if so many, far too many' thhgs still remain

to be done'

PAULUS PP. vI

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VIII. NECROLOGY

Father Louis Baraccbirui

*-Leric (Genoa, Itdy) 441ggZ; f Buenos Aires (fugentina) 2GG73;86 years

oL age; 65 profession; 51 priesthood.

For forty-four years he dedicated himself to the missions in the south

of Argentina, and in Porto Natales and Punta Arenas in Chile. He loved

the liturgy and sacred music; and even in the last months of his life the

faithfui were edified by the sound of his fine srngmg during the parish

ceremonies. He will be remembered for his fidelity to Don Bosco to the

point of total sacrifice.

Fatber Eusebias Battezzati

f * Monte di Valenza (Alessaodria, ltaly) 941895; Bagnolo piemonte (Cuneo,

Italy) 12-5-71;78 years of age; 6L profession; 51 priesthood; 10 rector.

He came of. a f.amily much devoted to Don

during !7orld ITar I Le vent to the USA,

Bosco. After military service

comFleted his studies, was

ordained and began to work for the migrants, Later he wasf appointed

Rector and Master of Novices. Back in Italy he worked, as long as his

health held out. He was respected for his solid formation; and th; kindly

assurance of his spiritual guidance bore the mark of much experience in

the trials of Iife. His labours ended in quiet acceptance of the will of God.

Father Robert Baud,in

f * P6ron (France) 23-l-Ll; Marseille (France) 48-73; 62 years of age; 4l profess-

ion; 30 priesthood; 15 rector.

An open character and always at the disposal of others. His pleasant

and spontaneous joy won the friendship of all who had dsalings with him.

IIis love of the boys often led him, Iike Don Bosco, "to race ahead to the

point of temeriry". He died alter a long illness that reduced his activiries

from 1967 onwards.

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Father Leo Bockstal

f *' Celles (Tournai, Bdgium) 26Ll-00; Sainte-Ode (Flamierge, Belgium) L65-7);

72 years of. age; 52 profession; 42 priesthood.

A man of gteat initiative and alvays available for others. At 65 years

of age he went to Israel to put a ptofessional school on its feet at Nazareth.

He was a cheerful, pleasant and decisive man, full of faith, with no time

for over-sentimentality. He is remembered by the many friends he made

by his untiring activity.

Fatber loseph Boursotty

f o Grasse (Nice, France) 1-7-1881; Santiago (Chile) 156-73; 89 years of age;

59 profession; 61 priesthood; 16 rector.

His life supplies a magnificent Page in the history of the Province.

He is remembered for his openness to the Spirit, for he really lived the

renewal required by the Chutch and the Congegation, like Pope John, with

optimism, sereniry and hard work. He was the spiritual father of geneta-

tions of Salesians and layfolk, young and old. He aroused in all an enthu-

siasm to build up the Kingdom of God.

Brotber Louis Brunner

f * Kulz (Germany) 8-2-12; Ensdorf (Germany) L4-7-7); 61 vears of age; 38 pro-

fession.

Apart from the time he bore arms in the Second \\[odd 'War, he

passed all his Salesian life looking after the gafden in the novitiate at

Ewnitshdoarft*-.

a quiet matr, an exemplary religious, who performed his duties

r.or" of responsibility. He bore his long illness (cancer of the

stomach and bowels) with wonderful patience'

Father Francis Barger

t * Stockenweiler-Hergesweiler (Bavaria, Germany) 2*608; Benediktbeuern, (Ger-

many) 3-673; 65 years ol age;46 profession; 37 priesthood; 25 rector; 6 pro-

vincial.

He died suddenly, during the festivities mlebrating the elevation of the

Salesian church at Benediktbeuern to the status of a minor basilica, a few

u,eeks before the completion of his term of office as Provincial. He was

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a fine priest, Salesian atrd educator and used his talents effectively in poss

of great responsibility in the Province of South Germany. His whole life

was spent in'working enthusiastically for Don Bosco and the Congegatim.

"\\(hen we remember Father Burger we think of his kindness, his optimism,

his generosity and his understanding of otfrers" (Fr. Ricceri).

Brotber ltalo Callegari

f ,N. Monastier (Trwiso, ltaly) 26-949; Caoile (Venice, Italy) 2G6.73; 2) yans

of age; 7 professioa.

A talented chemist. He loved his Salesian vocation and his educational

work in the school and the Oratory of San Don) di Piave. He'enioyed

the esteem and affection of both confrbres and boys; and had just made

application for final vows. Chdst anticipated his "visible meering of the

love of Christ who calls with the love of the disciple who answers"

(Const. 73).

Fatber Olinto Calussi

t * MontecctrieCortona (Are.zn, Italy) 1-11-16; Macerata (ltaly) 19-\\77; 56 yeats

ol age;38 professioo; 28 Oriesthood.

As a boy he lived with Mgr. Olivares and always remained d..ply

impressed by his powerful influence. He was noted for his punctuality,

fiddity to the RuIe, his constant avulabitty, his careful exercise of the

minis6y and his spirit of work. He loved poverty. For him this meant

not just a wi[ing lack of material things, but a genuine detachment from

success, prestige, the lime-light, self-interest, even llfe itself.

Brother Josepb Cahti

f * Moio der Calvi (Bergamo, Italy) 1-9-1881; Sao Paulo (Brazil) 2O-5-7j; 9l

years of age;7L professioa,

He considered it a boon to have made his first profession into the

hands of Don Rua; and he endeavoured to imitate frim in his spirit of

work and union with God. He went as a missionary toBrazil in 1rO1 and

worked actively and faithfully in differcnt houses in the various duties of

economer. He enioyed the esteem of all for his hard work, kindlness and

understanding. He was humble, cheerful and self-effacing.

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Father Anthony Candiani

t * Busto Arsizio (Varese, It"ly) ?5-2-1887; Gemisan, Betblehem (Israel) 25:7'71;

86 years of age; 66 profession; 54 priesthood; 24 retot.

A true son of Don Bosco and ever faithful to our heritage of work

and temperance. He was Recor in various houses of the Middle East and

was a fine a=amFle of faith and dedication. Itris generous nature never

counted the sacrifices., Esteemed and loved, he wtll be missed greatly.

Fatber Enoilius Cantaratti

t t' Z^cteb (Jueoslavia) ll-9-t896; San Justo (Buenos Ahes, Argentina) L67'7);

7 76 years of age; profession; 49 priesthood; 25 rector.

Much of his life wzui spent in houses of formation. A humble and

devout man whose life was an example of the Gospel and the charity

of Don Bosco. 1 He suffered a heart attack while concelebrating with a

newlyordailed priest.

Fatbet Raphael Carti

f * Frascati (Rome, ltdy) D4L883; Banpong (Thailand) 2L-7'71; 90 years of

age; 74 profession; 51 priesthood; 10 rcctor.

He went with the first missionary expe&tion n 1927 to Thailand, aod

remained thete till his death without ever visiting his home country. He

was parish priest for ten years at Donmottanoi and consecrated the rest of

his long lifJ to the work of the confessional. He was a man,of exceptional

i"t"gtity aud lived the humble and hidden life.

Father Josepb Mary Doblado

* Lucena (Cordoba, Spain) 2411-1892; t Malaga (Spainl l*5-71;80 years of

age; 6) profession; 54 pdesthoodi 23 r*tori 6 provincial.

An orphan himself at aa early age, he became like Don Bosco the father

of many orphans. As a true Salesian he had a predilection for poor and

abandoned boys. The houses of formation were his special carc during

the time he was Proviacial. The lattet part of his Iife was dedicated to

continual prayer for the Province and the Congregation.

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Fater Caesar Fauini

f * Buenos Aircs (fugentina) 263-L89; there 29-671; 84 years of age; 55 pro

fession; 48 priesthood.

A g*d and simple Rdigious, always ready to help and comforr others

in distress. He was tireless in his paternal mini5taliqns in the coofessional.

In his last years he endued much illness and suffering, but was devoutly

tesigned to the witrl of God.

Father Loais Ferrari

f * Flori& (Uruguay) 9-7.L885; Montevideo (Urueuay) 2L-7-73; 88 years ot. a4e;

67 profession; 58 priesthood.

The oldest Salesian in Uruguay. He died quiedy as he had lived after

baving rsorked solidly up to the last few days. He was responsible for

four foundations in ttre Ptovince; and spent himself completely, despite

the ills of old age, in the priesdy apostolate and in *1s ministry of the

confessional especially for the aspirants and Salesians. He was a great

admiret and imitator of Don Rua in ffi5 firrmility and poverty. His nature

was quiet, otderly and exact, and for thirty years, till his death, he was in

charge of the provincial archives.

Brotber Carnzelo Galea

f ,r, Birki*ara (Mdta) 17&1890; Sliema (Matta) 29-7-D; 83 years of. age; 59

profession.

He had frequented the Salesian Oratory at Birkirkara before becoming

a Salesian. Most of his life was spent in St. Patrick's, Sliema, where he gave

generous h.lp i" the adjacent oratofy. He was an exemplary Religious

and is deeply mourned.

Fatber Augustine Gind.ri

* Turin (Ttely) 2l-9-19; f Cheung Gau (Hong Kong) 2-7-73; 5) yans of age;

32 profession; 23 priesthood.

Healthy, active and intelligent, he had the will and ability to do a lor

more work in his life. One day he went fishing (his one relaxation) and

was sren tro more. \\[e have no explaoation: maybe he was swamped by

a vave, or slipped and fell heavily; we have only his memory and the

mouming of so many young souls bapttzed, by hirn... they will be his glory

in eternity.

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Fatber losepb Gorczaty

t * Dzieckowice (Poland) l74lO; Jactazek (Poland) 7-3-73; 62 years of agei 44

profession; 34 priesthood; 1 tector.

Most of his life was spent at laciazek. fu Catechist he was a diligent

teacher of Christian Dctrine; and ,is also remembered for his organ-playing

and singing. He specialized in embalming animals and left some valuable

collections. He suffeted his diabetic problems with patierrce and submissioa

to dre will of fu.

t F*aKthaelcrhlo(VseiepnbnaK,nAaupsptda) 24+06; Bogotn (Colombia) 5-7-71; 67 years of age;

45 profession; 36 priesthood.

He consecrated his Salesian priestly life to the poot of Colombia; he

was friend and brother to all, simple and transPatent as a child. Ve was

loved by all because he loved all; and his cheerfllness hid the hetoism of

Eany yea$ of true missionary work. He rests in Peaco in the cemetery

of Agua de Dios, the last field of his labours.

Father Frarci.s Krajewski

f * Proctrensko (Kielce, Poland) 11-9-10; Bialogard (Koszalim, Poland) L2-2-73;

62 yars of. o4e; 4L profession; 32 priesthood; 13 tector.

He was ordahed dudng the \\Var and was parish priest and rector fot

maDy years. Much esteemed by his confteres, he was uoted for his apostolic

zezll and. pmcticality. After a heart attack he wotked as chaplain for the

Sisters.

Brotber Sigisruund Labanouski

f * Radziuszki (Baialystok, Poland) 67'1898; Aleksandrow Kujawski (Poland)

274D; 75 yeas ol age; 46 profession.

He consecrated his Iife to the Lotd 1o his simFle \\york as gafdener.

flnassrrming and quiet, he was an erample of painstaking sernice' His last

years were spent as sacristaD.

Fatber Antbony Manuel Latone

t * Cuzco (Peru) 7-7-1891; Lima (Peru) 167-73;82 yegns of age; 58 profession;

32 priesthood.

A long, life spent completely for the poor. He rras known for his

simple kindness, love of the Oratory (where he gave unstinted seruice) and

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unconditional fidelity to Don Bosco and the Congregation. V'hatever house

he was in always found him dedicated to the oratory. His last ten years

were spent with the working-class youngster of Crran Lima in the impo-

verished quarter of Rimac whete the fi:st Salesian house in Peru was

{ounded.

Brotber Alpbonsus Marucci

t * Marseille (Ftance) &411; Casale Monferrato (Alessandria, kdy) 2-6-73; 62

years of age; 19 profession,

He was teacher, sacristan, door-keeper and general factotum-these

were the stages of his Salesian life. He knew how to flun to good accoltDt

the various events and rlificulties that came his way, using them to streng-

then his faith and his liturgical, eucharistic and Marian devotio,n. Efe was

always enthusiastic for the decorum of the house of God. Despite his

rather rough exterior he was diligent, trustworthy and generously avallable

in the service of others.

Fatber Martin Massalski

t * Bojszowy (Poland) 2GLGL89L; Lodz (Poland) &1-71; 81 years of age; 6L

profession; 50 priesthood.

He held a degree from the Grqgorian University at Rome and taught

philosophy in the studentate at Krackow, and later mathematics in various

colleges. Then he taught successfr:lly for more t"han thirty years at the

Technical School of. I-cdz until it was nationalized. After leaving the school

he gave his energies 1q 6ansl2ting books on ascetics and Salesian formation.

He died suddenly while working at his typewriter.

Father losepb Melle

* f Saluggia (Vetcelli, Italy) 841891; Bari (Italy) 29-5-73; 82 yans of age; 58

ptofession; 5l priesthood.

He vas noted fot his gteat love of the Eucharist, his simple ways, his

afrabtltty and irrepressible love of art. To assist at his Mass was an edifying

erperience. He had the Eanspafent and lovable qualities of a child, and

the young Eeated him as one of their companions. He was.a self-taught

attist, but allowed himself to be guided by those of erperience and skill.

Three of his wotks are worth special mention: his ftescoes in our Temple

of the Redeemer (Bari), Mary help of Christians (Rome) and our parish

church of St. Joseph (Molfetta)-worls that show his imagination and

artistic talent.

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Father Paul Michalek

f * Botttop (Germany) 29-617; Rydultowv (Poland) 2'5'71; 55 vears of 4e; )6

profession; 27 priesthood.

He spent his priestly energies helping the Polish immigtants ?t Td

Aviv and Nazareth. He returned to Poland ta L947 and thenceforth dedicated

himself genetously to pastoral work.

Brotber George Mihoi4oic

f * Putrta Arenas (Chile) LG5{2; Santiago (&ile) 25-5-73; 71 vears ol age; 5l

profession.

For thirty years he was reduced to inactivity by Parkinson's disease,

and edified aU Uy frit joy and serenity despite his sufierings-especially

during his last years of immobility in bed' He was indeed a powerful me-

diatoi for the confrBres, recommending to the Father of Mercy ttre problems

of the Salesians, of Chile and of the Province.

Brother lohn Murtas

* f San Pantaleo Dolianova (Cacliari, Italv) 9-3-1884; Ancona (I:'alv) L0473;

89 yeas of. age; 6L profession.

A powerful and robust charactet and at the srme time a truly gende

qoul. He was most diligent in his duties of dispenser and sacristan at our

parish churdr of The Holy Family, Aacona. He had a great love for the

Congregation and was deeply devoted to Don Bosco, Don Rua and Don

Rinaldi.

Father Anpelio Ortege

t * Pedrosa de Urbel-Tardajos (Burgos, Spain) 2G11{3; La Plata (Argentina)

wt fi 7-7-71; 69 yeas of

profession; 46 priesthmd.

His life as a consecrated aposde was lived with profund generosity.

He loved the litutgy and the decotum of God's temple. He was devoted

to the ministry of the \\flord and the confessional ,and wherever he was

parish priest there was always a resrugence of enthusiasm. One could well

iay that the zeal for the house of the Lord consumed his energies. In his

declining years his sirnple and good presence btought ioy and peace to his

confrBres.

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-10r-

Fatber Edrnund Rosenbaiger

f * Zakopane (Krackow, Poland) tU246; Oswiecim (Poland) 2G73; 67 years of

age; 45 professioo; 37 priesthood.

A true Salesian of Don Bosco and a parish priest who spent himself

for his flock. His si"rFle kindness endeared him to all. rrirh his engineering

talent he rendered great service to the archiepiscopal curia of lTroclaw and

to our Province. And besides his material ediEces he also raised up spiritual

edifices by his care for his confrEres and parishioners.

Father Mario Ruuedd,u

f * Sassari (Italy) 5-2-L0; Bangksft (Thailand) 5&73; 63 years of age; 47 pto-

fession; 40 priesthood; 2) t*torl 6 provincial; 6 delegate Sth. Korea.

He went to Thailand tn t928 and prcved a zealous missionary, being

entrusted with many important duties. AJter some years in Korea he re-

tumed to Thailand this year and was put in charge of the large Church

of St. John Bosco in Bangkok (which he had built as Provincial). He ac-

cepted with villingness whatever task was given him. He died .suddenly

after a very heavy day working in the apostolate.

Fatber Paul Stacul

f * Podgora-Gorizia (Itaty) 2U642; Guatemala (Central Amedca) 2$l-73; 70

yeats of age; 5L profession; 44 priesthood.

A resdess and dynamic personality, we went to China and Thailand as

a cleric. Back in ltaly alter ten years of priesthood and fruitful missionary

work, he obtained a degree in ecdesiastical history and applied himseLf to

study and teaching. At seventy years of age he showed his youthful spirir

by welcoming an iavitation to go to South America for the fust time in

his life; and after a few months of practice in the new language, he w4s

able to teach ecdesiastical history in Spanish.

Father Josepb Stras

t * Sttusy (Siedle, Poland) 3L-145; Ldz (Poland) 2947j; 68 yeats of. age; 50

profession; 39 priesthood; 16 rector; 6 provincial.

He taught physics for many years in our colleges and in the studentate

in Kutno; and he was the first Rector of the studentate of. thmlogy at Lad.

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- - 1.04

Hw.h;tipheJeiet*rhw.Hdp-aithtdfshetep,-ue"amrnpxr;aacpUtbeteholldelereaynshthtosiepstwrar.ietegooasreoglriesdkeoregoiLnoineftfsptothhthhofieeys'*ssSefriuac.dPctauhhCclcelayaatrpn.utlyiioaT€tn:kxhlawitonoera"dnfgisloriyhnmuotehnusmsauansitfbgs.ieasleSHrfiiotnaetinglsore;shpmaitaiaensunktdscietoehhadrpenmhaodeor-fotrhdgpfaiaitndosnofivfzlniteicehnoedfe-tt

(

Chapter itself.

Brotber Constantine Vincent

f *' Ratte (Sa6ne et Loire, France) 67-1885; Pressin-St' Genis Laval (Rh6ne'

France) 2-7-T; 88 years of age; 67 profession'

*t;.do.Jao;a;oth"l..T""ef,h*iuptsi,rseu*irnSv.tr.iiaecaohlveeioosmhoikaiefnmbdtyBh,ooetraofonytsth.oh1i.meueanrnpti*"g&clp1eors.anoastlfnhieomtdicshrrniesa1cdit5nheAocdoigsecerdfhetncihsoupiidsulifteeunttphifayahaelty'ltehswHmcaiceiitrsalnplcl,ttdoeremeeudneeladoprdagfennlieoPodosvtr'neae-bccsoeeAtsiv-li-anfleawln.utpd9lHht-$erifeesods.rwewwneaaacstlsell

Father John Vos

*Hamborn-Bruckhausen(Wesphalia)21-L-1899;tLo&(Poland)1047);74

years of age; 56 profession; 46 pritsthood; 6 rector'

mr;Dit;h;"aaiei;cnl;,hyp;hHarr;ueeie".xipsi,wcc.theofa.fmclos,ilveeca"enaesrftnt.lyyetvItrrechofasaltechturiaoosr"Peftno.ihorrli%nc"hmasan.9Imaidf-vo^t1pe.cro9soodr4.turfhl5tadAPhe.soenfetSlolealdoanrerlldeoht)sinhunig-ametenotahr,Wnepdbirziaeoseeprcedaeamhrsciil-eantioifnvagederya,itodhn^hfedteptmLsahdtraeaioesdtcdsi,os-iichostaiaincwnatsaeldierddrypceurihgaemtaiippmeroadsasstietnenoidndgl-f

Fatber Louis Yeh

t * Wenchou (China) 2Ut2'L2; Shanghai (China) 22-5'73; 60 vears of age; )8

profession; 28 Priesthood.

,;i,hnt;"eda.f.Har,iittsi*hhlip"aanGrrpd.emr.nh.lfrmiss.uuopopnfrrpii.iesdortssfdetdrdyod;gahtimnhisdee"vreaeosnlcniimgdaditopioosulepnfsehlbavniobtsucotsalueidhfrvoeeeenr'n'h. HeyiTreeoeaicrwssauallffysieraoePvrdtreeisrshcoteanerT;doe.ic.'tnhaal;llynll9ofh5obe-rl

11.5 Page 105

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-105-

Fatber Gertnain Zandonella

I * Comelico Superiore di Dosoledo (Belluno, Italy) 8-7-1897; Len"o Torinese

(Italy) L5-7-73; 76 yeas of. agel 58 profession; 48 priesthood, 16 rector.

He was the tenth of fourteen children. He went through the problems

4116 dificulties sf an immigrant to Germany in search of bread and found

his vocation at the a3e of seventeen. During the \\Var he was a lieutenant

and was decorated for bravery. Don Cimatti admitted him to ordination

with this remark: "Excellent and vorthy in every way". He threw himself

into the apostolate of the school with complete loyalty to Don Bosco and

his system: reasonableness, kindliness, love of God and a friendly pfesetrce.

He had a particular enthusiasm for the Past Pupils. A gifted and cultured

man, he wrote some e><cellent and thoughtful books on education. Health

problems obliged him to tetire to Lanzn, whete he applied himself to the

apostolate of prayer, sufiering and wdting.

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3° elenco 1973

COGNOME E NOME

LUOGO DI NASCITA DATA DI NASC. EMORTE ETA LUOGO DIM

ISP.

89 Sac. BARACCHINI Luigi Lerici (I)

4.6.1887

90 Sac. BATTEZZATI Eusebio M. di Valenza

9.4.1895

91 Sac. BAUDIN Roberto

Perone (F)

23.1.1911

92 Sac. BOCKSTAL Leone

Celles (B)

26.11.1900

93 Sac. BOURSOTTY Giuseppe Grasse (F)

3.7.1883

94 Coad. BRUNNER Luigi

Kulz (D)

8.2.1912

95 Sac. BURGER Francesco

Stockenweiller (D) 24.6.1908

96 Coad. CALLEGARI Italo

Monastier (I)

26.9.1949

97 Sac. CALUSSI Olinto

Montecchio-C (I) 1.11.1916

98 Coad. CALVI Giuseppe

Maio de' Calvi (I) 1.9.1881

99 Sac. CANDIANI Antonio Busto Arsraio (I) 25.2.1887

100 Sac. CANTARUTTI Emilio Zagreb (YU)

11.9.1896

101 Sac. CURTI Raffaele

Frascati (I)

23.4.1883

102 Sac. DOBLADO Giuseppe M. Lucena (E)

24.11.1892

103 Coad. FAVA Lodovico

Bospolengo (I) 19.2.1880

104 Sac. FAZZINI Cesare

Buenos Aires (RA) 26.3.1889

105 Sac. FERRARI Luigi

Florida (U)

9.7.1885

106 Coad. GALEA Carmelo

Birkikara (M)

17.8.1890

107 Sac. GINDRI Agostino

Torino (I)

21.9.1919

108 Sac. GORCZATY Giuseppe Dzieckowice (PL) 17.4.1910

109 Sac. KNAPP Giuseppe

Kalch (A)

24.4.1906

110 Sac. KRAJEWSKI Francesco Pr6chensko (PL) 11.9.1910

111 Coad. LABANOWSKI Sigism.do Radziuszki (PL) 6.3.1898

112 Sac. LATORRE Antonio M. Cuzco (PE)

7.7.1891

113 Coad. MARUCCI Alfonso

Marseille (F)

8.4.1911

114 Sac. MASSALSKI Martino Bojsszowy (PL) 26.10.1891

115 Sac. MELLE Giuseppe

Saluggia (I)

8.4.1891

116 Sac. MICHALEK Paolo

Bottrop (D)

29.6.1917

117 Coad. MIHOJlWIC Giorgio Punta Arenas (RCH) 16.5.1902

26.6.1973 86 Buenos. Aires (RA) BA

12.5.1973 78 Bagnolo (I)

4.8.1973 62 Marseille (F)

16.5.1973 72 Sainte-Ode (B)

15.6.1973 89 Santiago (RCH)

14.7.1973 61 Ensdorf (D)

Mii

3.6.1973 65 Benediktbeuem (D) Mii

26.6.1973 23 Caorle (I)

19.5.1973 56 Macerata (I)

20.5.1973 91 Sao Paulo (BR)

25.7.1973 86 Cremisan (IL)

16.7.1973 76 San Justo (RA)

21.7.1973 90 Banpong (Thailandia) Th

14.5.1973 80 Malaga (E)

12.7.1964 84 Ananindeau (BR)

29.6.1973 84 Buenos Aires (RA) BA

21.7.1973 88 Montevideo (U)

29.7.1973 83 Sliema (M)

2.7.1973 53 Cheung Chau (H. Kong) Ci

7.3.1973 62 Jaciazek (PL)

5.7.1973 67 Bogota (CO)

12.2.1973 62 Bialogard (PL)

27.4.1973 75 Aleksandr6w K. (PL) Lz

16.7.1973 82 Lima (PE)

2.6.1973 62 Casale Monferrato (I) No

8.1.1973 81 L6dz (PL)

29.5,1973 82 Bari (I)

2.5.1973 55 Rydutowy (PL)

25.5.1973 71 Santiago (RCH)

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118 Coad. MURTAS Giovanni

S. Pantaleo D. (I) 9.3.1884

119 Sac. ORTECA Ampelio

Pedrosa de U. (E) 20.11.1903

120 Sac. ROSENBAJGER &Im. Zakopane (PL) 10.2.1906

121 Sac. RUZZEDDU Mario

Sassari (I)

5.2.1910

122 Sac. STACUL Paolo

123 Sac. STRUS Giuseppe

Podgora (I)

Strusy (PL)

20.6.1902

31.1.1905

124 Coad. VINCENT Costantin

Ratte (F)

6.7.1885

125 Sac. WOS Giovanni

Hambom-B. (D) 21.1.1899

126 Sac. YEH Luigi

Wenchou RC) 20.12.1912

127 Sac. ZANDONELLA Germano Comelico S. (I)

8.7.1897

10.6.1973 89 Ancona (I)

7.7.1973 69 La Plata (RA)

2.6.1973 67 Oswiecim (PL)

5.8.1973 63 Bangkok (Thailandia) Co

24.1.1973 79 Guatemala (G)

29.4.1973 68 L6dz (PL)

2.7.1973 88 Pressin-St. Genis (F) Ly

10.4.1973 74 L6dz (PL)

22.5.1973 60 Shanghai (RC)

15.7.1973 76 Lanzo Torine (I)

11.8 Page 108

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