August

THE SALESIAN FAMILY

AS A MOVEMENT

Getting to know itself, forming itself, working together

In certain circumstances we are witnessing in Salesian activities a real mobilization of the laity, not necessarily practising believers..In this way begins a vast movement of persons which becomes organized and coordinated and shares a project for the salvation of the young and of people in general. (MC 5).

_Dear Readers, several times I have said and written that the Salesian Family (SF) is a “Movement”. The term is not a fashionable fad: in Church circles this new form of grouping together has been especially successful. Church Movements each with its own characteristics are quite numerous nowadays and involve thousands of people. Therefore we are not following a fashion but building on our heritage. What Don Bosoc started in fact is known as “a vast movement of persons for the salvation of the young”¹. What is specific about it? It is a spiritual and apostolic movement!

BEING SPECIFIC

- It is a movement, that is something dynamic. This explains why it continues to grow in number - in members, and in groups: today there are 26 groups which officially form part of it, but there are at least another thirty which are moving in that direction, even though they are not yet officially recognised, and some of them are certainly very interesting and significant. Will they continue to increase? Fr Egidio Viganò my predecessor, declared that the SF would come to include at least 300 groups. Exaggeration? Enthusiasm perhaps, or rather confidence in Don Bosco’s charism, in its thousands of facets, in its dynamism, in its ability to express itself in different forms.

- It is a spiritual movement, since it is the fruit of the Spirit Who inspired it and continues to create it. The SF is not a project born in the study nor the fruit of Don Bosco’s genius. The Salesian Constitutions expressly state that it is the work of the Holy Spirit and came into being through the intervention of Mary. It is this which assures us that it is something charismatic, a gift of God at the service of the Church and of the world. It is good to know that the foundation of the SF is the Holy Spirit.

 - It is an apostolic movement: that is to say it is directed towards a mission to be accomplished; it is not a club for friends who like being together, nor is it a philanthropic society. It is a body at work within the Church on behalf of society. In other words it is a vocation, a call to continue the work of Christ, with a particular mandate - that of dedicating itself, through education, to the salvation of the young who are poor and those who are living in difficult circumstances.

TWO DOCUMENTS AND THREE AIMS

In the SF we have two documents which make clear on the one hand our identity and on the other our common mission. These are the “Charter of Communion” and the “Mission Charter” (earlier also known as the “Common Identity Card” and the “Common Mission Statement.”) In practice, however, I should like to invite you to take three important steps. So as to really live as a Movement we need to “know each other better,” “form ourselves together,” “work together in harmony”! These are the aims I set before you for the immediate future.

- “Knowing each other better” means becoming aware of what our family really is. It is necessary that the groups know each other, that they create opportuntities to meet together, that they celebrate the fact of being brothers and sisters sharing the same charism. In addition, great attention must be paid to appreciating the different specific gifts: those of religious, those of consecrated lay people, groups of men and groups of women, of consecrated persons living in the world and those who live a common life, those who work in organisations and those who carry out an apostolate in their everyday lives, small groups and large ones. In this process of getting to know and of helping each other, a special responsibility is entrusted to the Salesians who need to “believe” more and more in the family which Don Bosco has handed on to them, of which they are an integral part and which they need to love and animate.

- The second important step is “forming ourselves together.” This is a conviction to be acquired and a practice to to be started. Our formation has particular elements and points of reference; above all the study of Don Bosco in order to know, understand and to take up his charismatic project and his criteria in pastoral activity. A knowledge of the successful pastoral experiences of the various groups and congregations could be extremely useful. Anniversaries and other celebrations (centenaries, golden jubilees etc.) are suitable occasions to acquire this knowledge and/or improve it. Equally useful could be holding days of recollection and/or retreats together which encourage an atmosphere of greater spiritual sharing. Where it is possibile, there could be real formation courses on our common charismatic heritage and/or a better knowledge of the youth situation or of the local areas in which we are working. These things should contribute to increasing our sense of belonging and to the awareness that all have their own particular characteristics.

- The third step is “working together in harmony”. We can recall the example Don Bosco used to help us appreciate unity. A single thread if stretched easily breaks. Many threads twisted together make a rope which no one can break. It is unthinkable therefore for groups of the SF to be living in the same place, facing the same challenges and yet each one choosing to work on its own. What to do about it? Above all, get to know the challenges which the Church to which we belong has to face. Make contacts in order to work in collaboration with the Bishops, giving preference to people and groups close to our own mission (the local Church ought to consider us as part of the family and not guests or worse still intruders); collaborate with those in civil society directly or indirectly concerned in the mission of the SF. The city or the region ought to feel the benefit of our efforts and consider us a strong force for good from the social and the spiritual points of view.

With a strong sense of Church the SF looks at the overall local pastoral and social challenges, together with the specific commitments of the Salesian mission, and can then decide what the pastoral needs are, and propose suitable practical measures, setting up a common project for the area.

Dear Readers, what I am telling you about is not just a dream! In many parts of the world this is already happening. Nonetheless, the distance between what is happening and what could be happening is always great. It’s time to get moving! Don’t you think so?