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austraLasia #3412

  

The Document' in final (almost) shape

9 April 2014 
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People have been asking for a good pic of the new RM. One can be provided if you want it - just ask. There will be more official ones of course, but this responds to many requests.

While people are summoning up the energy to get through the final days, there has been no lack of energy-sapping moments (flu would have to be part of that too), be it hours of voting and voting on voting, some physical exercise here and there, and the 'sideline' meetings that are not really sideline at all - Regions taking the opportunity of being there together and in a situation to contribute to the forthcoming 2014-2020 RM and Council Plan, as well as look at what the GC27 is already saying to them.

There is a document taking wing - it's always been there, or at least since the beginning of the Chapter, gradually going through the metamorphosis that will make it an exciting little butterfly! 

And 2015 hasn't been forgotten either!

EAO meeting and looking ahead

EAO members at GC27 - and for that matter members not at the Chapter too - have been putting their bit in, thinking through various implications for the next six years, led by the 'listening' leader, as he has characterise himself these days, but not only him. He would like us all to listen - to the Lord, to one another, to those around....
But just so you can have an idea of what is happening in these 'other' meetings, the Moderator-cum-Vicar of the RM has been meeting with Regions.  Here is what he has been asking them to reflect on with him:
  • A study of the Region (there is already plenty of background here - Team Visits, Extraordinary Visitations etc ...)
  • The Region's possible contribution to the RM and Council's six year Plan
  • Passing on and assimilating GC27
  • Upcoming Team Visit
  • Possible structures in the Region:
  •     - Could there be a Regional Plan?
  •     - What commissions/committees are needed or useful?
  •     - What about the Ongoing Formation Centre being proposed for each Region by GC27 - for Salesians and lay people together?
  •     - Interprovincial Formation Centres (initial formation)
  • Extraordinary Visitations
The Document
The Introduction (currently 4 foolscap pages worth or thereabouts) is in its final voting stage and probably will not change much from where it is at right now. Too much to include here, but just to give you a feel of what it looks like:

It will situate GC27 in the context of the time that has passed since the renewed Constitutions in 1984, 4 General Chapters, each with a special emphasis picking up Vat II and the life of the Congregation. GC27 highlights the Gospel roots of our apostolic consecration in a way that has not been done over this entire period. 

1. The vine and the branches
The Gospel passage which has significantly accompanied the work of the Chapter is the “vine and the branches” (Jn 15:1-11), in which the central message refers to being profoundly united, hence “rooted” in love for Jesus, as was Don Bosco, who knew how to experience his life as a profound unity around the person of the Son of God, thanks to Whom he “bore fruit”.  ...

2. The grace of unity
Preparation by local and provincial communities, and the Chapter experience, have helped us rediscover Salesian identity from the four different angles which were recalled in the letter of convocation of GC27: "Living in the grace of unity and with joy the Salesian consecrated vocation, which is God's gift and a personal plan of life; having a strong spiritual experience, taking up the way of life and action of Jesus obedient, poor and chaste and becoming seekers of God; building up fraternity in our communities of life and action; generously dedicating ourselves to the mission, walking side by side with the young so as to give hope to the world." (AGC 413, p. 5). ...

3. A point of arrival and a point of departure
GC27 adopted a community discernment approach articulated over three interrelated and consecutive phases: listening, interpreting, way ahead. The common thread linking these three is summed up by a sentence placed at the beginning of each discernment phase ...
From this “map” each local and provincial circumstance can select and arrange its own way ahead, fitting in with its context and the many pointers coming from the experience of GC27 as it listens to the Congregation and the local and universal Church.

Prayer to Our Lady

Presentation and significance of the Bicentenary
bicentenary
Today the Chapter will be presented with a reminder of the Bicentenary and its significance for us. As this is of general interest and may be useful in communities and works, here is the complete item:

To recall the 200 years since Don Bosco's birth on August 16, 1815, the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr Pascual Chávez launched the celebrations for the Bicentenary to take place from 16 August 2014 to 16 August 2015.

1. Preparation for the Bicentenary
Preparations for the Bicentenary began in 2008 with the 26th General Chapter of the Salesians. The Congregation and Salesian Family began moving towards the Bicentenary by taking Don Bosco's motto, “Da mihi animas, cetera tolle” as its theme, and putting commitment to “beginning afresh from Don Bosco” as the basis for the years 2008-2014. In fact we can discover the origins of Don Bosco's charism, the purpose of  the Congregation’s and Salesian Family’s mission, and their future, in this.
Moreover the Rector Major offered the Salesian Family the Pilgrimage of Don Bosco's Casket, which covered most countries around the world where the Salesian Family is present. The Pilgrimage concluded in February this year, 2014. It saw crowds of young people and families, all sharing admiration and gratitude for Don Bosco and his work, calling on his intercession, and wanting to be involved in the education of the young.
Finally a Three year preparation for the Salesian Family followed, marked by a three stage journey; the stages began on 16 August 2011, 16 August 2012 and 16 August 2013 respectively, and will conclude on 15 August 2014. Each stage has been aimed at developing an aspect of Don Bosco's charism: getting to know him and his history, his pedagogy, his spirituality.

2. Bicentenary theme
The Bicentenary theme, consistent with the three year preparation, refers to the Mission of Don Bosco with and for the young. Communication of this message took account of what has been gained and what has matured over three years of preparation. It should contribute not only to a deeper understanding of what Don Bosco's mission consists of today, but also to arousing numerous forces available to commit themselves in Don Bosco's style for the “salvation of the young”, especially the poorest, most excluded and abandoned.
This year concentrates on the journey of spiritual and pastoral renewal which the Congregation, Salesian Family and Salesian Youth Movement intend to pursue. For this we need to encourage simplicity of initiatives and highlight the relevance of the proposal, avoiding scattered effort, rhetoric and repetition, focusing instead on incisive and effective communication. Don Bosco and his mission should challenge everyone to give a response to the needs of the young today in various parts of the world.
Interesting from this perspective are the two international congresses on Salesian history and pedagogy, but especially the world gathering of young people from the Salesian Youth Movement, which will have “Young people for young people” as its theme. According to Don Bosco's vision it is the young people who are the pivotal players in the mission of education and evangelisation of their peers. The involvement of the young in Don Bosco's mission will help them be involved in doing good for their own companions.” 

3. Significance of the Bicentenary
The Bicentenary intends above all to help make the figure of Don Bosco known and better understood: his relevance in the history of education and spirituality. Historical knowledge and understanding of Don Bosco are the departure point for identifying his relevance. Going to the sources of Don Bosco’s charism will help bring freshness and renewal to Salesian work today.
This celebration also aims at helping the Salesian Family to understand and take up its charismatic identity. Research into and awareness of identity encourages the discovery of the specific nature and effectiveness of the charism. We cannot work generically today, repeating what everyone else does; the plurality of initiatives demands the Salesian proposal have its own special character, from both a spiritual, and pastoral and educative point of view. The relevance of Don Bosco's charism lies in its identity. Charismatic identity also encourages its visibility, credibility and vocational fruitfulness.
With the Bicentenary the Salesian Family also intends to take on a greater involvement in Don Bosco's spiritual and apostolic programme: “Da mihi animas, cetera tolle”; this is the reason for his tireless work for “the glory of God and the salvation of souls.” Thus the Salesian Family can spur itself forward courageously on the frontiers of the mission to youth today. This means having a strong apostolic passion and generous availability.
The Bicentenary, finally, is an opportunity to give the charism of Don Bosco back to the Church and society. It is not the property of the Salesian Family but has been raised up by the Spirit for everyone. The task of the Salesian Family is to make him known so as to involve many forces in his spirituality and mission. Don Bosco today attracts many young people, lay people and families and urges them to become saints, getting involved in the educative and pastoral mission precisely through the concrete nature of this commitment.

4. Visits and pilgrimages to Don Bosco's places
Another initiative that is arousing interest is the bookings for pilgrimages to Don Bosco's places: Turin, the place of Don Bosco’s activity; Castelnuovo Don Bosco and surrounds, the place of his birth, family life and childhood; Chieri, the place of his human and seminary formation, but also of youthful friendships and apprenticeship in trades; …
Various historical, cultural and spiritual itineraries are being prepared in cooperation with civil authorities. These are not initiatives addressed to the Salesian Family alone; many local Churches are preparing bookings to get young people to know Don Bosco's spirituality; likewise for family groups and cultural associations. The geography of these places helps one better understand the history.
When visits to these places also have spiritual significance they become a pilgrimage and thus an opportunity for experiences of faith and an encouragement to holiness. Pilgrimage is an effective format and one much appreciated today for communicating spiritual experiences. The Salesian places hold an attraction and reminder to return to the sources of the charism.

5 Publications for the Bicentenary
Many publications are envisaged in various parts of the world: papers, studies, general reading, research, ... For example Italian Salesian Publishing Houses - LDC, SEI, LAS - are coordinating these initiatives. All this will contribute to an understanding of Don Bosco’s relevance. Amongst the publishing initiatives deserving of attention in view of the Bicentenary is the publication of the “Fonti salesiane” (Salesian Sources), by the Salesian Historical Institute. 
This volume of sources is divided into three parts: wrings and documents on Don Bosco's history and the history of Salesian work; writings and testimonies of Don Bosco on education and schooling; writings and testimonies of Don Bosco on spiritual life. These three parts were coordinated respectively by Frs Francesco Motto, José Manuel Prellezo and Aldo Giraudo, Lecturers at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome.
This volume of Salesian sources on Don Bosco and his work is entrusted to the Salesian Family, the Friends of Don Bosco, to those who admire Salesian work, to the young, laity who are involved in the spirit and mission of Don Bosco, and to families; everyone can draw on the fresh sources of the Salesian charism, the gift of the Spirit for the whole Church. Everyone can be inspired by Don Bosco's pedagogy and spirituality. With such a collection it will be much easier also for scholars to quote and make reference to a single collection of source materials.

5. Prayer to Don Bosco
Celebration of the Bicentenary is also an occasion to take up once more with the young, lay people, the Salesian Family and the Salesian Movement the prayer to Don Bosco, “Father and Teacher of Youth”.

Father and Teacher of Youth,
Saint John Bosco,
obedient to the gifts of the Spirit and open to the realities of your time
you were for the young, especially for the little ones and the poor,
a sign of God's love and predilection.
be our guide
in walking in friendship with the Lord Jesus,
in such a way that we discover in him and in his Gospel
the meaning of our life
and the source of true happiness.
Help us to respond generously
to the vocation we received from God,
to be in daily life
builders of communion,
and collaborate with enthusiasm
in communion with the whole Church, 
to build up the civilisation of love.
Obtain for us the grace of perseverance
in living a high degree of Christian life,
according to the spirit of the Beatitudes;
and grant that, guided by Mary Help of Christians,
we may find ourselves one day with you
in the great family of heaven. Amen
.