By Our Own Correspondent

Generalate, 21 January 2017 -- The 35th edition of the Salesian Family Spirituality Days started in Rome, Salesianum on January 19. The four day event is attended by 370+ Salesian Family members and some Friends of Don Bosco (not yet official accepted groups) with probably the strongest presence of EAO participants. There are 2 SIHM sisters from Thailand, 1 SDB from Japan and 11 Caritas Sisters of Jesus coming from Argengina, Italy, Japan and Korean, including General Superior Sr. Teresia Furuki and members of her council.

We are Family! - Under the guidance of the Rector Major and animation of his Secretariat for the Salesian Family (Fr. Eusebio Munoz) the 2017 Strenna theme 'Every home a school of Life and Love' is being prayed over, digested, deepen and shared. As usual, there are main talks (available in English on the BOSCOLINK) of Fr. Juan Jose Bartolome: The family experience of Jesus in Nazareth, Fr Fabio Attard: Youth Ministry and Family and Fr. Andrew Bozzolo: Church, family, education - A Salesian reading of the Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love).

However the participants appreciate most the grass root educative-pastoral experiences of family ministry and the group sharing (languages and SF groups members among themselves) - that was given much more time than in the previous SF Days events. Indeed those who are most committed in the Family ministry are the Lay group of the Salesian Family - Salesian Cooperators (Slovakia, Spain, Italy good practice sharing) and some Salesian inspired NGO involved in this ministry.

On the second day (January 20) the morning prayer was animated by the Caritas Sisters of Jesus. Among the 17 different language groups this time excelled for the first time a joined Japanese - Korean Group, aside of English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Polish and Slovakian groups.

In her Good Night Talk Mother Yvonne (FMA General Superior) shared with passion her deep conviction about our duty to share the Salesian Charism within the local Church and society and the wonderful opportunity to listen to the young people and families in this challenging period of Church history. Indeed thanks to the incoming Synod of Bishops (2018 - Youth, Faith and Vocation Discernment) the Salesian Family has a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the path of the whole Catholic community worldwide.

BOSCOLINK: Program and Materials of the 2017 SF Spirituality Days (35th edition)

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