By Ms. Kiko

Hong Kong, August 22, 2015 - This day was the final closing of DB200 celebrations of China Province and the perpetual profession of Cl. Lou San John Baptist. More than 700 faithful, including members of other religious orders, came to share this joyful moment of the Salesian Society. A specially-printed booklet of the letter of Pope Francis to Rector Major regarding DB200 had been distributed after mass to the participants as a souvenir. Two newly published Chinese book “Memoirs of the Oratory” and “Don Bosco’s Spirituality – Meditations” were launched which would help us to extend and to inherit the mission of Don Bosco nowadays.

Both pilgrims of the Salesian Family and the youths who had joined SYM Don Bosco 2015 shared their experience and reflection after their trip to Turin during the charism sharing session. Mission and inheritance seemed to be something very difficult to the young. However, Don Bosco said this could be very simple if we tried to be upright citizens and good Christians.

Jason, one of the youths said the difference between Salesian youth and other youth groups was that they had faith. A very impressive experience was his encounter with an Italian youth who would enter Salesian Seminary soon. They shared many different youth issues which he had not noticed before, but this was also applicable to the situation in Hong Kong. In this era, the situation was very different from the time of Don Bosco with many challenges. It was difficult to rely on one’s strength to handle all these challenges. However, the Church gave us a good teacher to guide us. He concluded that Salesian youth was not just an identity but a living attitude that affected the whole life. It was not enough to be holy oneself, it was more important to lead other youth to holiness. We also needed to spread the spirit of Christ in our society. Moreover, they had specially prepared a video which was the birthday greeting with different languages during their trip as a gift to Don Bosco. Finally, the Salesian Family pilgrims presented a dance which showed how they followed the footsteps of Don Bosco to search for the youth in dangerous situation. This was how they inherited the mission of Don Bosco to the young.

During the homily, Fr. Lanfranco Fedrigotti, Provincial of CIN shared that Cl. Lou San’s words impressed him. It was not that he loved Don Bosco first but Don Bosco loved him first. Being a Salesian, it was easy to be confused between loving Jesus or loving Don Bosco. A very beautiful thought that could help was to love Don Bosco continuously, as Don Bosco loved Jesus so much, then Don Bosco would teach us how to love Jesus more.

Through the love and consecration of Salesians to Jesus Christ, more and more mission partners participated in this mission of the young. As a result, the young realized their mission as well through their experience of the love of the Salesians and the mission partners. The young committed themselves and inherited the mission of Don Bosco, and this would go on for generations.