EAO Good Night Talk (71)
Hong Kong, China
1st February 2020
Without the young we can’t reach heaven!
Strenna 2020 and General Chapter 28 are auspicious opportunities
Dear confreres, friends and Salesian Family members!
I’m happy to be greeting you from my last animation visit in the region before GC28. First I share the request of prayers from our newly ordained coadjutor bishop of Lashio diocese (Myanmar), Lucas Dau Ze, SDB who was consecrated on 29 January. Lashio, a remote diocese close to the border with China, began as the result of the hard work of our confreres some 45 years ago. And the strong challenges of young people in this part of Myanmar (armed conflict, drugs and human trafficking) have ‘called’ another Salesian bishop after 24 years!
What gifts and opportunities does this new year 2020 bring us?
The 2020 Strenna is a wonderful gift to explore. The beautiful Strenna 2020 poster made in Japan or ‘DOCAT’, as another example, show us many concrete ways for living with and for the young as ‘Good Christians and Upright Citizens’. The Strenna commentary and video offers also many concrete inspirations for our daily education.
General Chapter 28 is starting in few day time (16 February – 4 April) at Valdocco. Again at the centre of our ‘Salesian Pentecost’ are the young people and their needs. For the first time we enter a General Chapter that calls us to ponder an open question: “What kind of Salesian for the young people of today?” It is a truly charismatic question to ask for next 6 years.
Moreover, on 24 June 2020, we will celebrate the 150th birthday of the Don Bosco Past Pupils. Their Jubilee Year starts from Valdocco as an act of gratitude for their Father and Teacher and Friend, a precious chance to live this year with an eye to the fruits of our mission!
Both major themes of this year are a good chance to make sure that the young people are at the centre of our life. A few days ago, in their greetings to Cardinal Charles Bo, the Nazareth House (Myanmar) boarding students said: “We believe that joy is a fruit of love. Here we all feel loved by the good Lord. We feel loved by the Salesians and the Salesian too, feel loved by us. The Salesian Brothers and Fathers accompany us to become upright citizens and good Christians. And we, for our part, accompany the Salesians to find their way to holiness and so we accompany each other on our common road to happiness.”
After the recent Don Bosco Feast day, we again humbly recognise that without the young people we can’t reach our heavenly home. We give thanks for Don Bosco’s way of meeting Jesus wherever they are. Let’s take the opportunity of this year 2020 to become more youth-centred sons and daughters of Don Bosco!
Fr. Václav Klement, SDB
EAO Regional Councillor
Thank you very much!
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