Half day of family meeting with the successor of Don Bosco (MYM_RM II)

By Our Own Correspodent
Photos: By Fr. Leo Mang, SC

Anisakan, Myanmar, 28 October 2016 -- During past two and half years the 10th successor of Don Bosco on the visits to 44 Salesian Provinces in 52 countries met more than 5900 Salesian Brothers, Fathers and Salesians in initial formation. According Fr. Angel the 3 hours long meeting with the Myanmar Vice-province confreres in Anisakan - Don Bosco Retreat House was the longest so far. Total of 38 Salesians gathered for this occasion. According Fr. Angel this is the main point of the RM's visit in Myanmar, and all confreres really appreciated the heart-to-heart meeting about family matters as fatherly talk.

First of all the Rector Major get know personally the confreres composing the 11 Salesian canonical and not-yet-canonical communities of MYM. Then he shared simply the summary of the 2014 consultation for the new MYM Superior enlighten with some inspirational experience around the world-wide Congregation. Wonderful picture of young, energetic provincial community with a hard working Salesians in a variety of mission for the poor young people emerged. A picture full of hope, opportunities and promising future of the Salesian Charism in Myanmar.

During the morning time of October 28 Fr Angel F. Artime was eager also to take a photo with the most senior confrere of the Vice-province, Fr. Cyril who is the only confrere who witness all the three visits of the Rector Major in Burma - in 1955 (Fr. Ziggiotti), 1979 (Fr. Vigano) and 2016 (Fr. Fernandez), with the family of Fr. Charles Saw, Superior of MYM and all other present confreres. A wonderful group picture was taken at the middle of the family encounter. Due to the young age of the confreres (average is only 36 years) - there are 15 students abroad and 17 young Salesian sitting now for the University exam in Mandalay and Yangon for their secular degrees at present time. That means, all confreres living now in Myanmar were present!

Rather deep and very open dialogue with Fr Angel focused on the charismatic growth towards the future. They key word were: communion, community life, taking care about each other and growth of community culture as the main way to the bright future. In the second part of the encounter Rector Major shared his answer to some very meaningful questions: How to live a happy Salesian life in spite of all present challenges? How to foster missionary spirituality within our communities? What can we concretely do in order to strengthen the community culture? How to growth in the joint mission with the Lay Mission partners and Salesian Family members?

As a visible sign of commitment the successor of Don Bosco entrusted to the MYM Superior the 'Project of Apostolic Life' of the Salesian Cooperators (ed. 2013) and the Presentation of the Don Bosco Past Pupils World Conferedation (ed. 2015). In this way he asked all Salesian to embrace the new way of conducting our mission with the Lay People!

The whole afternoon of the RM's visit second day will be dedicated to the Salesian Youth Movement, Salesian Family members sharing, exchange and encouragement. The whole visit is perceived by all participants as deep moment of communion and all happy that during these 3 days really Myanmar is at the center of the Salesian World!

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Fr. Cyril met 3 Rector Majors in Burma 1955-1979-2016

Old & new provincials

RM & Saw Charles family