Salesian Family Valdocco 2018

By Our Own Correspondent

Turin, Italy 21 January 2018 -- The four magic days of the 36th edition of the SF Spirituality days in Valdocco are over. You would ask, what are the fruits. No doubt, the personal experience of accompaniment shared in the Assembly, at the table or in many other non formal venues around Valdocco will bring many more fruits in each group of the Salesian family around the world.

At the end the participants appreciated most two very different, but very concrete sharing - one by Sr. Paula Casalini, FMA - formation councilor in Turin and another by Fr. Michal Vojtas, SDB - professor at the UPS, Rome. The full text of their talks are available in BoscoLink

Sr. Paula shared about LISTENING TO THE YOUNG from her own experience in the Oratory (Turin), through five images that were explained through many personal encounters with the young:

1. Listening as a fundamental condition - that the young people have already space in our hearts
2. Listening as a gaze - since listening happens with our eyes, like Don Bosco's gaze at the young
3. Listening as silence (with the Icon of our Lady of Silence) - in order to enter the heart of the young
4. Listening and trust and waiting - that help us to waste the time with the young as the way of building relationship
5. Listening as accompaniment - as the first condition to walk with the young (like Mary rushing to Elisabeth)

In turn Fr. Michal helped the participants to enter the world of accompaniment in Don Bosco's style, relating to the personal journey - accompaniment of Don Bosco with his young people: Comollo - Savio - Magone and Besucco.

His prezi presentation (upgraded version of Fr. Aldo Giraudo narrative pedagogy scheme) highlighted seven elements that we can also apply to our daily reality with the youngsters. Again, Fr. Vojtas relied also on his Oratory experience when looking at Don Bosco in seven steps: Welcoming - Challenging the youngster - Building confidence and trust -Building environment of the Oratory - Crisis helps the young people to go beyond - Decision - Commitment.

Don Bosco was presented as a disciple, before accompanying the young. And as conclusion Fr. Vojtas shared three concrete tools of accompaniment valid also today - personal plan of life (1), style of Salesian organization based on accompaniment (personal talk with 100 animators) and Salesian way of young people's transformation with a vision(3).

As conclusion of the SF Spirituality Days, the Rector Major in his homily (Sunday, January 21) shared four dreams about the Salesian Family in 2018:

1. Salesian Family that is contemplative with an open eyes, that builds a spiritual environment in each community
2. Salesian Family that is always on the pilgrimage, on the move (our God is dynamic!) and always reaching out
3. Salesian Family composed of missionary disciples and mediating the Word of God and His call to the young
4. Salesian Family that is aware that many young people are awaiting us - now and here - to be accompanied!

The rich spiritual and apostolic experience of Valdocco 2018 can't be shared in few lines. Many precious experiences, talks and reflections will enlighten our journey during the whole year when we listen and accompany the Young!

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