Valdocco, Turin - Italy, 17 January 2023 -- The four memorable days at Valdocco around the theme of Strenna 2023 'As the Yeast in Today's Human Family' (12-15 Jan) brought together 300 SF members (at least 80 non-Europeans) and among them also 10 Salesian Family Group members from our EAO region. The 'Caritas Sisters of Jesus' Sisters General Council (this time with two lay mission partners from their social work and school in Latin America), two SIHM sisters (Thailand) and four EAO Salesians from the SDB General house with the EAO Regional Councillor, Fr Joseph Nguyen Thin Phuoc - were part of the Valdocco world event broadcast live to the whole world.
Even today you can watch this strongly charismatic event on YouTube, day by day, in English, Thai and Vietnamese. Only the final Eucharist on Sunday was translated into Korean, Japanese and Indonesian (YouTube channel: SF-EAO English, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Thai, Vietnam). At the world level surprisingly there was also translation to Arabic (https://youtu.be/uIxudf9E9dA) for the second year running, beside the 'Big 5' Salesian languages (Spanish, English, French, Portuguese and Italian).
From Valdocco’s world program you can be enriched by the personal Q and A with the Rector Major, with a panel of SF lay members (Salesian Cooperator, DB and FMA past pupils and lay mission partner), with a video presentation of 5 Salesian Family groups (SMI sisters, DQM secular institute - Thailand, DB Past pupils Confederation, Michaelite and Adolescent Jesus Sisters). Also one afternoon was dedicated to some very interesting sharing on the recently canonised Salesian Brother Artemides Zatti and the interactive presentation of some innovative apostolate of SF lay members in 5 European countries).
Of course, besides the official program many seized advantage to get to know the 'Salesian holy places' in Valdocco and city of Turin, sharing with other SF members from other continents and countries. On the last day as traditionally is the case, there was a time to share the 2023 'resolutions' of each major group of the Salesian Family on 'HOW' to be the Yeast in the Human Family especially this year. Main highlights are available on the Boscolink website.
Just to taste the 'Valdocco spirit of 2023' - a few highlights of 2023 'resolutions': SDB - Improve the accompaniment and mutual sharing with our lay mission partners; FMA - Involve more youth and lay people in the mission; ASC - Become more out-reaching in the mission. Foster the SF Advisory Council in each locality and province, esp. mixed vocation ministry teams; DB past pupils - better understanding with the Salesian Family, PP as educators of young people (Don Bosco's wish for the first Valdocco past pupils!); VDB - focus on formation as one Salesian family becoming 'Yeast' together.
Two upcoming global SF events were introduced: After a successful first Global Don Bosco Youth Film Festival 2021, the second edition is scheduled for January - July 2023 (https://www.dbgyff.com and dbgyff@sdb.org) with 70 regional, 100 local and 10 global awards in two categories (juniors 14-19 years and seniors 20-25 years). Also next year the 9th Mary Help of Christian International Congress in Fatima, Portugal (August 29-September 1, 2024) with the theme 'I will give you a teacher' (200th years of the famous Don Bosco Dream at 9). At the end Bro. Dominic Nam also showed the renewed Salesian Family website (https://www.famigliasalesiana.org/en) in 5 languages - with many resources for animation, information and formation.
Four days of fresh, strong and enthusiastic breathing of 'Salesian air' at Valdocco is really worthwhile. The Rector Major encourages each of the 32 groups to benefit from this annual charismatic opportunity. The SFSD 2023 are not 'over'! According Fr Joan Lluis Playa, we count each day of this year as a new opportunity to live 'As Yeast in Today's Human Family!' Enjoy a new chance of 'Salesian Family spirituality day every day'!
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