Salesian Family Spiritual Day in CIN

By Mrs. Lucia

Hong Kong, 15 January 2016 -- In this day, Salesian Family in China Province organized the Salesian Spiritual Day to synchronize with the one in Rome having the study on the 2017 Strenna. The whole Salesian House hall was packed with Salesians family members. The schedule of the day was divided into three parts. In the opening ceremony, we enjoyed a video clip on Rector Major’s Strenna for 2017 entitled with "We are family. Every home, a school of Life and Love." This year, the Rector Major in line with the Pope, the two Synods and the whole Church, aimed at reflecting on the theme of the family which gave the guidelines for the core message of the Strenna 2017.

What followed was the sharing session, Fr Lanfranco Fedrigotti, Provincial of China Province summarized the Strenna with 9 points:

1. Keeping in line with the reflection presented by the Pope, strengthen our presence and assistance to families.
2. We are not perfect families, we make mistakes in building families, so we have to learn how to care and love each other.
3. Young people grow up in the families, the Son of God was born in a family. Young people are not the burden for families. We need to build up an essential model for the growth of young people.
4. The dimension of the Strenna is given to each group and everyone of our Salesian Family.
5. Helping families to overcome difficulties is the Salesian Family spirit. We should not be self-centered, we should rather be more considerate towards each other as a starting point.
6. Difficulties bring learning experiences, he should have more empathy, understanding, compassion and forgiveness.
7. Family communion is the history of salvation. The life of our families is made up of union of hearts.
8. We should spread and raise the value and awareness of the respect of life, not to be self-centered but strive to learn the truth.
9. As a conclusion, family is able to save the young people and save us.

During the group discussion, the Salesian Family members joined the discussion, shared their experiences and reflection on how to implement and to live the Strenna in our daily lives. It concluded that parents should act as a good model. Preventive education system, good communication, family prayers, patience, communion, appreciation and sacrifice spirit are essential elements in the value for family members. Besides, we proposed to organize some kinds of family activities. We should implement the family spirit in ourselves first, and then in our home and finally spread it to the community and the society.

Afterwards, Fr. Andrew Fung, the Vice-Provincial added that the Strenna 2017 will be implemented in the period from September 2017 to August 2018 and launched in May 2017. He highlighted the fact that Don Bosco grew up in a fatherless family and was taught by her mother Mama Margaret. Prayers for each other, forgiveness and compassion can heal families. This spiritual day was concluded with the sacrament of confession, adoration and blessing by the Blessed Sacrament and night prayers.

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