Final message from Valdocco to all European Provinces

By Our Own Correspondent

Turin, Italy, 2 December 2018 -- The seventh European SDB Provincials meeting concluded on the first Sunday of Advent (2 December) at Valdocco with the final feedback and encouragement of the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Artime. Some lay mission partners had already left for their respective Provinces. The two Regional Councillors in Europe, Fr Stefano Martoglio (Mediterranian Region including also Middle East) and Fr Tadeusz Rozmusz (Central and North Europe) continued to lead the meeting, with the highly qualified assistance of Fr Janusz Zapala, Fr Rozmusz' secretary.

The morning began with the Eucharistic celebrated in the St Francis de Sales church. In his homily Fr Ángel underlined hope, the Advent virtue, through his firm belief and conviction that God is walking with his Salesians in Europe. All provincials were invited to reflect on the tricky temptation to look back to 'old golden times' of the past when the Salesians in Europe were large in numbers. Numbers, however, do not guarantee greater charismatic fidelity or better witness to the Gospel for young people. 'Today we need to recognise with all sincerity and humility, that our Congregation, our youth ministry or our life witness is no worse than it was 40 years ago when Europe was booming with more than 10,000 Salesians'.

In the two morning sessions the main topic was the reshaping of SDB initial formation in Europe. The General Councillor for Formation, Fr Ivo Coelho, introduced a brief overview of initial formation across Europe, by way of reflection. The fast-changing scenario of vocations in the old continent requires clear direction at the continental level: this year there are 53 novices in 4 novitiates around Europe (including also one Timorese novice from Ireland in Italy, at Pinerolo). Next year a new formation house specifically for Salesian Brothers will open in Spain (Barcelona). There is strong need to prepare many new formators in the provinces with few young confreres and also a need to adjust to the multi-cultural and international formation communities all around Europe. Also the presence of missionaries ad gentes from other continents has altered the dynamics of formation. Vibrant discussion by many new provincials followed this presentation and concluded with a number of insights from Fr Ángel. The Rector major appreciated the results of the long-term investment in formation processes - the strengthening of the prenovitiate phase, formation for personal spiritual accompaniment, and fostering the specific formation of Salesian Brothers - that ha already brought many visible fruits around the world. We have remarkably fewer people dropping out during the novitiate, the perseverance of temporary professed Salesians has improved and the Salesian Brothers are helping the whole Congregation to recover its identity of Salesian apostolic consecration.

Mr Angel Gudina (Don Bosco Past Pupils) presented the journey of the DBI (Don Bosco International (https://www.facebook.com/donboscointernational) the civil interface of the Salesian Congregation with European Union structures Its headquarters are in Brussels, and sees regular leadership involvement from the General Councillor for Youth Ministry, along with the European provincials.

Later in the morning there was a short advertisement regarding the formation house in Battersea London, UK (GBR Province) with students from many provinces.

Before the final lunch the Rector Major wrapped up the meeting with a strongly positive and encouraging tone: 'I'm asking you for vision, courage and energy!' In his passionate brief intervention Fr Ángel empasised two of the three main themes of this encounter: Migration & Refugees and the Joint formation of SDB and Laity.

The successor of Don Bosco didn't hide the fact that he was deeply touched by Fr Luis Okulik (Secretary for Social Pastoral Ministry of the EU Bishops conferences) presentation on the terrible reality of human trafficking and indifference shown even by Catholic communities towards migrants and refugees: 'As Salesians in Europe we are here for these young people. We can't fail to be ever closer to young migrants and refugees who are still coming. We can't step back when it's a question of basic human rights. If not the Salesians, who will help them?'

With regard to the ongoing path for joint formation of SDB and lay people in Europe, the Rector Major said: 'Working together with lay people is the only way forward for the future of the Church; there is no other path. The Church of the future cannot be sustained just by the clergy or religious! If some European provinces do not take GC24 (1996) seriously in its call for the Involvement and Formation of Lay people, history will determine their collapse ... Our joint formation of SDB and lay people has great significance ... In my former province of ARS (Argentina South) I found 96 graduates of the Regional Ongoing Formation Centre in Quito (Ecuador) who after 4 years (each year they had 3 weeks training in a level of Salesianity, and finally a month-long pilgrimage to the Holy places of Don Bosco) were able to become directors of large works with a strong Salesian identity.

The three day event concluded with thanksgiving for the wonderful preparation of the host province (ICP, Provincial Fr Enrico Stasi) and for the presence and active, open contribution of all Provincials and General Council members with their teams: 'I’m asking you for courage, vision and strength! When you return to your province, I’m asking you to follow the common path of the Congregation in your decision-making. I’m asking you to join the Congregation's path and vision!'

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