By Julian Fox

Valdocco, Turin, 5 April 2025 -- Perhaps one of the lesser known features of GC29 for those of us outside the daily workings of this body has been the constant and very active presence of Fr Pascual Chávez, Rector Major Emeritus. Along with the now 232 Chapter members (following the addition of various newly-elected members who were not previously part of the Chapter), Fr Pascual has conducted himself as every other member, being a regular part of the daily Assemblies and also active in the regular commission meetings. But he has also played a special role in summing up each week’s activities in a feature which he has called, in Italian, ‘fare il punto’, which has been translated in English as ‘taking stock’.

Before the election of the Rector Major, as well as summing up the week’s activities in a blow-by-blow, detailed list of everything that happened: who spoke, where and when, what matters were under discussion in the assembly or in commissions, Fr Pascual took the members through a journey which he called “The ‘inner’ journey of the Salesians: involving fidelity to God and responding to young people (from the SGC to GC29)”. Clearly, there could be no person better equipped to do this, and it was a true case of ‘fare il punto’ as he adroitly focused in on the key contributions of each General Chapter over half a century. For example, his summing up of GC28, the briefest General Chapter in recent times, was very much to the point:

"In a word, it was about returning to Valdocco!!!

• The “Valdocco option” and the gift of young people
• The “Valdocco option” and the charism of presence
• The “Valdocco option” in the plurality of languages (multiculturalism)
• The “Valdocco option” and the ability to dream

This means reviving the charism of Don Bosco, ‘to be another Don Bosco today’, so as to be able to respond with creative and dynamic fidelity to the new challenges of the mission and of young people."

In his most recent taking stock, this time extending over two weeks (the week of the elections he did not prepare anything, preferring to wait until everything was in place and until this week past when resolutions and documents were reaching their final drafting) after his resumé of events over the two-week period of intense activity, he concluded with a simple but heart-warming message to the new Rector Major:

Dear Father Fabio,

First of all, we congratulate you on your election as the new Rector Major, the 11th Successor of Don Bosco.

It is no coincidence that this election took place on the day when the whole Church joyfully and gratefully celebrates the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, because today, as in the past, God continues to look for collaborators with total availability, like that of Mary, to carry out his wonderful plan of salvation. And what he expected is exactly what he found in you, dear Rector Major: an unconditional “Here I am”.

You know well that when God chooses a person he enriches them with all the gifts they need to carry out the mission entrusted to him, in this case, to continue to make “God’s dream” of seeing young people happy here and in eternity come true.

You are not alone. The Lord, through the members of the Chapter, has given you the Chapter Document which marks the path of the Congregation for the next six years, and has joined you with your main collaborators, your Vicar, the Sector Councillors and the Regional Councillors, who with you, under your guidance, will continue to write the sacred history of the Congregation born here in Valdocco, where all Salesians were born.

As Rector Major you are the father of the Congregation, the centre of unity of the Salesian Family, the Successor of Don Bosco, faithful and prophetic guardian of the Salesian charism, spirit, mission and holiness.

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