(ANS - Rome)- The long session devoted to the elections ended with Evening Prayer on Friday, a prayer of praise and thanksgiving. The Rector Major has been elected and the General Council is now complete.

Some of the Councillors are new: Fr Ivo Coelho (Formation), Fr Americo Chaquisse (Africa-Madagascar Region), Fr Timothy Ploch (Inter-American Region), Fr Tadeusz Rozmus (North Europe Region), Fr Stefano Martoglio         (Mediterranean Region).
Others have changed roles: Fr Francesco Cereda (Vicar), Fr Guillermo Basañes (Missions), Fr Vaclav Klement (East Asia-Oceania) .
Others were confirmed in office: Fr Fabio Attard (Youth Ministry), Fr Filiberto Gonzalez (Social Communication), Bro. Jean Paul Muller (Economics), Fr Natale Vitali (America Southern Cone Region), Fr Maria Arokiam Kanaga (South Asia Region).

The Rector Major expressed his satisfaction at the conclusion of the elections, the result of a search that was carried out calmly and conscientiously, with freedom and faith. Now the Council is complete and we thank them for the service they will perform.

The discernment also had a human component, led by Father José Cristo Rey García Paredes, a Claretian. We thank him for his wisdom and skill that helped in the different stages of the discernment and his sensitive and active  presence in the process.

Father Cristo Rey responded by recalling that the week of the elections drew inspiration from the celebration of the solemnity of the Annunciation which was followed by a birth, the birth of the new General Council.

It was a week spent in work and temperance, in serenity and fraternity. People were able to look beyond themselves and, as a result, the experience was  universal - catholic.

Time was set aside during the Assembly for the presentation of the book Witnesses to the radical approach of the Gospel, a biblical and Salesian reflection.  The book was presented by Fr Juan José Bartolomé, who had edited it along with Fr Rafael Vicent.

The volume is the work of the Salesian Biblical Association who once again make their contribution to the "journey of our congregation, bringing their ideas and suggesting options based on the Word of God and the daily living of the Salesian charism." On this occasion, however, attention to the word “is not something that accompanies other aspects, but rather a fundamental dimension of our lives."

Interpreting the feelings of all the contributors, Fr Bartolomé said: "With joy and a deep sense of gratitude, the Salesian Biblical Association offers Salesian confreres , especially the members of the GC27, this volume in which we have tried to clarify the biblical foundation and the specific Salesian understanding of the radical approach to the Gospel that Fr Chávez proposes."  Fr Cereda commented that in the coming years this book will be a source for meditation, preaching and spiritual growth.

On Saturday morning the Chapter members watched a video of the first message of the Rector Major to the Salesian Family. This video is available in several languages on the website and on ANSchannel  and SDB.ORG .

On Sunday the chapter members will have a break with a pilgrimage to Assisi and a visit to Perugia for lunch, and on Monday they will have a papal audience.

Published 29/03/2014