(ANS - Rome) – “A true master of reflection on youth ministry, whose theory and practice have impacted greatly on the practice and on the spread of Youth Ministry in the Salesian Family, in the Italian Church and beyond” – this is how Fr Riccardo Tonelli, SDB, was remembered a year after his death, during a commemorative event that took place on 9 October at the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS).

A miscellany, with the title "Youth Ministry today" (Las, Rome 2014)was published in his honour.  The title expresses fidelity to an indispensable task of the Sons of Don Bosco summed up in the motto "keep on renewing."

The celebration was not just about remembering but also about putting the memories into practice.  It was attended by academic and religious authorities as well as by students and practitioners of youth ministry, and representative of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians whom Fr Tonelli often advised. Cardinals Angelo Amato and Raffaele Farina and Bishops Toso, dal Covolo, Giulietti and Sigalini, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians, and Mother Yvonne Reungoat, Mother General of the FMA, expressed their full support.

The event was divided into three main stages. The first was a well-balanced look at the person and the thought of Fr Tonelli, in video and audio, enabling the audience to listen to a summary of his thought in his own voice. This was the contribution of Giancarlo De Nicolò, editor of "Notes on Youth Ministry," of which Fr Tonelli was director until his death.

The second stage saw the presentation of a Miscellany edited by Fr Corrado Pastore, director of the Institute of Catechetics of the UPS. The volume is intended not so much as an exegesis of Tonelli’s thought, but rather as a further study of themes that he had introduced.

The third stage took the form of a round table discussion on the key elements of youth ministry today, in the wake of Fr Tonelli. Four experts participated: Fr Fabio Attard, Councillor for Salesian Youth Ministry; Sr. Mara Borsi, FMA, Pontifical Faculty of Auxilium; Fr Michele Falabretti, head of the National Service for Youth Ministry of the Italian Conference of Bishops; and Mario Pollo, Professor of Pedagogy at the UPS and at Lumsa.  The Moderator was Fr Cesare Bissoli, SDB, professor of the UPS.

In the dialogue between the speakers, everyone agreed that Fr Tonelli was a true pioneer of Youth Ministry, and is still a true master. On the need to bring young people to Christ, it was said that real evangelization based on the mystery of the Incarnation is possible through storytelling and evident credibility of the adult who interacts with the young.

The meeting was summed up in messages from the Rector Magnificus, Fr Carlo Nanni, and the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Fr Damasio Medeiros.  The day ended with Mass for the repose of the soul of Fr Tonelli, presided over by Bishop Toso.

Published 14/10/2014