(ANS - Rome) - A year ago, on March 25, 2014, the 27th General Chapter elected Fr Ángel Fernández Artime as Rector Major and Tenth Successor of Don Bosco. Today in an interview he tells us how this first year went, speaks of his dreams for the Salesian Congregation, and sends a message to the young, to the Salesian Family and our lay collaborators.

Don Bosco was a dreamer. As the Successor of Don Bosco, what is your dream for the Congregation?

Among all the things I dream of, I choose two aspects that come straight from my heart. I dream of a Congregation of the Salesians of Don Bosco in which each and every one of its members, without exception, feels really happy to live the life we ​​have chosen, giving each day a joyful response to the Lord and to Don Bosco, for young people.

I dream that all who see us will say, ”How happy these Salesians are!”,  and that our response will be, “We are happy because the Lord fills our lives, because we feel loved by our brother Salesians and by our family and friends, and that giving our lives for the young people that the Lord sends our way fills us with joy.

I dream of a congregation that over the next five years, as we look ahead to the 28^th General Chapter, can say that we have continued to grow in authenticity and fidelity to what is most essential for us as Salesians.

Don Bosco dreamt a lot. In his dreams he often saw the situations and challenges facing the Salesians more clearly. Is there any particular aspect that we need to improve today, if we are to return to the great dream of Don Bosco?

I wish I had Don Bosco’s ability to dream and see the challenges facing the Salesians.  But joking aside, knowing that we can always count on the presence of the Lord in his Spirit, I dare to say, after this year, that the great challenges facing us have much to do with yesterday and certainly with today and tomorrow. I say this because they concern our authenticity in living our consecrated religious life and the charism we have received. There is one path from which we must never deviate even an inch. I mean our preferential option for young people, including adolescents and children. Above all, our option is always for the poorest, the young people who are needy, abandoned and marginalized. If we always follow that path, we have nothing to fear. I am convinced that not only will we celebrate the 200^th anniversary, but other Salesians and members of the Salesian Family will celebrate the 300^th anniversary of the birth of our Father Don Bosco.

What are the realities of the Congregation that seem most significant to you, after a year as Rector Major, and after your travels?

Of those that I have met on my trips this year on four continents, and aware that I still have many other beautiful situations to visit in the coming years if the Lord allows, I would like to highlight, in general, all the services rendered to many thousands and thousands of young people in difficulties in different parts of the world. In particular I would like to stress at this time the choice that our Confreres made on behalf of young people orphaned by Ebola in Liberia and Sierra Leone. I want to draw attention to the work we do for street children in many countries of the world.  I mention the welcome given to refugees in the Salesian houses of various nations (among them South Sudan).  I must not forget to mention the care given to hundreds of immigrant children in our houses in the Mediterranean countries, in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. And I cannot forget the other refugees who flee the wars in different countries boundaries and find shelter in some of our houses. I remember also that we are present among the young people and the general population who face gunfire every day in Aleppo and the rest of Syria.

I thank the Lord and Don Bosco for the dedication of my brother Salesians, and all the Salesian Family throughout the world. I cannot but be moved by their work that shows that we are doing what Don Bosco would certainly do today, if he were alive.

There are many young Salesians who are now experiencing their first year of Salesian life: what is your message to them?

My message is this: "My dear young confreres, be happy to live this beautiful vocation. Be happy following Jesus with passion, in the footsteps of Don Bosco. Our vocation is wonderful, the charism we have received is beautiful and timeless. Thousands of young people are waiting for it. The Lord has need of you; Don Bosco needs you; young people around the world need you."

Finally, have you a word in the ear for young people, as Don Bosco always had?

Yes indeed! Dear young people, I want to tell you that we want only your good and your happiness here and in eternity. You can count on the grace that comes from the Lord. Courage, because you have to be the protagonists of your life. To do this, you have to make God’s dream for each one of you a reality in your life.

To the Salesian Family:

My dear Salesian Family: we are a real religious family in the Church. A lot is expected of us. We must be true missionary disciples with conviction, as Pope Francis asks of us.  So as we go ahead, we must pay attention to our fraternity and communion and never complain.

To our lay collaborators:

My dear friends around the world: I keep saying to my brothers in the Salesian Congregation that "sharing our mission with you is not optional, but a requirement of the charism and mission". I ask you to open your hearts and continue to grow in your Salesian identity as sharers in the mission of Don Bosco today, which is much more than just working in a Salesian house.

On the occasion of the first anniversary of the election of Fr Á.F. Artime as Rector Major, his Vicar, Fr Francesco Cereda, gave an address of thanks, which is now available on the site sdb.org.

Published 25/03/2015