(ANS – Corumbá) ”As Don Bosco`s successor, I want to be with you”. These were the words Fr Pascual Chávez used to greet Salesians and students at the Salesian University of St Teresa and Immaculate Conception College, at Corumbá airport.
During lunch with the Salesians, diocesan clergy  and Bishop Segismundo Martínez SDB, Fr Pascual Chávez shared a family and happy moment.

In the afternoon the Rector Major celebrated the Eucharist for the Salesian Family.He made the point during his homily: “The Salesian charism in Corumbá should be concerned about four main things: The defence of life, the family, education, the Salesian Family”.

On Sunday 23 August, in Campo Grande, the Rector Major met with Don Bosco College in the morning, and Salesian Family groups, emphasising that “the Salesian Famnily must act as a Movement, a spiritual, apostolic and missionary-minded family”.
He then had a chance to meet up with young people in initial formation, with Archbishop Vittorio Ravanello and his Auxiliary Eduardo. The novices sang and danced in their local Amazonian rhythms.

Towards evening he met with young leaders from the St. John Bosco Parish in Campo Grande. He celebrated Mass there. After communion the Rector Major was given the "Illustrious Visitor" honour granted by the city`s Town Council.
On 24 August, the final day of his visit to Campo Grande, Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva met with teachers, technicians and administrators at the Don Bosco Salesian College,  the Don Bosco University, the Mary Help of Christians College, the Rui Barbosa College, representatives from the Prefecture and other Salesian Houses.

The Rector Major insisted on the fact that the Salesian mission throughout the world is unthinkable without its teachers. “Much of the Salesian mission up till now is the result of your work, the work of the teachers. And in Don Bosco`s name I thank each and everyone of you". He then went on: “the work accomplished is not just the best in our Salesian works. It is the best for Brazil, Latin America and the Salesian world".

The Rector Major finished up by saying: “Don Bosco becomes father and friend to the young. We have to go beyond institutional authority. Young people can choose their teachers, who then become moral authority, the person they can open their hearts to".
Despite this, the Preventive System is no theory but a concrete way of being in relationship with the young. He recalled that Don Bosco always started out from where each young person was at. He didn`t await the ideal circumstances to begin work. “Teachers have to discover and value whatever good they see in young people”. And he concluded: “It is well worth doing what you are doing. The education of the young is the best thing you can give the world”.

Published 25/08/09