| Italy - ’Confronto’ Europe 2009: Dear young people, go beyond… |
| Italy - ’Confronto’ Europe 2009: Serving the Kingdom of God in the Church |
Young people were able to interview the two Superior Generals on the story of their own vocational call, the future of the SYM in Europe, the current value of the Salesian playground and Preventive system, the contribution made by lay and consecrated people in the Salesian Family.
“I have always been happy in my Salesian life, and have not found insurmountable problems. Just that at a certain point I found myself held back by the fact that it was not me but Jesus who had made decisions about my life. But then I became convinced, and I remain so, that Jesus leads us to greater things than those we can imagine and gets us to achieve things we could never have thought of”, said Mother Reungoat telling the story of her own vocation. “I have to say that my mother gave me the gift of a vocation, as well as the gift of life”, Fr Chávez said recalling then three moments of difficulty and reflection: as he entered the novitiate, on the eve of his diaconate ordination and when the Rector major, Fr Vecchi asked him to interrupt his doctoral studies to go back to Mexico as Rector of the Theologate.
For both superiors, the SYM is called to be a sign of hope in Europe; and for this to happen it is necessary for the various Salesian Family Groups to work together to create a network.
Regarding Don Bosco`s playground or courtyard question today, the Rector Major reminded them that there were three secrets to the success of the Valdocco oratory: Making young people feel at home, offering them what they needed for life and leading them to Christ. Mother Reungoat reminded them that today`s courtyards or playgrounds are wherever young people are to be found
“How would Don Bosco pass Christ on to young people of other faiths and cultures?”, asked Karolina from Poland; “he would speak of Christ by telling his story" answered Fr Chávez. "Christ is, above all, someone who was born as a human being, he was no myth or ideology. Jesus` birth, the way he was educated by Mary and Joseph to become the Son of God, are facts we can tell”. “Don Bosco would show young people that God loves them through Christ`s love" said Mother Reungoat . "Don Bosco`s great message is that of having shown young people in practical ways, with all means available to him, that they were important to God.
“I would ask him how to be a sign of hope in today`s world for all young people", she confided to Luke who asked what would be the topics she would want to discuss with Don Bosco. For his part Fr Chávez recalled his personal experience when he saw the remains of Don Bosco when they were restoring the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, and he added: “Without him I would not understand my life! Don Bosco is my father and I`d find my life hard to understand without my father”.
Don Bosco would live the Preventive System by continuing to be amongst young people, both Fr Chávez and Mother Reungoat agreed when asked how the Piedmontese Saint would experience and live his educational system today.
The same reflection lay behind responses to the final questions: Young people are the reasons why the Salesian Congregation and Family came into existence. For Don Bosco`s work to continue there need to be young people ready to consecrate their lives to God and to live the Christian vocation as committed lay people. “In the future we will be fewer than we are today but far more significant than we ever were" said Fr Chávez. "It is important to preserve our identity, visibility and to believe in who we are”.
Published 16/08/2009
