| RMG – New arrangements for the Gerini formation community |
| Italy – The maternal presence of Mary is a great gift |
| Italy – European meeting of Salesian novices |
There were 53 Novices accompanied by their novitiate staff who gathered on Saturday 21 May at the Novitiate of Monte Oliveto in Pinerolo from 5 Novitiates: Poprad (Slovakia), Kopiec and Swobnica (Poland), Genzano, Rome, and Monte Oliveto (Italy). Coordinating the meeting were the five Directors of Novices and Fr Horacio Lopez, from the Formation Department.
A fine setting was provided by the proximity of the Feast of Mary help of Christians, the vicinity of those places which were at the origin of the Salesian charism and the style of sharing experiences. This included a specially composed hymn “With Don Bosco” sent to the Novitiates in advance, translated and then sung in Italian, Polish and Slovak.
The first day Sunday 22 was devoted to them getting to know each other and sharing their varied experiences; group work enabled them to examine the life of the novices more deeply. In the afternoon Fr Lopez gave a talk and then there was a meeting with the Bishop of Pinerolo, Mons. Pier Giorgio Debernardi who presided at evening prayer.
On 23 May the group of novices and staff arrived in Valdocco where Fr Maria Zanotti, Novice Director in Pinerolo, acted as guide on a tour of the Pinardi Chapel, Don Bosco’s Rooms and finally the Church of Saint Francis of Sales. Here Fr Adam Homoncik Director of Novices at Swobnica, presided at Mass and spoke about the historical and charismatic value of the places visited.
In the afternoon they visited the other places in Turin where Don Bosco worked. After supper the Novices from Pinerolo and Genzano began to provide their services in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians during the prayer Vigil.
The highlight of the Feast of Mary Help of Christians was a meeting with the Rector Major Fr Chávez who reminded the Novices of the great devotion Don Bosco had to the Help of Christians and recommended study and the practice of the Salesian Constitutions: “Know them, love them and put them into practice. We have to fight against the tendency to separate what they contain from how we live. Have the courage to make the choices the Constitutions indicate!” Repeating the promise Don Bosco gave to the first Salesians, - “What am I offering you? Bread work and heaven!” - the Rector Major briefly spoke about the nature of Salesian work: “We are seekers of God. Through our religious profession we want to say to others that we have found God and that we are continuing to seek him with all our hearts”; “We are called to give meaning to the lives of the young people we meet.” Recalling Don Bosco the Rector Major spoke about the totality of the self-giving to which every Salesian is called: “We think about him in 1846 when he returned to the Becchi after the sickness which almost led to his death, and looking out of the window at Valdocco he saw and understood that his life did not belong to him but had to be given completely to the young so that he could say ‘My every breath will be for you’”.
Taking part in the afternoon Mass at which the Rector Major presided was the final officlal act of the III meeting of the Salesian Novices of Europe.
Published 26/05/2011
