(ANS – Rome) – The Teresa Gerini complex in Rome houses both the Ceferino Namuncurá  formation community (theologate) – 41 young Salesians from 23 different countries – and the Eta Beta community which, since 12 November last has taken in more than 80 refugees, survivors of the tragedy which took place place off the shores of Lampedusa on 3 October 2013. On Friday 20 December a celebration was held for both communities.

The Salesians are studying theology but this does not mean being oblivious to what is going on around them, including that they have 80 young refugees nearby who have survived many an adventure to get to Rome including a major disaster on the high seas. Their tragedy was followed by the rest of the world and brought tough condemnation from Pope Francis: “It is a disgrace!”

The students of theology could not just look on all this comfortably from their rooms. Little by little they made themselves known to the refugees, showing warmth and sympathy. They would join their recreations, approach them, let them know they were prepared to stand by them.

On Friday 20 December they organised a special football match and celebration to follow that brought them even closer to the young refugees – by now already accustomed to mixing, no longer just ‘foreigners’. The celebration was a chance for the young Salesians to chat with them, get to know them better and listen to their stories, the suffering they have endured, but also their hopes and desires.

It was a wonderful simple but joyful event, and one that strengthened these young Salesians, all of them preparing to be priests in Don Bosco’s style, in their determination to live as he had once put it: “For you I study, for you I work, for you I am ready to give my life!”.

It was a way they could put Pope Francis’ words into practice: “Often it is better simply to slow down, to put aside our eagerness in order to see and listen to others, to stop rushing from one thing to another and to remain with someone who has faltered along the way.” (Evangelii Gaudium 46) and “be pastors who take on the smell of the sheep”.

The Eta Beta Reception Centre forms part of the system set up for Refugees and Asylum Seekers. The multidisciplinary team looking after them sees that migrants are taken in and their most basic needs met, and that they receive psychological support, legal advice, and socio-economic assistance – especially for literacy and to learn a trade – as well as access to the national health service.

Published 24/12/2013