The day was introduced as by now has become usual by the meeting in the Valdocco theatre between the Rector Major of the Salesians and the young people who were taking part in the 21st Harambeé, a missionary promotion meeting held on 25 and 26 September in Colle Don Bosco and Turin. Chairing the meeting were Massimo Zortea and Fr Franco Fontana, respectively the President and Vice President of the International Voluntary Service Movement for Development (VIS). Fr Chávez spoke of the importance of opting for a vocational culture which sees life as a gift, received and offered for others. He invited the young people to let themselves be guided in a process of education to love, to chastity, to prayer and to self-giving while indicating voluntary service as a special path in which to live and experience this self-giving.
At the end of his talk the departing missionaries were introduced. Fr Vaklav Klement, Councillor the Mission, introduced the Salesians, Mother Yvonne Reungoat, the 8 Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and those in charge of the Salesian NGO in Italy, Spain, Poland, the Czech Republic . Also remembered among those departing were some not present in Turin because they were already on the missions.
Introduced by an African hymn and dance the Mass for the 141st Missionary Expedition and the presentation of the missionary cross was also attended by a good number of the faithful, lay people, young people, Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
The salvation obtained by Christ and celebrated in the Mass Fr Chávez said, “continues throughout history to the ends of the world through the Church’s evangelising mission, in which the Family of Don Bosco takes its part”. “The 141st Salesian Missionary Expedition, shows that we, through our commitment to the young of the world especially the poor, are and make the Church.” Commenting on the readings for the XXVI Sunday of the Year the Rector Major emphasised the evangelisation of the poor recalling how the evangelist Luke shows that riches can lead to spiritual shortsightedness and produce a hardening of the heart making people idolaters. “The parable of the rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, feasting every day without any concern for the state of the poor man Lazarus, covered with sores, longing to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table, has acquired macro-cosmic dimensions.”
The Rector Major mentioned how the economic and financial crisis had “increased the numbers of the poor in the world, caused a loss in the quality of life of further millions, slowed down development in countries producing huge suffering through unemployment and so much desperation”. Referring to the Encyclical “Caritas in Veritate” of Benedict XVI, Fr Chávez said that the Church is called to “invest in an evangelisation which knows how to respond to the needs of the human family, especially the poorest and in a great work of education, since the social question is becoming more and more radically an anthropological and ethical question.” A world tending towards self-destruction needs a new way of thinking the fruit of the Gospel. “There is urgent need for a new model of mankind, of society of world order.” “This world , this society, have need of a culture of moderation and of solidarity so as to make God’s dream possible.”
At the end of his homily the Rector Major presented the missionary cross to the Salesians, and with Mother Reungoat, to the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
The Mass broadcast live by satellite and by streaming with production by Missioni Don Bosco, ended with a pause in front of the tomb of Don Bosco. Here the Rector Major greeted the departing missionaries reminding them they are now continuing the missionary dream of Don Bosco.
On sdb.org and in SDL the full text of Fr Chávez’s homily is available.
On ANSchannel a short video summary of the Harambeé and of the commissioning ceremony will also be available.
Published 26/09/2010
