| RMG – Project for Europe: interventions for 2011-2012 |
| RMG –European Provincials: Project for Europe, the present and future |
The third and final day opened with Mass at which the Rector Major Fr Pascual Chávez presided.
Fr José Miguel Nuñez, Councillor for the West Europe Region presented a summary of the Regional group work of Saturday afternoon, with proposals for the implementation of the Project for Europe during the period 2011-2012. The suggestions were passed on to the PE Commission who then met yesterday afternoon and this morning to draw up a text to be given to the Rector Major and his Council, and then to the Provinces of the Old Continent.
For each of the areas of the PE – the revitalisation from within of the Salesian charism, the re-location of the works, Europe mission territory – suggestions were made for the Provinces, the three Regions of Europe and the Departments. Once again at the heart of the proposals uniting and inspiring them are: the recovery of the centrality of communion, of discernment, of an attentive vocation ministry and of evangelisation. It was pointed out that for the PE to be positively taken on board it had be in a conscious spirit of optimism. Opening up the PE to the involvement of lay people, of the Salesian Family and of the young was one of the points to emerge from this III Meeting of the Provincials of Europe
Then there were quite a number of responses to this presentation and to the various issues it raised regarding the PE.
This was followed by the presentation of experiences from the Provinces. Fr Martin Coyle described the directives and the process adopted by the Great Britain Province in welcoming Salesian missionaries. Fr Simon Manjooran, the Provincial of Hungary spoke from the point of view of being a missionary in Europe. Originally from the south Indian State of Kerala, after 20 years as a missionary in the rural areas of India Fr Manjooran made himself available to go to Hungary. While showing his love for Hungary, he did not hide some of the difficulties he had met, such as learning a new language, a new style of life and of Salesian work, the loneliness that his office sometimes brings. “I grew in the conviction that the missionary vocation is suited to people who are mature, courageous, humble and with the foundation of a sound spiritual life.”
Sr Emilia Musatti, Vicar General of the FMA also spoke about the process being followed in Europe by the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
The Rector Major, after answering some questions put to him by Provincials on various topics, brought the III Meeting of the Provincials of Europe to a close saying how pleased he was with the way the meeting had gone, “because with time the PE is becoming clearer!” He then encouraged them to give their attention to the implementation of the PE.
Among the suggestions made, Fr Chávez welcomed that for a formation centre for Salesians and lay people which might be located at Colle Don Bosco, the involvement of the Salesian Family, a ministry to be opened for immigrants. Evangelisation and the re-launching of the Salesian charism in Europe is not proselytism, but a genuine cultural change which in widening circles involves more and more people. While avoiding any preoccupation with technical developments lacking a transcendent dimension, the Rector Major invited those present to ask themselves the question “who is forming the new European citizen?”
Fr Chávez finally read the greeting which as President of the USG, he had given to Benedict XVI during the private audience granted to the Superiors General on Friday 26. In his message he mentioned the challenges which modern culture presents to Consecrated Life: a lack of faith, an attempt to exclude God, constant changes and a lack of certainties, the fragmentation of life.
A video summarising the three days is available on ANSchannel and in sdb.org can be found the texts of the talks and the Regional group work n Italian and English.
Published 29/11/2010
