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Speaking to the Provincials and members of their Councils Fr Pascual Chávez began by quoting article 3 of the Salesian Constitution which describes the characteristic features of the Salesian identity and mission to be considered in the renewal of the Provinces and of the local communities. A necessary step is to understand the changes which at world level are a feature of religious and Salesian life presenting as they do new cultural, religious, institutional and personal challenges.
Postmodernity, inculturation and inter-cultural mindset, secularisation and secularism are the key cultural challenges. Postmodernity`s onset, with positive and negative aspects, touches this region too. The RM asks for a balance between inculturation and inter-cultural thinking: the test of inculturation is greater faith commitment because faith is perceived through the eyes of one`s own culture. Secularisation is not in itself negative, but its forces often degenerate into secularism it may be more a risk, the Rector Major says, for the Salesians themselves than for the many deeply religious peoples of the region.
In a multi-religious context the challenges to meet are evangelisation, which needs to find new ways of communication and pluralism which can give way to relativism and inter-religious dialogue. There is a need for “a ministry of intelligent conciliation; we are called to give account of our faith in public places”.
Referring to the institutional level, Fr Chávez called for greater attention to be given to initial formation so as to avoid fragmentation and to encourage the assimilation of the guide lines of the Salesian mission. There needs to be a firm commitment to the animation and government of the Provinces and the local communities so as to overcome resistance to change.
At the personal level, the various challenges such as individualism, poverty, affective relationships and a passion for the young have to be overcome by strengthening and deepening the identity of the consecrated person and the Salesian. To do this it is necessary to cultivate in initial and ongoing formation interpersonal relationships, the intellectual dimension, spiritual life, pastoral activity.
In spite of the difficulties which the challenges mentioned can present to the Salesian mission, in the East Asia -Oceania Region there is a real “springtime” of the Church. In the last 15 years the number of priests has grown fourfold, male religious have increased by 40% and female religious by 30%; there have been hundreds of missionary vocations “ad gentes”.
In the context of the Region, the Salesian motto “Da Mihi Animas” can be interpreted in three ways; through mysticism, since in a region which is in general deeply religious, it is essential to ensure in our consecrated confreres a strong personal experience of God; through prophesy on the part of religious communities, called upon to be courageous in living the Gospel as an alternative model for living; and through service, which in imitation lf Jesus ought to be for the benefit of the youth and those marginalised.
Among other suggestions in reference to certain areas are: a sound knowledge of Don Bosco; recognising in the process of evangelisation and vocation promotion the `seeds of the kingdom` in Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam; poverty as the total giving of oneself and concern for creation and the sustainable use of the earth’s resources.
Referring to religious discipline, and remarking on the fidelity of the majority of the Salesians in this Region, he suggested, in order to face up to the cases of irregularity, the establishment of communities which were numerically more consistent, the appointment of Salesian Rectors capable of animating and governing, giving Confreres opportunities for ongoing formation and offering the possibility for competent spiritual accompaniment.
Published 14/03/2011
