| Germany – Team Visit: Northern Europe, Atlantic-German zone |
| Chile – The Rector Major meets the members of the SYM and the Salesian Family |
| Chile – America South Cone Region: Team Visit |
The Rector Major began his reflection referring to the documents of the Congregation,: “recognising that the world in which we are living and carrying out the mission of Don Bosco on behalf of the young, especially the poor and those most in need, is not only the setting for our presence and action but also an interlocutor of special importance, or better, the place where we respond to the young and with them respond to God, I believe that it is necessary to identify the challenges at this moment in history in which we are living, highlighting the opportunities for the renewal of Salesian life and mission.”
The Salesian Congregation affirmed Fr Chávez, is obliged to face the new challenges and tasks at cultural, ecclesial, institutional and personal levels. For the America South Cone Region each of these challenges implies a re-examination and a fresh commitment which will be evident in the proposals drawn up by each Province.
Speaking about the mission in the America South Cone Region the Rector Major recognised that evangelisation in America has been an eloquent testimony to the continuing missionary efforts carried out by consecrated life, and still today its contribution to the new evangelisation continues to be of fundamental importance. “In communion with our Bishops, the Salesians in the America South Cone Region are continuing to promote the evangelising activity of the Church, called to make everyone of its members, disciples and missionaries of Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life so that our people may have life in Him. The tasks are those of strengthening the identity of the charism, rethinking youth and vocational ministry, reshaping the Provinces and giving attention to religious discipline.”
Then Fr Chávez spoke about the subject of reshaping, declaring that an authentic process of spiritual and pastoral conversion leads the Salesians to locate themselves where their presence is important, fostering collaboration, making an impact on the area, and becoming fruitful from the point of view of vocations. This implies, above all, a new way of being present and a new kind of activity and service which better responds to the demands of religious life, the needs of the Church and of society and in particular, the expectations and the needs of the young.
Religious discipline, the Rector Major recalled, takes it meaning from the root of the term “disciple” and points to a journey a person undertakes to become a disciple. In this way and in the first place religious discipline concerns the demands of being a faithful disciple, and not only, nor mainly respecting certain determined norms and laws. The Rector Major emphasised the importance of the mutual commitment of the confreres to grow in consecrated freedom, as reliable professionals and with openness regarding the rules of the Church and of the country by means of ongoing formation and adequate spiritual accompaniment.
Published 28/03/2011
