(ANS – Minsk) – The meeting yesterday 16 May between the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Pascual Chávez, and the Patriarch of the Greek-Catholic Church in Ukraine, Mons. Sviatoslav Shevchuk was significant and cordial. Today the IX successor of Don Bosco on his name day met the Salesians who are working in Belarus.

During the celebrations yesterday 16 May in the “Pokrova” Salesian parish  Mons. Sviatoslav Shevchuk expressed his great joy at being able to take part in the visit of the Rector Major to Ukraine, greeting “the illustrious and dear guests from far and near” and also recalling the 50th anniversary of the ordination of the oldest Salesian from Ukraine Fr Vasyl Korol.

Commenting on the passage from gospel in the liturgy, Mons. Shevchuk, emphasised how taking part in the Easter event transforms a Christian and he invited those present to pray that the Salesian presence in east Ukraine might be consolidated.

At the end of the liturgy the Rector Major gave a blessing with the relic of Don Bosco to those present.

Arriving late in the evening at Minsk airport, accompanied by his Vicar Fr Adriano Bregolin, today the Rector Major met the Salesians in Belarus and with them celebrated his name-day. Not being able to reply to all the many greetings that were arriving, he entrusted to the Agorà of sdb.org the expression of his thanks. “Sincere thanks for the best wishes that have been sent to me on the occasion of my name day, St Pascual! You may count on my continued affection as I hope I may count on your continued prayers. I am away from home, visiting the EST Circumscription, so it is not possible for me to reply to each of you. I promise you a special prayer on 24 May in Turin, before our Mother Mary and our dear father, Don Bosco.”

Published 17/05/2011