(ANS - La Spezia) - Yesterday Fr Pascual Chávez, after having received a Laurea Honoris Causa from the University of Genoa, had a busy afternoon full of engagements.
Already early in the morning he had visited the children in the elementary school of the Institute in Sampierdarena and in a humorous fatherly fashion gave them the secrets for being happy: calling God "papà", as Mary taught Jesus to do; doing the will of God the Father and helping the poor.
In the afternoon having gone to La Spezia, he met the Salesian Community, the youngsters and the families of the Oratory and blessed a plaque commemorating his visit. Speaking to them the Rector Major said that there were no frontiers to youth holiness: Dominic Savio and Zeffirino Namuncurà are a proof of that.
About 1700 yesterday evening, in the Provincial House of Italy Emilia-Liguria-Tuscany (ILS) of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Fr Pascual Chávez met the Superiors of the houses. "Modern day society," he said, "is going through a cultural phase in which all reference to the trascendent is missing or reduced to a private matter. Paradoxically, the material prosperity of the West has also become the source of its serious ills. In this situation it becomes essential for religious to bear witness to the mystical way." Inviting the Sisters to look to the future of the religious life with hope he indicated three paths for renewal: a return to the Gospel with the "lectio", building deep inter-personal relationships within the community as a gift to the young and making consecrated life more credible through its concern for the poor.
Another engagement in the afternoon was a visit to the Salesian Oratory of St Paul in La Spezia which has celebrated 130 years of life; the Rector Major blessed a statue of Don Bosco given by him to the community on the occasion of the anniversary.
The Rector Major then presided at Mass in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Snow in La Spezia. Among those present were Bishop Bassano Staffieri, of the diocese of La Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato, the President of the Province Dr. Giuseppe Ricciardi and the Mayor of the city Dr. Giorgio Pagano.
This evening at the old gate of Genoa, there will be a Youth Festival with the leaders and the youngsters of the Salesian Youth Movement in the city. The festival will be broadcast, at 20.30 Italian time, live on Telepace television with Production by Missioni Don Bosco.
Satellite connections are: For Europe: Satellite Eutelsat HOTBIRD III - 13° E, Frequency: 12380 MHz, Polarization: VERTICAL, F.E.C. : 3/4, Symbol Rate: 27.500 MS/sec For North America (Ku-Band): Satellite Telstar 5 - 97° W, Frequency: 11991 MHz, Polarization: Vertical, F.E.C.: 3/4, Symbol Rate: 22.000 MS/sec For Australia (free to air): Satellite Optus B 3 - 156° E, Frequency: 12564 MHz, Polarization: Horizontal, F.E.C. : 3/4, Symbol Rate: 30.000 MS/sec.
Published 24/04/2007
