(ANS – Rome) – Between 9 and 11 June at the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS) there was the “Team Visit” to the “Mary Seat of Wisdom Vice Province, headed by the Rector Major and Grand Chancellor of the UPS, Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva.

In all 33 people took part. In addition to the Rector Major and his Vicar  Fr Adriano Bregolin, the Economer General, Bro Jean Paul Muller, the Councillors for Formation, Youth Ministry and the Italy-Middle East Region, respectively  Fr Francesco Cereda, Fr Fabio Attard and Fr Pier Fausto Frisoli, also present were the Superior of the  Vice Province, Fr Joaquim D’Souza, the Rector of the UPS, Fr Carlo Nanni, the members of the Council of the Vice Province and of the Council of the University, the Rectors of the eight communities of the Vice Province, the Vice Rectors,  the  Deans and those responsible for some of the organisations and sectors of the University. The Moderator and chief organiser was Fr Damasio Medeiros.

The guiding theme was the consideration of the quality and the management model  of the UPS Salesian Work (University and Vice Province), so as to be able to suitably express the sense of the consecrated community at the service of the Salesian mission in a university context. The programme began with three reports: on the follow up to the Team Visit of 2006, on the acceptance and implementation  of the 26  General Chapter and on the new organisational models.

The afternoon of Sunday 10 June was devoted to the subject of religious and academic discipline. The Rector Major concluded the Team Visit with some considerations regarding the future way ahead, underlining the importance of charismatic identity and fidelity to the university mission. “If the University did not exist it would need to be created”  the Rector Major declared to the applause of those present.

During the days of the Visit, the Rector Major was able to share with the UPS community two significant events. On Saturday evening 9 June  Fr Chávez celebrated Evening Prayer with the entire religious community in the UPS and some representatives of other communities belonging to the Vice Province. This was followed by a long “Good Night” on various topics connected with religious and Salesian life, the task of preparing for the celebration of the Bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco and the theme of the next General Chapter.

Above all Fr Chávez indicated obedience as the main attitude to be fostered and generously lived  in these times when a witness of coherence in religious life is being called for. On Sunday morning 10 June  the Rector Major presided at Mass for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. In his homily he recalled that in the worship of the Eucharistic is to be found the essence of being a Christian: witness, prophecy and service. The Eucharist is a gift which invites us to follow the example of Christ on the Cross and the significance of his self-giving in the “Bread which is broken.”

Published 13/06/2012