(ANS – Lisbon) – Looking ahead to the bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco, the Portuguese Salesian Province planned several meetings and formative activities for all its educators, to enable them to grow in knowledge of the life of the “Saint of the Young”.  In 2012 they studied the history of Don Bosco, in 2013 his pedagogy, and in 2014 they will reflect on the Spirituality of Don Bosco.

For the sake of uniformity a common theme was chosen each year for all the Salesian works in the province of Portugal (POR): “Be active agents”. For the year 2013-2014, an overall theme has been chosen with related formative activities.

From 8 to 12 July, the Centre for Salesian Formation has organized and animated a formation course for teachers in the Salesian schools of the province. About 380 teachers have studied and elaborated the guiding theme for the year 2013-2014: “Be happy, now and in eternity.” This theme is part of the Rector Major’s programme for the next year: to discover in spirituality the source of our familiarity with God which motivates all the educative, pastoral and evangelizing activities of Salesians.

For a better understanding of “Be Happy” and to see in what way it is part of Salesian Youth Spirituality, the course is divided into three parts. There is the introduction of the topic, then a film on the theme of happiness, focussing on optimism and trust in God.  Finally, the teachers take part in three workshops. This allowed the participants to reflect on the theme and to link it with the core values of Salesian Youth Spirituality – a spirituality of everyday life, a spirituality of joy and optimism, a spirituality of friendship with the Lord Jesus, a spirituality of Ecclesial Communion and a spirituality of responsible service.

“To me it seemed important,” said Fr Tarcízio Morais, delegate with responsibility for schools in the Portuguese Province, “to offer our teachers this opportunity for shared formation, so as to cultivate greater uniformity in a spirit of community especially in what concerns Salesian spirituality today.”

At the conclusion of every meeting, Fr Arthur Pereira, Provincial of POR, emphasized the importance of Salesian Spirituality in all Salesian educational settings. He recalled that everything Don Bosco did was for the salvation of the souls of his beloved boys.

Today more than ever, we must support our young people in their search for the meaning and help them to find it in Jesus Christ, in his message and in his plan for their lives.

Salesian Youth Spirituality has given many fruits of holiness in the course of the years, from Dominic Savio to young people of our own day. It should be seen as a necessary part of daily life, bringing joy and optimism and the dimension of solidarity and citizenship lived in accordance with the gospel.

Published  26/07/2013