(ANS - Rome) - The 27th General Chapter of the Salesian Congregation will open officiallynext Monday 3 March. In the Aula Magna of the Salesianum in Rome, 220 ​​chapter participants will begin the work of reflection and discussion on the theme: Witnesses to the Radical Approach of the Gospel.

The Chapter will begin on Monday morning with Mass at which the Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez, will preside. Then all the participants will gather in the auditorium to invoke the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit throughout the Chapter with the hymn Veni, Creator Spiritus.

Later, Fr Chávez will give the official opening address. This will be followed by the leaders of two other groups of the Salesian Family founded directly by Don Bosco - Mother Yvonne Reungoat of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and Ms. Noemi Bertola of the Association of Salesian Cooperators. The President of the Volunteers of Don Bosco will read a message of good wishes on behalf of the whole Salesian Family.

Among the official speakers will be Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone who will bring the good wishes of Salesian Bishops and Cardinals. Other Salesian Cardinals and Bishops who are in Rome at present will also pay a visit as well as some delegates from various international Catholic media.

At the end of the morning, after the official speeches, the Moderator Fr Francis Cereda will declare the 27th General Chapter officially open. The Chapter will continue until 12 April, the eve of Palm Sunday. The solemn opening ceremony will conclude with the singing of Sub Tuum Praesidium as the Congregation entrusts the work of the Chapter to the protection of Our Lady.

The entire ceremony can be seen in live streaming on various Salesian sites: www.missionidonbosco.tv – www.unisal.it – www.sdb.org, starting at 10:25 (GMT +2).

In the afternoon, after the Chapter participants have been assigned their seats in the Aula, a video will be shown which summarizes in a few minutes the evolution of the Salesians over the past six years. Then the Rector Major will present his report on the state of the Congregation and this will be followed by a reading of the statistical data.

The day will conclude with a concert by an instrumental group Pentaphon and the Good Night by the Vicar of the Rector Major.

Published 28/02/2014