(ANS - Rome) - The solemn opening ceremony of the General Chapter of the Salesian Congregation took place on the morning of 3 March in the presence of a large number of religious and ecclesiastical authorities. In his opening message, the Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez, declared: "our concern is not for the future of the congregation, as if it were a question of survival, but our ability to act as prophets."

The first act consisted in the liturgy to invoke the Holy Spirit. The Gospel was enthroned, the  passage Jn 21, 20.22-24  was read and the article of the Constitutions which describes the General Chapter was recited. The entire Assembly joined in a prayer to Don Bosco and the Veni Creator Spiritus was sung.

Fr Chávez then gave the keynote address. In it he said: "In this Chapter the Congregation is called to renew itself by returning to the freshness of our origins, the missionary zeal of the early years, the dynamism of youth and the holiness of maturity." We are united but "the unity of the congregation does not mean uniformity."

"It is evident, therefore, that the Chapter should open the door to a discussion that takes account of all these elements. All are free to express their thoughts about the task facing the Congregation today and the most urgent challenges. At the same time, all proposals must be in the line and spirit of the Gospel, in fidelity to what is indicated by the Constitutions."

"Of course, rules and traditions, which are purely accidental, may change, but not every change means progress. We must discern whether the changes we make really serve to reaffirm our identity, to strengthen our unity and to promote the vitality and holiness of the Congregation."

Every chapter is an important event that plans the next six-year term for  the congregation. “But," Fr Chávez said, “GC27 is pointing us towards something new and unusual. It calls for urgency in the radical approach of the Gospel. We are called to go back to basics, to be a poor Congregation for the poor, and to draw inspiration from the apostolic zeal of Don Bosco.”

Before concluding, the Rector Major thanked the Council members for their loyal, generous and competent collaboration and invited the assembly to an active participation: "I invite all of you, dear Confreres, to speak your minds but also to open your hearts to the Spirit, the great interior Teacher who always guides us towards the truth and the fullness of life."

Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, then addressed the Assembly. He took as his starting point the letter of convocation of the Rector Major Fr Chávez which posed the question: "what kind of consecrated life is necessary and relevant in today's world?" The Cardinal summed up his answer in the expression: living the prophecy of communion and fraternity.

This means sequela Christi, the following of Christ, by individual confreres and by Communities, and, to paraphrase St. Teresa of Avila, building on both the interior castle and the outer castle to go to God together with our brothers and sisters.

A spirituality of Communion on the model of the Trinity is the paradigm for today's reality in which we are called to be builders of community as well as beneficiaries. It means living every day the family spiritcharacteristic of the educational andspiritual life of Don Bosco.

Published 3/03/2014