(ANS - Rome) - Today, Thursday 15 May, the new Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, begins his first international trip with a flight to Lisbon. The tenth Successor of Don Bosco will spend five days in the country, along with Mother Yvonne Reungoat, Mother General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. They will join in the 62nd Salesian Family Pilgrimage to Fatima and the 2014 National Day of the Salesian Youth Movement.
The Rector Major leaves this afternoon and will arrive in Lisbonin the evening. Tomorrow, 16 May, he is expected to visit the great educational centre of the Salesians of Manique. He will celebrate Mass theretogether with the studentsand will meet the elderly Salesiansresidentin the community. In the afternoon the Rector Major will grant interviews to the Ecclesia programme and the Salesian Bulletin,and will meet with the Salesians of the Community and the Provincial Council.
Saturday 17 May is the National Day of the Salesian Youth Movement. The most significant celebration will be the pilgrimage to Fatima with the whole Salesian Family. Before reaching the shrine, Fr Fernández Artime will be able to greet his confreres resident in the city and will preside at Mass with them. In the afternoon he will address young people who are participating in a programme called Encounters with Don Bosco as part of their vocational journey. Then, in the Chapel of the Apparitions of the Shrine, he will pay tribute to the Virgin Mary.
At 6.00 p.m. local time the Rector Major and the Mother General will attend a showing of "Art and Faith" at the Paul VI Centre of the Sanctuary. The long day closes with the recitation of the rosary in the chapel, a torchlight procession and the Good Night by Fr Fernandez Artime and Mother Reungoat.
On Sunday 18 May, the two Superiors will meet with various groups of the Salesian Family in Portugal. They will pray the rosary in the Chapel of the Apparitions, after which the Bishop of the Algarve, Bishop Manuel Quintas, will preside at the Sunday Eucharist. After their return to Lisbon there will be time for a visit to the area of the dos Jerónimos Monastery.
On the last day of the trip, Monday 19 May, the Rector Major will celebrate Mass with the community of the Provincial House and then greet the Salesian secondary school students.
Published 15/05/2014
