(ANS – Turin)– The Year of Consecrated Life and the promotion of Consecrated Life (CL) in the dioceses were the central themes of the the afternoon on Friday 22 May, the second day of the Meeting of Salesian Bishops in Valdocco, Turin.

byGian Francesco Romano

The insights were presented by Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati, archbishop of Santiago, Cile; Msgr. Gastgon Kashala Ruwezi, bishop of Sakania-Kapushi, Democratic Republic of Congo; Msgr. Dominic Jala, archbishop of Shillong, India; and Msgr. Luc Van Looy, bishop of Gent, Belgium. The resource persons from various parts of the world have given depth and divergent perspectives to the topic in consideration.

To begin the discussions, referring to the Magisterium and to the words of Pope Francis, Cardinal Ezzati mentioned four virtues – temperance, wisdom, realism and the ability to dream – by which the sufferings the consecrated find themselves, can be assumed. Then he highlighted how the current difficult reality of CL at the global level can be transformed into a kairós, an opportunity, if the challenges of the present day can be faced with boldness and faith. In conclusion, he recalled some of the reflections of Pope Francis saying that CL in turn can be “fire which ignites other fires”: to witness to the fact that God has the power to fill the heart, to be experts in communion, to go to the periferies and to discern the things that God and humanity want.

Later, Msgr. Jala presented CL as practised in his archdiose and in Assam, India furnishing encouraging data regarding the presence, the growth and the attractiveness it has among the people. The favourable signs are: the schools run by the religious, the number of sacred ministers, the houses of formation, prayer and celebration of vocation days.  The archbishop also pointed out some looming dangers due to the rise of materialism and individualism among the population and the risk of superficiality among the religious.

A different situation was presentated by Msgr. Van Looy, with regard to CL in Europe and particularly in the most secularized countries in the North. In the context of a general decline, the bishop proposed some good strategies to deal with the situation as: formation of international religious communities; greater collaboration with the dioceses; spiritual initiatives open to all by contemplative communities.

Finally, Msgr. Kashala Ruwezi highlighted the contributions made by Salesians in the parishes at the perifery, and the prophetic sign of CL in society, in relation to apostolic and social activities, in his diocese. He also revealed some problems CL faces when it associates with worldliness.

After the sessions, the community gathered for Vespers.

In the evening, in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians there was Sistine Chapel Choir Concert called “Sistina”, conducted by Fr Massimo Palombella, SDB, followed by the “Good Night” of Cardinal Raffaele Farina, Archivist and Librarian Emeritus of Santa Romana Chiesa.

The speeches and the photos are available on sdb.org and Flickr.

Published on 22/05/2015