(ANS – Manaus) – From 13^th to 17^th, the Rector Major, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime visited the Province of Manaus and met all the Salesian groups; in particular in the last two days, the program of activities was organized in such a way that no one was deprived of an encouraging word from him.

On Thursday, September 16^th, the day commenced with a meeting with the Provincial Council, where various issues of animation and governance were dealt with. Successively the Rector Major had lunch with the Salesian Bishops and with various representatives of the Salesian community.

“I am very happy and grateful to be able to spend this evening with the FMA sisters. Sisters whom I consider as my blood sisters. Each one of them with their qualities, every day expand the teaching not only of Don Bosco, but above all of Mother Mazzarello. Sisters who, through their communication, like my confrères, bring joy and happiness to the young” said Á. F. Artime; who later spoke of his dream. “Wherever I go I recount my dream. Somehow it is a way to ask all religious men and women to be truly happy persons, so as to be able to transmit joy to the young and show them that the joy we had five years after pronouncing the vows is the same as today, after 20, 30, 40, 50 years, without losing the charism on the way, without losing our simplicity…”.

Before his departure, the Rector Major visited the elderly sisters hosted in the Educative Centre and visited also Colégio Dom Bosco, where he met about 700 youth, representing the Salesian Schools and communities.

The Rector Major put himself at the disposal of the young for a series of questions and answers; to young Raquel, who asked him what he felt when he was elected Rector Major, he said: “I confess that when I received the news that I would become the Tenth Successor of Don Bosco, I was really frightened and scared, because it is a great responsibility; but today, being with you, the young, at my side, gives me the strength to continue to learn every day new forms of communication, and the to encourage you to fight for your goals. Encouraging you to believe in yourselves, because you are the future of this State, the future of Brazil.”

After a hour-long feast, the Rector Major – with the Bishops of the Archdioceses of Amazonia and the Salesians – celebrated the Eucharist, during which five Salesians pronounced their perpetual vows.

The next day, September 17^th, before leaving for Paraguay, the Rector Major at 8.00am was already visiting the Salesian Formation Centre (CESAF), where he was welcomed and honoured by about 300 children, from one to ten years old, who attend Salesian houses: finally he also visited the “Colégio Dom Bosco”, in the eastern zone, and the “Facultade Salesiana Dom Bosco”.  

Published 19/09/2015