(ANS - Ranchi) - During his visit to the Salesians in Kokar, Ranchi, the Rector Major spoke with the young people present there. They asked him some questions.

One young lady asked Fr Ángel Fernández Artime why he decided to become a Salesian priest. The Rector Major replied:

I met the Salesians by chance, they were not present where I was living. Later I had the opportunity to study with the Salesians. I finished my studies with them and I was going to study at university. But then I felt I had to see if the Salesian life could be the life for me. Why? Simply because I liked very much what the Salesians had done for me and for our young people. At the same time I discovered that the Lord was calling me to live with young people and for young people, and I started to live this way of life and I felt very happy. I must admit that, over the years, I felt very strongly the love that Don Bosco had for the young. This is why I have been a Salesian of Don Bosco for 38 years and I am really very happy with the life that the Lord has given me.

Another young lady asked: “What are your responsibilities towards young people today?” Fr Á.F. Artime responded:

What can I do and what should I do for young people? I should do what Don Bosco did, remembering that all of us Salesians were born to give life to the young. My duty, my job is to lead the Salesians and the Salesian Family to be really good with the young and for all the young.

To the question of how best to use the energy and enthusiasm of young people, before they lose it as they get older, the Rector Major replied:

I am convinced that young people never lose the enthusiasm and the courage of young people, if they have experienced it over a long period of time, and learned that it's beautiful to give yourself and live for others. For example, I think you could make people dream and create initiatives to involve other children in doing good for others. What God teaches us is that life is more beautiful when it is given to others. What can we do for others? Who wants to be someone who wants to do good for others? So they never lose the enthusiasm of youth. And when they are no longer young, they retain this way of life in their hearts.

Published 5/10/2015