(ANS - Hong Kong) - This year the Salesian Family in the Chinese Province organized a Day of Salesian spirituality in communion with the Spirituality Days of the Salesian Family at which the Rector Major is presiding in Rome. For the occasion, the Provincial House in Hong Kong was filled with members of the Salesian Family.

During his opening talk, the Provincial, Fr Lanfranco Fedrigotti, said that there are three levels of consecration and sanctification. The first level is given by the mere fact that each one exists, sharing in the existence of God, and is thereby consecrated. The second level is because by his incarnation Jesus has consecrated again all human beings and all creatures. The third level, finally, is because God's creation requires man to co-create the future and give life to future generations. For this reason there is marriage, and also consecrated life – both are pathways of fertility and vocations that generate life.

Fr Andrew Fung, Vice-Provincial, added that the three levels of consecration are linked in one word, and that word is "yes": yes to God, yes to the Christian vocation and in particular yes to the Holy Spirit. This “yes” marks entry into married life or religious consecration and then leads to a new discovery, because a life that is guided by the Holy Spirt is enriched and inspired.

Later in the day Don Martin Yip spoke on the pastoral theme "The most beautiful virtue is chastity”, which had been proposed even before the launch of the Strenna for 2016, in view of the fact that the whole Church is committed to leading young people in reflecting on issues such as family, sex and reproduction.

In subsequent group work members of the Salesian Family emphasized that family ties and marriage ties strongly influence the opinions and values ​​of youth in loving relationships. For this reason, it is important to focus on support for the family and married couples so as to create supportive environments where young people can grow. In addition, it was pointed out that the sharing of religious values ​​can contribute to the development of other positive values ​​among the youth.

Published 14/1/2016