About sixty people including Salesians Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Cooperators and students followed the theme “Don Rua, who prepared the way for Don Bosco” as it was developed during the two days.
Fr Reinhard Gesing, Director of the Institute of Salesian Spirituality introduced and chaired proceedings. Talks were given by Staff from Benediktbeuern such as Fr Josef Weber, lecturer in Spirituality, Fr Norbert Wolff, lecturer in Church History and Fr Josip Gregur, lecturer in Liturgy; and also by some external scholars: Fr Stanisław Zimniak from the Salesian Historical Institute in Rome, Sr. Maria Maul, Principal of the school in Vöcklabruck, in Austria, and Fr Bogdan Kolar, lecturer in Church History at Ljubljana.
Drawing on various historical sources the speakers presented not only the biography of Don Rua, with some interesting and unpublished novelties, but also his commitment and activity in spreading Salesian work especially in German-speaking countries and in Slovenia. Fr Gregur spoke about Don Rua and sacred music.
Presiding at Mass at the beginning of the second day Fr Josef Grünner, Provincial of the Salesians in Germany recalled the dynamic fidelity of Don Rua: the guarantor of Salesian tradition and the attentive interpreter of the signs of the times. This two-fold attitude Fr Grünner emphasised gave to the two new Congregations of the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians a worldwide outreach.
Organised on the occasion of the first centenary of the death of Don Rua, the Congress threw light on the full autonomy of this great figure for so long considered “Don Bosco’s shadow”. It was also pointed out how during the time Don Rua was Rector Major, the Salesians-Cooperators played an important role in the expansion of Salesian work, especially in the German-speaking countries. Concluding the two days, Fr Norbert Wolff indicated the need for new biographies and spiritual studies, academically prepared, about Blessed Michael Rua.
Published 22/04/2010
