(ANS – Ljubljana) – Sunday 18 September was for the Rector Major, visiting the Province of Slovenia, a day full of engagements. The celebration of the 20 anniversary of the school in Želimlje was also marked by an official expression of appreciation for the work the Sons Don Bosco carry out in this country.

“Twenty years ago the  Salesians took a great risk, but thanks to their efforts we can say that today the Želimlje Grammar School is one of the excellent schools in Slovenia,” said the Slovenian Minister for Education and Sport, Igor Lukšič, at the celebrations which were attended by present students and over 1,000 Past Pupils of the school at  Želimlje, 20 km from Ljubljana.

Fr Chávez thanked the parents who “entrusted to the care of the Salesians that art which is the education of one’s children,” and remarked that the formation of the new generations should  be considered one of the great international challenges.

Witness among others to the educational quality of the school was the Auxiliary Bishop of Ljubljana, Mons. Anton Jamnik, who recalled being present at the start of what was the first private Catholic school in Slovenia following the collapse of the communist regime and the war following the break up Jugoslavia. With courage the Salesians opened the school at Želimlje even before the proclamation of Slovenian independence, in a political context in which the law made no provision to support private initiative in schooling. What had been a seminary became a cultural opportunity for all families.

The day began with the Rector Major meeting the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians community in Ljubljana Gornji Trg. Fr Chávez gave a talk on the state of consecrated life. Then in the parish of Saint Teresa od the Child Jesus entrusted to the  Salesians, the Rector Major blessed the workers and the supporters of the “Skala” project which cares for street children. He also met, with fatherly solicitude, the elderly and sick Salesians in the Trstenik community.

In the afternoon at the sanctuary of Mary help of Christians  at Ljubljana Rakovnik, Archbishop  Anton Stres presided at a Solemn Mass. Each year the Metropolitan of Ljubljana celebrates the Sunday of the Servants of God dedicated to those whose cause for beatification  has been introduced. During the celebration yesterday among those remembered was  the Servant of God  Fr Andrej Majcen, a Salesian missionary in China and Vietnam.

At the end of the Mass  Fr Chávez unveiled a plaque dedicated to  Fr Majcen who was described as the “Don Bosco of Vietnam”. The Vice-Postulator of the Cause, Fr Anton Ciglar, recalled how the Salesian missionary who lived his last twenty years in the house of Ljubljana Rakovnik, spent his life  in the Far East  where today priestly and missionary vocations are flourishing.

At the end of his visit to the Province of Slovenia, the Rector Major expressed his appreciation for the many works and the spirit of community and of joy behind them. “The only thing missing from this fine picture are the vocations, the result of today’s culture, powerful also in this country of ancient Catholic tradition.”

Published 19/09/2011