(ANS - Damascus) - As part of the Extraordinary Visitation on behalf of the Rector Major to the Province of the Middle East, Fr Stefano Martoglio, Councillor for the Mediterranean region, spent 23-24 February in Damascus, in Syria.

by Fr Alejandro Leon, SDB

Fr Martoglio arrived in Damascus from Lebanon in the late evening of Sunday 22 February and went to Aleppo in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The visit was characterized by great cordiality and fraternity. In addition to meeting his confreres, Fr Martoglio also met Bishop Mario Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio to the country, as well as twenty catechists, a dozen leaders of various recreational, cultural and artistic activities, the Council of the Educative Pastoral Community and the Mamma Margherita association.

The highlight of the visit was the Mass on Tuesday 24 February which was attended by many young people and their families. Fr Martoglio spoke about the Salesian Protomartyrs, Louis Versiglia and Callistus Caravario. He expressed his amazement at finding such vitality, serenity and participation from young people in a climate of war. During his two-day visit he frequently heard the sound of mortars exploding.

On the evening of his last day there was a prayer service in the church, which was attended by about thirty young men and boys who are part of a discernment programme called "Come and See".

At the conclusion of the visit, Fr Martoglio expressed great gratitude for the witness of fraternity offered in the context of war and for the sincerity of his conversations with individual confreres. In Damascus, the Salesian apostolic community continues to grow, nurturing relationships, taking God seriously and asking him for the grace to stay firm. Their fraternity is supported by the spiritual life, which strengthens their commitment to speak and think well of all, as Don Bosco wanted.

"The community has a beautiful pastoral ministry - well thought out, carefully planned and sustained by prayer -  which is helping young people to seek the path marked out for them by God," said Fr Martoglio.

Published 27/02/2015