(ANS – Genzano, Rome) - Gabriel, Luke, Matthew and Paul concluded their novitiate on 8 September, the date of their first profession. Now they are Salesians of Don Bosco. Like Don Bosco, and like every Salesian, they have their dreams. Here are those dreams as reported in an interview with Fr Gian Luigi Pussino, SDB.

Gabriel's dream is "to be able to welcome every experience wherever I am, among the poorest young people, and to know how to live each day together with my brothers, responding to whatever God asks of me."

Luke’s dream is simple but very demanding: "to see a world of really happy people always ready to give themselves freely for the good of others."

Matthew’s is brief but comprehensive: "to live a full life, not a mediocre life, bringing Jesus to young people".

Paul summarizes in one sentence what the others had said: "to give a testimony of fraternity of consecrated brothers who support one another unsparingly and to live in deep relationships of trust and friendship."

Two or three years ago their dreams were certainly different. Matthew and Mark thought of becoming engineers; Gabriel thought he might have a future as a teacher; Paul was already imagining himself as a doctor in a white coat. For all four of them, things seemed to be going fine ... so why are they Salesians today?

"A good question”, Matthew says immediately, “because following Jesus is the greatest thing in the world, and doing so by giving yourself for young people is even more beautiful ... I could not answer otherwise! Because when you are touched by a love as great as that of Jesus, you are won over. It is worth giving yourself in return for such great love."

Gabriel understands a vocation as a call that comes from outside: "I'm a Salesian following in the footsteps of those I met on my way. They passed on their joy to me, and in time this helped me to clarify what I felt in my life. I am a Salesian for the poor young people that other Salesians helped me to get to know. God knows where they live, but that is where I am called to live."

"I'm a Salesian because I sensed and then experienced that this way of life makes me happy. It helps me to be fully myself, and to answer the call of love of the Lord,” says Paul. “It's worthwhile because it is about my own happiness and the happiness of many young people."

Luke concludes: "I am a Salesian because in today's world there is a great hunger for something big and different, a hunger for Someone who is always close, who supports you and accompanies you in the big and small choices of life. (...) I am a Salesian in order to be a sign of merciful love and a person of communion seeking the happiness that leads to truth."

Published 16/09/2015