| RMG – New Provincial for Austria: Fr Obermüller |
| Austria – The Don Bosco Refugee Centre receives a civil award |
| Austria – Meeting of the Provincials of North Europe |
| Austria –Salesian Family Pilgrimage |
The main guests of honour were Cardinal Cristoph Schönborn, archbishop of Vienna, and Bishop Ludwig Schwarz SDB Bishop of Linz.
Cardinal Schönborn, who presided at Mass, quoting the well-known expression of St Francis of Sales - “You catch more flies with a drop of honey than a barrel of vinegar” said how important the Salesian charism was in order to “see other people happy .” He then invited the congregation, in these difficult times, to look at the positive side of the Church: “The Church is encouraging and joyful, the Church is built on the young!”
Fr Rudolf Osanger, Provincial of the Salesians in Austria (AUS), described the hundred year history of the “Salesianum” pointing out the central place the young have had in it. Fr Osanger expressed the hope that the “Mother House” of the Salesians in Austria might have “another 100 years of work and of success in finding creative responses to the needs of the young.”
Bishop Schwarz recalled his childhood spent in the Institute in Vienna when, together with his brother Gregor, he was welcomed as a war refugee in 1945 and how falling in love with Don Bosco, they both became Salesians.
Having arrived in Vienna in 1903, the Salesians founded the “Salesianum” in 1909. The prestigious Institute is thus the oldest Salesian house in Austria.
During the last one hundred years the Salesians have always adapted their work to the needs of the times. Today it is a hostel for 230 students boys and girls, and a parish, Wien-Neuerdberg. For almost a year many volunteers have been welcoming children and young people - Austrians and foreigners in an Oratory “For everyone,” which offers a full programme for education, training and recreation.
Published 20/04/2010
