(ANS – Lublin) – On Friday 18 November, in the city of Lublin, Poland, the “John Paul II” Catholic University awarded Fr Pascual Chávez Villaneuva, Rector Major of the Salesians, a Doctorate “Honoris Causa”. The ceremony took place in the context of the International Conference “Forming good Christians and upright citizens.” 

The ceremony held in the packed John Paul II Hall, was opened by Prof Fr. Stanisław Wilk SDB, Rector of the University reading the decision of the Senate of the University dated 29 September 2011: “In conferring the Doctorate honoris causa, the John Paul II Catholic University wishes to express its esteem and recognition for trhe activities of Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva SDB, who has dedicated his life to the poor  and the marginalised, creating initiatives and participating in educational activities for the youth of the world. In his work he shows that in order to pursue truth in life and to bear witness to the presence of Jesus Christ to the young it is necessary, first of all to know him, live beside him and become his friend. He proves the relevance of the preventive system of Saint John Bosco based on faith, on knowledge and on love in the context of a complex inter-cultural world, and underlines the influence of the saint on the holistic development of the person, giving major importance to religious and social life.”

Afterwards Prof. Alina Rynio, Director of the University Institute of Pedagogy explained that “the decision to confer the Doctorate  honoris causa could give rise to a re-examination of some questions regarding the education of children and young people. (...) it could demonstrate the relevance and the  value of the demands of the preventive system irrespective of the times and of the political-social and economic system in vogue (...) and provide an opportunity to encourage a re-examination of the art of education and to draw up a scientific synthesis of the patrimony of the past and of the current contribution of the Salesians in the field of education.”

The “Laudatio” was given by Fr Marian Nowak, the Professor occupying the Chair of General Pedagogy, a former student of the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome.

The Fr Chávez gave his “lectio magistralis” on the subject: “Salesian service in the field of education.”

Among those present at the event were several bishops including Archbishop Wojciech Polak, Secretary General of the Polish Conference of Bishops (KEP) and Bishop Marek Mendyk, President of the Education Committee of the KEP; Prof. Fr Carlo Nanni, Rector of the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome; various Major Superiors of religious Congregations and many Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA).   

Published 21/11/2011