(ANS – Valdocco) – As is customary yesterday, 31 January, the Solemnity of Saint John Bosco, the Rector Major of the Salesians spent the day in the cradle of the Salesian world, at Valdocco. In the morning  Fr Chávez officially opened the new Ministry Offices of the  Special Circumscription of Piedmont-Val d’Aosta (ICP) and met the archbishop Turin, Mons. Cesare Nosiglia. In the afternoon during Mass he gave his message to the young people of the Salesian Youth Movement.

The new offices intended to respond to the need to coordinate pastoral activity bring together those for Youth Ministry, Missionary Animation, Vocational Animation, and the Offices for Schools and for Projects. Three Salesians and seven lay people will be working there full-time in coordinating. planning and training for young people, Salesians and laity throughout the Province.

During the simple ceremony the  Rector Major expressed his pleasure at the effort to create a pastoral culture – “the science that Jesus invented” – in a unified form putting together and coordinating better the various  parts of the one Salesian mission.
Fr Chávez signed the notice at the entrance to the offices writing his name beneath the motto “Da mihi animas caetera tolle”.

Afterwards, having first met the Salesian novices, the Rector Major spoke with Archbishop Nosiglia, especially about the young, vocations, spiritual and professional formation.

During the Mass in the afternoon in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians – which was also broadcast live by satellite on Telepace and streaming on the web - the Rector Major gave the young people of the Salesian Youth Movement the traditional message for the feast of Don Bosco. The message which is already on sdb.org in various languages , was given in the name of the saint himself: “I am writing to you as a father and friend through my ninth Successor.” The text which needs to be read and meditated on bears witness to what Don Bosco was and how much he did, and is in the form of a particular appeal to the young.

The message uses the “warm language of the heart.” The World Youth Day in Madrid is the context. “I admired your desire to make your life an investment in God's plans for you and in the dream you nurture in your hearts. I was moved when I saw you pray, welcoming the Word with joy. It was marvellous to see you there in silence adoring the Eucharistic Lord.  In the light of all this your cheerfulness seemed even more beautiful and pure, more contagious still.”

He then looks at the youth scene: “my impression is one of general malaise and monotonous struggle through everyday life”… “I have the feeling that many young people often lack air to breathe. I think I could say that they run the risk of dying of spiritual asphyxiation.”

But then comes an appeal to take the lead: “I am asking you young people to make a leap in quality, tackle things with renewed energy, make a prophetic gesture and proclaim a project of courageous life, stemming from profound human and religious conviction.” It is important to have a dream which can give meaning to life.

As to the Salesian Family so to the young the Memoirs of the Oratory of Saint Francis of Sales, are recommended -  “spiritual testament” which shows Don Bosco’s great passion for education as he consumed his life for his boys.

“Young people saving the young”  is the characteristic of the Salesian mission already present at the beginning of the Congregation. The invitation to take the lead in life, in society and in the Church is forcefully repeated: “Be new prophets, men and women capable of pointing out the way to go amidst confused spirits, in the new, that sometimes uncertain variable that God lets sprout in hearts and history. The meaning of life, like prophecy and like mission, becomes an immense treasure for society.”

In concluding the message, the IX successor of Don Bosco, commented on WYD 2011 and quoting Benedict XVI indicated  “five ways to proclaim and witness to Christ today”.

On ANSchannel the full video of the homily/message is available.

Published 01/02/2012