(ANS – Santiago, Chile) – With a Mass in the church of Saint John Bosco in the La Cisterna community at which  the Archbishop of Santiago Chile, Mons. Ricardo Ezzati SDB presided, the Salesian Family in Santiago celebrated the solemnity of their Founder.

Among the more than 500 people present at the Mass concelebrated by the bishop emeritus of Punta Arenas, Bishop Thomas González SDB, the Salesian Provincial Fr Leonardo Santibañez and Salesians from all the foundations in Santiago and Valparaíso, were Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Salesians-Cooperators, Past Pupils, Volunteers of Don Bosco, members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), the “Damas Salesianas”, representatives of the Community of the Mission of Don Bosco (CMB), of the Canção Nova, and many friends, supporters and benefactors of the Salesian works.
 
During his homily, referring to the three years of preparation for the Bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco, Archbishop Ezzati said that “knowing and imitating Don Bosco is the duty of all the Salesian Family, because it means not only having the courage and the skills to work with the young but also to come to know his spirituality, God’s gift present in his life  and the confidence that he always had in Mary Help of Christians.”

The Archbishop also spoke about “the trust and the hope that he had from his closeness to the Lord and which he learned as a child from the lips of his mother: ‘look at the stars John...; look at the beauty of the flowers, John, God made them for us; look John, you have lost your father on earth, but we have a father in heaven; look John, you have become a priest, don’t bother about me, think only about God and souls.’”.

Archbishop Ezzati recalled that Don Bosco found the strength and the inspiration to put before the Church and society his concern for the young from three great loves: the Eucharist on which his educational system was firmly based; Mary Help of Christians  from whom  Don Bosco learned  loving kindness  as an educator and pastor, closeness and “knowing how to anticipate”; and the Church to which he gave everything.

In conclusion he said: “in this year of the Youth Mission and on the threshold of the Year of Faith, knowing and imitating Don Bosco let us make the young our life’s  mission.”

At the end of Mass Fr Santibáñez expressed his thanks and best wishes. and reminded those present that on 3 March the position of Provincial of Chile would be taken by  Fr Alberto Lorenzelli, appointed recently by the Rector Major, in agreement with his Council.

Published 06/02/2012