How to Grow as Salesian Family That Listens and Accompanies

“How to grow as a Salesian Family that listens and accompanies”

World Consultative Body of the Salesian Family Reflects on 2018 Strenna

(ANS – Turin – May 23) - On May 22 the World Consultative Body of the Salesian Family continued its annual meeting at Valdocco in the presence of the Rector Major.

The representatives of the 31 groups that make up the Salesian Family began the day with the celebration of Mass, with Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime presiding and the homily being preached by the world delegate for the Salesian Family, Fr. Eusebio Muñoz. Mother Graziella Benghini, superior of the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, introduced the Eucharistic rite by observing that “the Salesian Family was born in this chapel—the Pinardi Chapel—and this invites us to be like Don Bosco, humble and docile to the voice of God.”

“The Word illuminates our life when we let God speak,” Fr. Muñoz added in his homily. “We must learn to listen to his message, and in these days we have talked about the young and the work among them. But we must ask ourselves: what are we doing for the young?”

In the first part of the morning, Fr. Silvio Roggia, from the SDB Formation Department, continued work on the theme of spiritual accompaniment. Some groups presented their experiences of listening and accompanying the young, the poor, and families. The first group was Cancão Nova, who described the accompaniment carried out at different stages of life. Sr. Paola Casalis, FMA, presented the experience of the Salesian Sisters in listening to and accompanying problematic young people. The third group to intervene was the Association of Mary Help of Christians, which showed how the association performs spiritual accompaniment to people of different ages. And finally, there was the presentation of a Salesian from Nigeria on accompaniment in the different ethnic groups of his country. In this way, reflection ended on: “How to grow as a Salesian Family that listens and accompanies.”

“We wanted each group to have a time to be known by all the participants of the world consultative body,” explained Fr. Muñoz. In this 2018 World Consultative Body, five groups were presented: Don Bosco Volunteers, Salesian Cooperators, Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians, Witnesses of the Risen Lord, and Damas Salesianas. Each group was able to present the work, experience, growth, and development of its institution.

The evening ended with a visit to the basilica of Mary Help of Christians (photo), led by the rector, Fr. Cristian Besso.

Photos available on ANSFlickr