Homily for Tuesday, Week 5 of Lent

Homily for Tuesday
5th Week of Lent

April 8, 2025
John 8: 21-31
Collect
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

“The one who sent me is with me” (John 8: 29).

Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we complain, albeit not to the point of rebellion like them.  The weather’s too wet or too windy or too cold or too hot or has spoiled some plan we made.  Brother So-and-so annoys me.  The superiors don’t know what they’re doing.  My back aches.  (I won’t even mention politics.)

Fortunately, God doesn’t send snakes among us (Num 21:4-9).  He’s very patient with us.

(from free Christ images)

Still more fortunately, he sent us Christ.  When Jesus was lifted up on the cross (John 8:28), suffering and feeling abandoned, he persevered and showed us how to persevere in obeying God’s will (Collect) because he knew that his Father was with him; he knew he was in his Father’s hands (Luke 23:46).

Jesus reminds us that the Father is with us too.  The Father has called us and stays with us.  So we can have the courage to persevere in our dedication to his service (Collect).  Jesus lifted up on the cross is like Moses’ bronze serpent, healing our hearts when they’re poisoned by discouragement, bitterness, or restlessness.  The Father didn’t leave Jesus alone (John 8:29), and he doesn’t leave us alone either.

Final Week of GC29

Final Week and Conclusion of the General Chapter

The new general council
after Sunday Mass in the Basilica of MHC
(Fr. Gabriel is in the back row, far left.)

(ANS – Turin – April 6, 2025) – The general chapter, taking place at Valdocco, Turin, has entered its final week. After almost 50 days of intense work, the chapter members are preparing for the conclusion of this significant moment of discernment and sharing. The final days represent a fundamental opportunity to reflect on the experience lived, consolidate the decisions made, and return to their respective provinces, taking with them the fruits of the work carried out.

This final week will take place in 2 distinct locations: the 1st part will be held at Valdocco (Turin) until Wednesday; the 2d part will take place in Rome, where the chapter members will move on Thursday to spend the last days of the chapter. The coordinating committee has carefully organized the program, which includes moments of prayer, assessment, and preparation for returning to their own realities.

Sunday, April 6: Celebration with the Rector Major

Sunday, April 6, was marked by a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by the rector major at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin. This moment of prayer and thanksgiving marked the beginning of the concluding week of the general chapter, thanking the faithful and the Salesian Family of the basilica of Mary Help of Christians for their closeness and prayers, and inviting the chapter members to live the last days of this important journey of discernment with a spirit of joy and hope.

Monday, April 7: Evaluation of the Chapter Experience

The day is entirely dedicated to the personal and community evaluation of the chapter. It will involve reflecting on the current experience, but also with the aim of improving and living better the future processes.

The day will begin with morning prayers and Mass in regional groups, and at 9:00 a.m. in the assembly, it will continue with a biblical reflection led by Fr. Eunan, the provincial of Ireland, who will offer spiritual insights to enter the spirit of evaluation. Subsequently, the chapter members will be invited to reflect on some key questions:

What aspects of the chapter were the most challenging or demanding? What moments brought the greatest energy and hope? How can each one return to their province as a bearer of renewal and passion?

The methodology of listening in the Spirit, followed throughout the chapter, will add depth to this evaluation, fostering mutual listening and sincere dialogue. In the afternoon, the reflections gathered will be synthesized, concluding the day with the Good Nite from the new general councilor for formation, Fr. Silvio Roggia.

After dinner, the first African film about Don Bosco, Oratory, will be screened in the theater at 8:15 p.m. for the chapter members. This film, produced by Fr. Cyril Odia, a chapter member, will also feature some actors present for this special moment.

Tuesday, April 8: Final Votes and Reflections from the Regions

Tuesday, the last day of chapter work, will be dedicated to 2 key moments.

The morning will be marked by the final votes, including the vote on Deliberation No. 35, regarding an important issue that emerged and was shared during the work and required further discussion, and the definitive approval of the chapter text, with the introduction already presented last Friday.

In the afternoon, the chapter members will work in regional groups to answer some essential questions:

What are we taking home from the chapter? How can the fruits of this experience be lived at the regional level? What testimony and pedagogy can be used to communicate the values and decisions of the chapter? What suggestions can we offer to the rector major for his service of animation in the next 6 years?

Indeed, Article 19 of the chapter’s regulations requires that “before the conclusion of the general chapter, each region, coordinated by the regional councilor, will meet to evaluate the situation of the region and identify some operational guidelines concerning it, to be presented to the rector major and his council for the new six-year project. The regions may also offer suggestions on other parts of the six-year project if necessary.”

The day will conclude with practical instructions on travel and the return of personal tablets, which will be reset for private use.

Coadjutor brothers at the chapter
(Bro. Travis Gunther is in the front row, far left.)

Wednesday, April 9: Preparations and Celebration with Cardinal Fernandez

Wednesday will be dedicated to preparations for the transfer to Rome. The chapter members will have free time to organize their luggage and get ready for the journey.

At 6:30 p.m., a common celebration of Mass is scheduled, presided over by the rector major emeritus, Cardinal Angel Fernandez Artime. The cardinal, who has spiritually accompanied the chapter from a distance with his prayers and discreet support, will lead this moment of thanksgiving to the Lord and will have the opportunity to greet the chapter members he convened in September 2023. The celebration, streamed online, will also be an opportunity for chapter members to bid each other fraternal farewells before the conclusion of the chapter.

Thursday, April 10: Transfer to Rome

The day will be dedicated to the transfer to Rome, which will take place in 2 groups, with 2 trains departing at 7:50 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. The luggage will be sent to Rome and the residences in Rome by a dedicated vehicle, while the confreres will be accompanied to Porta Susa Station by bus. Arrival in Rome is expected by lunchtime.

Friday, April 11: Pilgrimage to the Vatican

The day will be dedicated to a pilgrimage to the Vatican, starting with Mass at 9:00 a.m. at the altar of the Chair of St. Peter, followed by the passage through the Holy Door. The celebration will be presided over by the new rector major, together with the members of the general chapter.

This spiritual moment will be an opportunity to give thanks for the journey made and to entrust to the Lord the fruits of the chapter. The rest of the day will be free, offering confreres the chance to visit the Jubilee sites and all the places associated with Don Bosco in Rome.

Saturday, April 12: Conclusion of the General Chapter

The chapter will officially conclude with a solemn Eucharistic celebration at 11:00 a.m. at the basilica of the Sacred Heart, the rector major presiding. At the end of the Mass, there will be closing speeches and the official conclusion of the general chapter by the moderator.

A Chapter of Hope and Renewal

This final week represents a precious moment to consolidate the work done and renew the commitment to the future of the Congregation. The general chapter has offered confreres the opportunity to reflect deeply on the Salesian mission, confront the challenges of the present, and outline the priorities for the coming years.

The passion, dedication, and spirit of communion with which the chapter members have lived this important event are a tangible sign of the desire to discern, discuss, and make courageous decisions, so that the Congregation can respond with hope and boldness to the challenges of the time.

Pope Francis's Message to GC29

Message of the Holy Father to the GC29

Photo ©: Vatican Media

(ANS - Vatican City – April 7, 2025) - We publish below the message that His Holiness Pope Francis sent to the participants of the 29th General Chapter, meeting in Valdocco, Turin, from February 16 to April 12, 2025:

Message of the Holy Father

Dear brothers,

Since I am unfortunately unable to meet you, I send this message on the occasion of the 29th General Chapter of the Salesian Congregation, as well as the 150th anniversary of Don Bosco's first missionary expedition to Argentina.

I greet the new Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, wishing him fruitful work, and I thank Cardinal Angel Fernandez Artime for the service he has rendered to the Institute over these years and now offers to the universal Church.

Even from a distance, I wish to encourage you to live this time of listening to the Spirit and synodal discernment with confidence and commitment.

You have chosen, as the theme for your work, the motto: “Salesians passionate about Jesus Christ and dedicated to young people.” It is a beautiful program: to be “passionate” and “dedicated,” to allow yourselves to be fully embraced by the love of the Lord and to serve others without holding anything back, just as your Founder did in his time. While the challenges you face today are partly different from those of the past, the faith and enthusiasm remain the same, enriched by new gifts such as interculturality.

Dear brothers, I thank you for the good you do throughout the world and encourage you to continue with perseverance.

I heartily bless you and your capitular work, as well as your confreres scattered across six continents, and I kindly ask you to pray for me. May Mary Help of Christians always accompany you.

From the Vatican, April 2, 2025

FRANCIS

Homily for 5th Sunday of Lent

Homily for the
5th Sunday of Lent

April 6, 2025
John 8: 1-11
Scouts NYLT, Putnam Valley, N.Y.
Our Lady of the Assumption, Bronx                    
St. Francis Xavier, Bronx

by Bruegel

“Early in the morning, Jesus arrived again in the temple, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them” (John 8: 2).

We’re not surprised by the patience and the mercy Jesus displays in today’s gospel story.  That’s one lesson for us to take from it.

The 1st lesson, tho, is that all of us are sinners.  He tells the woman’s accusers, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (8:7).  Even they had to admit they were not guiltless.  Most of us are quick to form judgments about the faults of others, and many of us voice those judgments. I’m not talking about things like evaluating a job performance or sitting on a jury, but about criticizing someone’s words, actions, lifestyle, or character when it’s not our responsibility.  Our judgments might be correct; often they aren’t, a failing called rash judgment, which is itself a sin.  We’d be less prone to faulting others, correctly or rashly, if we kept in mind our own failures, our own sins, and constantly asked Jesus to pardon us rather than to punish others.

The 2d lesson, obviously, is Jesus’ reluctance to condemn sinners.  “Neither do I condemn you,” he says to the unhappy woman (8:11).  He came to redeem us, to draw us into God’s love and to keep us there.  Thus St. Paul writes today:  “For Christ’s sake, I’ve accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him” (Phil 3:8-9).  Jesus founded the Church and bestowed the Holy Spirit upon her to forgive sins and bring people into God’s family for eternity.

The 3d lesson, however, is a caution.  He warns the woman, “Go, and from now on do not sin any more” (8:11).  The 1st words of Jesus’ public ministry were a call to conversion:  “Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming …, “This is the time of fulfillment.  The kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15).  Turning away from sin is necessary for admission to God’s kingdom, for membership in his family.  Yes, we are sinners.  Those who admit that and seek with the help of Jesus to overcome their sins will be saved.  Those who relish their sins and want to remain in them, will not be saved because Jesus doesn’t, and can’t, compel us to come to God.  He respects our free will and lets us decide whether to “repent and believe in the gospel,” whether to accept forgiveness and follow Jesus as our Lord.

Homily for Thursday, Week 4 of Lent

Homily for Thursday
4th Week of Lent

April 3, 2025
Ex 32: 7-14
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

Moses' prayer (William Blake)

“Moses implored the Lord” (Ex 32: 11).

The Scripture tells us the Israelites became depraved (32:7).  Feeling secure after their escape from Egypt, they made an idol and attributed their blessings to it.

We’ve seen countries become prosperous after long periods of depression—Ireland and Poland, for example—and then lose their traditional faith and religious practice and celebrate their freedom and economy as supreme goods.  It’s trending that way in most Western cultures, you’ve no doubt observed.

The Scripture tells us then that God’s wrath blazed against Israel (32:10).  Whereon “Moses implored the Lord.”  He became Israel’s intercessor, not for the 1st time nor the last.  I especially like how the responsorial psalm expresses it:  “Moses, his chosen one, withstood him in the breach to turn back his destructive wrath” (Ps 106:23).  Davy Crockett wasn’t able to hold the wall of the Alamo against the Mexican army, 

The Fall of the Alamo by Robert Jenkins Onderdonk depicts Davy Crockett
swinging his rifle at Mexican troops who have breached the south gate of the mission.

but Moses held back the wrath of God.

Brothers, believers have Moses’ role today:  to pray to God on behalf of today’s idolaters, the many who worship their unrestrained freedom, their prosperity, their political or military power; and to pray for the oppressed and the afflicted who have no recourse in this world but only God’s mercy.

Gesture of Compassion

A Gesture of Compassion
Reaching Out to Earthquake Victims in Burma

(ANS – Mandalay, Burma – April 1, 2025) – In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck parts of Burma, the Don Bosco community extended a helping hand to the suffering victims in Mandalay. With hearts full of compassion, the team spent quality time with the displaced families, offering drinks, snacks, and much needed support. (The military dictators want you to call the country Myanmar.)

While attempting to cross the Sagaing Bridge over the Irrawaddy River, the team was unable to proceed due to restrictions. But this did not deter their mission to serve. By mingling with the affected people, they discovered that while many groups were providing rice boxes for daily meals, there was a severe shortage of such essentials as mosquito nets, tarps, umbrellas, mats, bed sheets, and pillows. The scorching heat added further to the challenges faced by the victims.

To bring relief, the Don Bosco team took a unique approach. They bought ice cream for the children, bringing smiles to their faces amid the suffering. They provided electric power by running a generator, enabling people to charge their phones and lamps for the night. This act of kindness stood out, as most other relief groups left shortly after distributing their aid.

The simple yet thoughtful gestures had a profound impact. One of the victims expressed heartfelt gratitude, saying, “It is the first time that we received free power to recharge our phones and connect with our families.”

The Don Bosco team felt deeply fulfilled, witnessing the joy and relief they brought to people. Their presence not only eased some of the material hardships but also provided emotional comfort and hope during a time of great difficulty.

In their commitment to Don Bosco's mission of serving those in need, the team reaffirmed the importance of compassion and solidarity, transcending boundaries of faith or culture.

Homily for Tuesday, Week 4 of Lent

Homily for Tuesday
4th Week of Lent

April 1, 2025
Ezek 47: 1-9, 12
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

“Wherever this water comes, the sea shall be made fresh” (Ezek 47: 9).

Ezekiel’s image of fresh water flowing out of God’s house in such abundance that it freshens even the Dead Sea is awesome.  Naturally, the image suggests Baptism in this season when catechumens are looking toward the Easter Vigil and the rest of us are preparing to renew or refresh our baptismal commitment.

Baptism refreshes souls no matter how dead they’ve been in sin.  “Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live” (47:9), and every virtue shall flourish in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus uses water as an image of the Spirit:  “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, … ‘Rivers of living water will flow from within him.’”  St. John explains, “He said this in reference to the Spirit what whose who came to believe in him were to receive” (7:37-39).  As we know well, Jesus told Nicodemus that we must be born again of water and the Spirit (John 3:5).

Ezekiel’s image speaks of fresh fruit coming forth every month, thanks to “the flow from the sanctuary” (47:12).  That suggests our need for constant freshness, constant renewal—the ongoing conversion to Christ that’s essential for our spiritual lives.  We always need a new infusion of the Holy Spirit.