(ANS – Rome – December 18) – In a festive environment, on December 27 Fr.
Angel Fernandez Artime officially presented the 2018 Strenna (theme for the
year) at the Generalate of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. The
strenna is titled “Let us cultivate the art of listening and accompaniment”
with, additionally, a reflection on the biblical text, “Lord, give me this
water” (John 4:15). The event started with the presentation of a video that
summarizes the strenna.
The event began when the FMAs welcomed the Rector
Major, who then spoke as the successor of Don Bosco. Fr. Fernandez thanked
Mother General Yvonne Reungoat and the many representatives of the Salesian
Family for their presence. The event was also attended by Fr. Filiberto Gonzalez,
Salesian general councilor for communications, with the team of his department.
“For us Salesians it is an urgent task, necessary
and essential, to work by listening and accompanying our boys and girls,” began
the Rector Major, who then asked: “What are we waiting for? Why do not we
decide to make ourselves available to accompany our young people? Why do not we
work on what is important in the lives of young people? What is stopping this
task fundamental for us educators? Why busy ourselves or spend time on other
things when this is the real educational and evangelizing priority for us?”
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| Mother Yvonne and Fr. Angel |
After the presentation, Mother Reungoat thanked the
Rector Major for the gift of the strenna, inviting the FMAs to live and fulfill
this fundamental project of the charism of Don Bosco and Mary Mazzarello.
At the
presentation of the strenna, which will lead the process of education and
evangelization for all of 2018, other members of the Salesian Family were also
present: Salesians of Don Bosco, Salesian Cooperators, members of the
Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), Past Pupils of Don Bosco,
Salesian Oblates of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts
of Jesus and Mary, Don Bosco Volunteers, and a large and very active FMA presence,
filled the Generalate auditorium.
Accompaniment, the Rector Major insisted, is a
fundamental occupation that has “dialog” as its task; its objective, “to foster
the relationship between the person and the Lord. If our accompaniment does not
lead to Jesus Christ, we are not accompanying our youngsters.”
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