Fr. Pascual Chavez's Annual Strenne

Fr. Pascual Chavez’s Annual Strenne

(ANS – Rome – Dec. 22, 2023) – In 2002, the 25th General Chapter of the Salesian Congregation elected Mexican Fr. Pascual Chavez Villanueva as Rector Major. He was the first successor of Don Bosco of the digital age, but even if projected into modernity, the program of his term of office was still very much based on Salesian roots: it was well summarized by himself in the first message to the Salesians after his appointment, in which he invited them to “rediscover and imitate Don Bosco, who served the Church and man with the same love of Christ, dedicating every moment of his life to this.”

Fr. Chavez met the sons of Don Bosco as a child, attending a Salesian school and immediately experiencing the fascination of Don Bosco. After completing all his studies of initial formation and becoming a priest in 1973, he was sent to Rome, where he obtained his licentiate in Sacred Scripture at the Biblicum in 1977, and then returned home to teach in the theological studentate in Guadalajara.

He also held positions as director, was provincial of Guadalajara from 1989 to 1994, and regional councilor for the Interamerica Region, an assignment that was communicated to him, during the CG24, in 1996, in Spain, where he was finishing his studies in Sacred Scripture for his doctorate, through a phone call from Fr. Vecchi.

After a term as regional councilor, he had two as Rector Major, being reconfirmed by GC26 in 2008.

As with the general program of his term of office, for Fr. Chavez the strenne, too, “returned to Don Bosco.” “For Don Bosco, the strenna took on a specific significance: it was the gift of a suggestion which would serve as a stimulus for the formative process and spiritual growth of his youngsters  and which, in addition, became a guideline for the whole community,” he wrote in his first strenna in 2003. And this was the sense in which he interpreted and developed it.

At the same time, in his 12 strenne, Fr. Chavez was also able to give them a new impulse, a broader and more pastoral sense, and he enhanced their dimension as an instrument of animation for the entire Salesian Family. Precisely for this reason, the strenna is often in communion and continuity with the general chapters: as an application and concretization of them.

His first strenne have as their theme the educational emergency, youth holiness, commitment to the family, the promotion of life, preference for the poor, global solidarity, the new evangelization, ardent and active charity.

And they are often in tune with the times of the Church and the Congregation, such as the post-Jubilee, GC25, the 150th anniversary of Mama Margaret’s death, the 40th anniversary of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, the 50th anniversary of Dominic Savio’s canonization, the centennial of Fr. Rua’s death, and – as a way of preparation – the bicentennial of Don Bosco’s birth.

As a structure, also given its preparation, the formulation almost always has a biblical or ecclesial or Salesian reference; they are all simple and short, but very rich in content and in the practices to implement them. And the commentary that accompanies them often ends with a story, a fable, a wisdom anecdote, a poem, or a prayer.

In addition, since 2006, for a better interpretation and updating, the strenna has been accompanied by one or more DVDs that serve as a guide to explore the strenna theme: a real guide to reading and studying the commentary on the Rector Major’s strenna.

There is no shortage of strenne dedicated to young people: their education, the commitment to holiness; the family; evangelization. And many other themes along with other major ones.

In general, it is no exaggeration to say that it is with Fr. Chavez that the strenna has acquired an important value not only because it is for all the groups of the Salesian Family scattered throughout the world, but above all because it has become a real project, a program of educational, spiritual, and pastoral life for the entire Congregation with pastoral proposals, indications, and practical suggestions to implement it.

Below are the 12 strenne delivered by Fr. Chavez:

2003: The home and school of communion.

2004: Let us propose wholeheartedly to all young people joy in the call to holiness.

2005: Rejuvenate the face of the Church, the Mother of our faith.

2006: Ensuring that special attention be given to the family.

2007: For a true culture of human life.

2008: Let us educate with the heart of Don Bosco.

2009: Let us commit ourselves to making the Salesian Family a vast movement of people for the salvation of the young.

2010: In imitation of Fr. Rua, as authentic disciples and zealous apostles, let us bring the Gospel to the young.

2011: Come and see.

2012: Let us make the young our life’s mission by coming to know and imitate Don Bosco.

2013: “Rejoice in the Lord always: I say to you again, rejoice” (Phil 4: 4). Like Don Bosco the educator, let us offer the young the Gospel of joy through the pedagogy of kindness.

2014: “Da mihi animas, cetera tolle.” Let us draw upon the spiritual experience of Don Bosco, in order to walk in holiness according to our specific vocation. “The glory of God and the salvation of souls.”