Editorial

Messengers on a Journey

Maria Helena Moreira

Setting out on our journey as proclaimers is, of His love, throughout life, throughout first of all, a grace, a call, a call that shakes history. To proclaim Solidarity in closeness, us up, and makes our heart restless, as we have always seen Jesus do on His founded on the trust of the Author of this journey with his disciples. In our present call. It is the announcement of a home, of time when it is up to us to live and build, we welcoming the Word that dwells in us, as we want to walk with our Teacher in the travel the journey together with all those footsteps of solidarity. The pace of who God gives us throughout life. proximity helps us to learn, through the gifts and riches of others, to understand their By proclaiming Gratuity in a gratuitous way, deepest sorrows, and share their we recognize the beauty of consecration, in expectations, nourished by the hope of the the humble obedience of continuous Gospel. listening to the voice of God, which puts us in motion to break the chains of selfishness, The proximity of the daily encounters with encouraging us to give our lives for others, the Sisters in our community, with a experiencing unspeakable joy, not merely welcoming word or glance, one that allows thinking about ourselves. And how, like us to be formed and to accompany those Maria Mazzarello, redefining the "quarter of who God places at our side on life’s journey. an hour" in connection with Him, present in It is the proximity to young people and, with the people and the reality of our world.It is them, encouraged onward by the Word, proclaiming peace in harmony, as a daily which allows us to continue joyfully, towards exercise of inner integration, acceptance of the fullness of life for all. It is closeness to our humanity as a meeting place, where the reality of any kind of suffering, present in God works and acts with mercy. It is living this world, with the firm decision to compare gently, touching the ground of our existence our lives with the proposals of the Gospel and that of others, as one who touches a and, gradually, it helps us to see Jesus in mystery, and we can only kneel before the the faces of the poor, the excluded, the mystery. abandoned, the children, and the elderly. It Recognizing the God of Peace encourages means touching our vulnerability redeemed us to face injustice, violence, and the pain of by the mercy of God. humanity, bringing the Word as witnesses to forgiveness, gestures of inclusion, and Proclaiming, on the journey, asking always those of goodness. for the grace to become a dwelling place of God for others, and accepting the other Only the God of Peace can use the words of person as the authentic face of God the Magnificat to break out in the existence [email protected] of all humanity to synthesize the experience

Peace is the Way

Peace in the Ukraine

Ganna Zainchkovska fma, Brygida Żurawska fma

The Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe, and its name means "on the border", but it On January 19, 2014, thousands of is actually the center of Europe. It is a Ukrainians took to the Maidan plaza to border place, always fought over and protest against Yanukovych and to invoke conquered by powerful neighbors: Russia to Europe. The protest spread across the the east and Poland to the west. It is, country, also in the East, where there was a therefore, a vast frontier in the center of the Russian majority. On February 20, Maidan European continent. It is a large mostly flat became a battleground with 77 people st area that is young, with many different killed, and on the 21 , Yanukovych fled. nationalities, languages, and religions. The There was another change of regime, Ukraine has often been the center of bloodstained and endorsed by the West, conflicts and its people have always had to which was followed by the Russian reaction fight for its freedom. to the annexation of the Crimea and the conflict in Donbass. Reasons for the Conflict In particular, the battles took place in the In its short history since its inception in self-proclaimed republic of Donetsk, 1991, the Ukraine has been marked by little Lugansk, and Krasnodon. Meanwhile, firs and large earthquakes that have the interim President of Ukraine, Turcinov, undermined its stability. For more than two and then, the President-elect, Poroshenko, decades, a political-oligarchic ruling system launched an anti-terrorist operation, has devoured the resources of the nation, deploying the armed forces of Kiev against leaving much of the population below the the rebels and trying to regain control of the poverty line. The revolution of 2004, called areas "conquered" by the pro-Russian "the revolution of millionaires against forces. The situation precipitated when the billionaires" and the arrival of Yanukovych, Ukrainian government launched an the pro-Russian, decreed the final failure. At offensive to oust the rebels from the the end of November 2013, after the country. In mid-August, Russian military Ukrainians launched yet another invaded the eastern Ukraine. revolutionary phase, Yanukovych decided not to sign the association agreement with Because of the conflict many families have Europe, which marked the first step for entry fled their home and have not yet returned, of the Ukraine into the European Union. For despite the fragile truce. In some towns of the sake of Ukraine, on December 17, the East only the elderly and the sick Vladimir Putin offered 15 billion dollars and remained, without any assistance and basic gas at bargain prices that Ukrainian necessities President accepted to save the economy. The FMA in the Ukraine The Daughters of I will never be able to forget the faces of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) have two those armed men who roamed the city, communities in Ukraine, one in Lviv sowing terror, and looting. I had to interrupt (Western part of the country), and Odessa my studies at the University, and together (Southern part) where they operate through with my mother, father, and brother left a student hostel, teaching in the schools of Donetsk to go to Lviv. I was very worried, the Salesians, catechesis and parish but God guided me. At Lviv, it was very activities. The most unstable situation is in difficult to find a place to live, especially for Odessa because here the majority is pro- us immigrants. It is very expensive. So I Russian. On May 2, 2014, in Odessa, a city prayed and I trusted Him, and I found with 110 different nationalities, even though shelter and warmth with the Salesian very tolerant, there was a major battle Sisters (FMA). In this house we are a small between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian community of 11 girls we love one another forces that saw the death of more than 100 very much and we help each other. We people. The population lived in great fear, study together, we celebrate the holidays, but for now one can breathe an air of tidy up the environment, but the most apparent tranquility and peace, and a important thing is that every day, at every certain patriotism on the part of Ukrainians. moment of the day, we have the opportunity There have been many events to reach to be with Jesus in the Chapel. peace, and there were many gestures of For me, it was a great gift to find a home solidarity, unity, and faith on the part of the here, and I do not know if one day I will be Ukrainian people. able to return to my home in Donetsk. But I However, there is a continual struggle to feel peace in my heart, even if at times, save their land, to guarantee young people there are moments of despair and concern. a better future. The Church makes its voice I never cease thanking God for what He has heard and agrees with a peaceful revolution done for me. I believe everything will be of dialog, prayer, and fasting. Even under fine! " dramatic conditions among the various denominations - Orthodox, Catholic, “In order to build peace we need faith that Protestant - in Ukraine there is a lived will be transformed into action, hope, solidarity, a practical ecumenism because solidarity, and unity. In difficult times, it is the shared mission is to save lives. No one important to be close to those around us, to asks whether one is Catholic, Orthodox, or Muslim. They are united to serve. The FMA be witnesses of peace and of joy, to be continue their mission with courage and messengers of hope through the bravery and, especially in accepting proclamation the Word of God. " refugees of war. They commit themselves to charity projects, supporting the path to peace through prayer and their testimony of faith A young woman who recently arrived from Donetsk tells us: "My name is Marichka. I [email protected], was born in Donetsk and lived there for 20 [email protected] years until war entered even my hometown.

Women in the Context

Closeness

Palma Lionetti, Debbie Ponsaran

Pope Francis met the Salesian Family at Because all of us, like Mary, go through that Valdocco. His gestures, his words were very human sentiment that is the clearest an occasion for closeness, for freeing up sign of our limitations. spaces and times to speak, embrace, and greet the great number of persons It is precisely in the shrine dedicated to "Our gathered on the occasion of the Lady of fear", before her who became "Our Bicentenary year of the birth of Don Lady of confidence," that we each would be Bosco and the event of the oratories and able to find in herself the strength to go on, young people in Turin. rediscovering the verses of the psalm that Mary must have murmured endless times: Since Pope Francis has always spoken "Though I should walk through the dark from his heart, and precisely to us as valley, I will fear no evil, for you are always Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, he close to me ... through all the passing of told us to “form the girls and young women days”. Have courage, then, not resignation! so that they may become mothers, and if This is the secret that Mary, woman and there is a “strong role” that the woman must mother, entrusts to the heart of each of us hope to have in the Church, it is like that of to cast ourselves fearlessly into the mission, Mary on the day of Pentecost. to live as closely as companions.

In that house filled with the wind of the Holy In Rejoice! The Letter to Consecrated we Spirit, Mary, with the eleven, was the glue of read: "Go out to try and meet others! Have the primitive community, perhaps because the courage to go against this efficiency- she had already lived her personal culture, this culture of waste. The meeting Pentecost at the announcement of the and the welcome with all, in solidarity and Angel, when the power of the Most High fraternity, are elements that make our God descended on her! Since that time, as civilization truly human. Let us be servants a result of the "fear not" pronounced by the of communion and the culture of encounter! Angel Gabriel, Maria faced life with I would like you to be almost obsessive in incredible fortitude and became the symbol this way, but do so without presumption. " of a "motherly-courage" of all time. Clearly, it had something to do with her fear, as Pope Francis exhorts us to “leave the nest”, Tonino Bello writes: "Fear of not being to live the life of the men and women of our understood ... Fear of not succeeding. Fear time, and to entrust ourselves to God and to for the health of Joseph. Fear for the fate of the young people. This becomes possible, Jesus. Fear of being alone ... How many becomes a natural requirement of our fears. "Even if it did not exist, it would be mission when it is no longer “the ghost of necessary to raise a sanctuary to “Our Lady the image of a religious life, understood as a of fear”. We all seek refuge in its aisles. refuge and consolation, before an external because of this we find it difficult to survive. We transform them into occasions for taking on tasks, despite our inability to perform them. Or we create overly ambitious evaluation parameters; we are categorical perfectionists. The result is a sadness that takes away our energy to live proximity. world that is difficult and complex in our In Rejoice! the Letter to Consecrated consecrated life. persons we also read that our path " matures toward maternal and paternal Closeness and Encounter ministry, and when a priest is not the father of his community, when a Sister is not the These two pastoral categories will also mother of all those with whom she works, become the two ways through which we they become sad. This is the problem. For express our femininity.As women, before as this reason, I say to you: the root of sadness religious, we must not feel that we are in pastoral life lies in the lack of “less”, less brave, less daring, less capable motherliness and fatherliness that comes because we imprison ourselves in the fear from living this consecration badly, which of not being able to make it financially, of instead should lead to fruitfulness”. not measuring up, of not succeeding, of not knowing how to manage our own life, of Being mothers means nuturing, healing, finding ourselves faced with thoughts that helping to grow, giving. Of course, in this we feel are too great, of not having the dynamism there is a high risk of taking over capacity, of not knowing how to find a the other person. solution. Evangelii Gaudium n. 272 shows that "when In short, those infinite experiences that we live a mystical approach to others with make us feel inadequate and inopportune. the intention of seeking their good, we Sometimes we need them, but very often broaden our inner self to receive the most they are burdensome. Sometimes they beautiful gifts of the Lord." become the only way to approach things and of thinking of ourselves in the same This spiritual enjoyment of remaining with mission. We cannot always walk the path of the people, to the point of discovering that the closeness of the encounter because we this becomes a source of joy is, perhaps, are blocked by anxiety, preoccupation, and among the most beautiful gifts that our doubts. At times this fear leads us away hearts of women and mothers could desire! from others rather than bringing us closer to them because we need to have everything under control, to handle things ourselves; we do not want to delegate. [email protected], We create challenging situations that are [email protected] awkward, improbable to handle, and

Ecological Education

Biodiversity

Julia Arciniegas

The term biodiversity was coined in 1988 by At the tenth UN Conference on Biodiversity, the American entomologist Edward O. carried out in 2011 in Nagoya (Japan), the Wilson. Biodiversity includes millions of Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 plants, animals and microorganisms, the was agreed upon. In it are established genes they contain, and the complex mechanisms for the use of genetic ecosystems that they form in the biosphere. resources of plants, animals, and microbes It not only refers to the shape and structure for food, medicine, industrial products, of living beings, but also includes diversity cosmetics, and other products. On 14 July as abundance, distribution, and interaction 2014, the Secretariat of the CBD (Rio between the different physical and inorganic Convention on Biodiversity) declared that components of the system, which influence the Nagoya Protocol had been ratified by each other (Institute for research and more than 50 countries and therefore it protection environmental - ISPRA). entered in full force and effect. This plan was called: "Living in harmony with nature" and represented a historic achievement The UN Convention (1992) on Biological because it was a possible connection Diversity noted that it includes diversity at between policies for the conservation of biodiversity and those for the fight against the genetic, species and the ecosystem. Genetic diversity defines the difference of poverty. genes within a given species and Loss of biodiversity corresponds to the totality of the genetic heritage to which all organisms that inhabit In the first chapter of his encyclical Praised the Earth contribute. The diversity of Be Pope Francis brings out "what is species includes the richness of species, happening to our house." He does this by measured in terms of the number of the looking at some of the issues that today same species in a certain area, or the raise concerns, which we can no longer frequency of species, that is, their rarity or sweep under the rug. All connected among abundance in a region or in a habitat. The them is the loss of biodiversity. After this diversity of ecosystem defines the number analysis, the Pope laments the weakness of and abundance of habitats, living the responses to these situations that cause communities and ecosystems within which the sighs of 'sister earth', joined to the cries the different organisms live and evolve. of those abandoned by the World, with a lament that demands a different route from us.

Living in harmony with nature Pope Francis devotes ten paragraphs to the loss of biodiversity (32 to 42) He says, among other things, that "the Priority of the Educational Journeys destruction of forests and woodlands implies, at the same time, the loss of One of the four major topics covered by the thousands of species of plants and animals Charter of EXPO Milano 2015 is that of that have a value in themselves, and that several types of existing agriculture to could provide future resources which are highlight which of them will be able to extremely important for the power supply, produce sufficient quantities of healthy food the treatment of diseases, and other without damaging water resources and services. It is, therefore, necessary to biodiversity. For this reason, it becomes always carefully study the impact of each important to think of the educational ways to project on biodiversity in order to avoid the protect and preserve our “common home”. risk of extinction of some species or groups The need to educate ourselves to a sober of animals or plants, and the fatal and sustainable lifestyle comes primarily consequences that this brings to the global from awareness of the importance of ecosystem". He notes that "the pollution of biodiversity that enables us to teach with the oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, also words, gestures, and behavior to respect threatens to transform the wonderful marine every creature. Even the smallest of these world into underwater cemeteries stripped actions will open to the wonder and of life and color." amazement, to the praise and attention that will arise spontaneously. A unique beauty PanAmazon Ecclesial Network (Repam): The Holy Father calls all to the responsibility "The Amazon, the source of life in the heart of concrete actions because all creatures of the Church." are connected and we need one other. Therefore, each person must recognize that In 2014 under this title, there arose an value must be with affection and admiration. initiative characterized by the transnational, "There are laudable”, says Pope Francis, an ecclesial commitment to the protection of “and sometimes admirable efforts of life. It is destined to preserve the precious scientists and technicians who try to resolve heritage of one of the great lungs of the the problems created by humans. However, Planet: the Amazon. CELAM, the looking at the world we see that this level of Conference of Brazilian Bishops, and civil human intervention, often in the service of society, with the support of the Pontifical finance and consumerism, actually causes Council "Justice and Peace", have the earth we live in to become less rich and embarked on this project for responsible beautiful [...]. In this way, it seems that we and sustainable housing in this area rich in delude ourselves that we are able to replace biodiversity. a unique, unrecoverable beauty with (http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/i another created by us "(Francis, Praised t/bollettino/pubblico/2015/03/02/0153/00338 Be, n. 34). .html).

[email protected]

Arianna’s Line

Recognizing the Other Person

Giuseppina Teruggi

“Creating all the happiness that you are able value of a person. There is a functional way to create, deleting all the misery that you that highlights her value as if to show her: are able to eliminate. Every day this will give "You are of value because... you're efficient you the opportunity, will invite you to add in performing a particular task." And there is something to the pleasure of others, or to a disinterested way that highlights the diminish some of their suffering. And for intrinsic value of the person, as when I can every seed of joy that will be sown in the say, "You count, not because you serve to heart of another, you will harvest a crop in do something, not because of what you can your heart, and every sorrow that you do. You are valid because you are a person, remove from the thoughts and feelings of and as such you represent an absolute another creature will be replaced by value. " wonderful peace and joy in the sanctuary of your soul” (Jeremy Bentham). A person is valid in and for herself, and not for the function that she can fulfill. Each Each person is unique person is an end that has an absolute value, not for what she can offer. And she is Despite critical reservations in comparing unrepeatable, unique, and cannot be the thoughts of Bentham - one of the replaced. In a meeting at the parish of St. greatest exponents of philosophical John Bosco in Bologna, Card. Carlo utilitarianism - the expression has an Caffara, the archbishop of that city, evangelical flavor. It follows, in fact, the supported this belief by referring to certain message and the testimony of the life of situations. When, for example, a driver who Jesus who "went about doing good to all", is assigned to be on duty in the city buses, and inaugurated the commandment of total does not show up at work for any reason, gratuity. The basic human vocation is linked the person in charge replaces him with to the ability to become servants of the joy another, because the service must be of others, convinced of the unique value of provided. The role of this person is such as the human person. Of each person. to allow for a replacement. This is possible Regardless of age, ability, or performance. because in a company, the person is We are attracted by the uniqueness of the regarded as one who performs work. It does human person, and her undisputed identity not matter whether the service is performed by Tom rather than John. What is important which constitute a "value". is the result. Another example. A boy and a It feels good, when we sense that the girl love one another. They decide to go people around us help us to understand together on vacation. (and sometimes they tell us): "you're worth At the time of departure, the girl does not it." If we dig deeply, we sense, however, that there are different ways to affirm the show up. The boy waits and, seeing that she does not come, what does he do? trust; we are critical of those who do not Does he replace her with another? A appreciate, even when they offer significant substitution is not possible. In a love and wise contributions. There are little relationship the person is considered, she is situations of everyday life, which may, loved by and for herself, in her unrepeatable however, disrupt the serenity of community uniqueness, not in view of something else. relations and create discomfort. The statements: "in herself – for herself", are opposed to the concept of substitution. They correspond to two opposed ways of During General Chapter XXIII, after long considering a person who is not “countable”, reflection on relationship dynamics and their not part of a series. Each is unique and, consequences in community life, the therefore non-repeatable. Her value does members proposed a "change in not increase or decrease "in relation to ..." perspective". This means " cultivating a means any person that is valid in herself positive attitude toward one another, moving and for herself. Are there, perhaps, realities beyond outward appearances, and looking of which we can say the same thing? If we at every person with the eyes of the reflect well, we do not find a positive answer unconditional love of Christ." This implies to this question. There is no reality in which "moving from skepticism toward what is not there can be anything completely functioning well, and looking positively repeatable.. It can, if necessary, be so in towards what works well. Whoever has a partial performances. positive attitude considers herself, the A realistically positive glance We tend to community, and other realities as an believe the truth of these statements. The expression of beauty and spiritual wealth challenge comes from a level of experience, "(Acts XXIII CG 34). especially actual living together, when in The same Chapter urged listening to the daily relationships onr does not take laity and young people to receive their everything into account when we establish a invitations to be a home where one lives series of hierarchies where we put people "loving without measure and without on different levels, not only because of their limitations of time". The laity suggests that difference or role, but by a value judgment we are "not afraid" of young people because that is real or perceived. Sometimes we they have confidence in us, they like to be place people (even the Sisters of our with us and feel at home in our community) in standard classifications, communities. However, they want us to which border on a bias, and we draw the know how to welcome and value them, and consequences. If we notice something we know how to be with them, loving what unexpectedly successful in a Sister, we they love, adapting ourselves to them in a become distrustful and suspicious, and we positive way (Acts XXIII CG 12-18). struggle to believe it. Or the same initiative proposed by Sister A, of whom we do not have a positive concept, is not met with the same consideration as that of the Bister B, whom we esteem in an undisputed manner. A surprising list We give full credibility to the person we A young teacher suggested to her students had been unfolded and refolded very often. that they write a list with the names of each Without even looking, the teacher companion, leaving space at the side of the immediately guessed what it was: it was names. She asked them to write down in one of those famous lists compiled by listing the space something kind about each the kindness expressed by Mark’s person on the list. This took a good hour companions about him. until everyone had finished and handed in their papers. At the end of the week the "We would like to thank you for what you teacher, in turn, wrote the name of each did”, his mother said. “ As you can see, student on a sheet and all the kind remarks Mark greatly appreciated this gesture." All of his companions. On Monday, she gave her past pupils surrounded their teacher, each one his/her list. each with their own interesting comment. Charlie smiled and said, "I still have the list. After a short time everyone smiled in It is in the top drawer of my desk.” Chuck's disbelief. "Really?", She heard them wife said, "Chuck begged me to paste it in whispering. "I did not know I was important our wedding album." "I keep mine in my for someone." "I did not expect to be so diary," said Marilyn." Vicky, another former well-liked," were the comments that were student, took her pocket agenda and heard. No one mentioned this list any showed her list to her companions who longer. The teacher did not know whether were present. "I always have it with me," they had spoken among themselves and she said and added, "We have all kept with their parents. The exercise had them." achieved its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and others The teacher was so moved that she had to sit down and she broke out into tears. She A few years later, one of those boys was was crying for Mark and his friends who killed during the Vietnam War and the would not see him again in this world. She teacher wanted to attend the funeral. The cried at the thought of how a small gesture church was packed. There were many of love and recognition proposed to her friends present: one after another they pupils could turn into a fragrance of joy and approached the body for the last goodbye. confidence that had accompanied or was Even the teacher who was very moved accompanying their lives. It was the came. One of the soldiers present asked, mysterious fragrance that came from "Is she Mark’s math teacher?". At the recognition, showing people our esteem, affirmative answer, he continued: "Mark our love, and how important and special often spoke of her ...." they are to us.

After the funeral, Mark’s friends gathered. Also present were the young man’s parents who waited impatiently to speak with the [email protected] teacher. "We want to show you something," his father said and took his wallet from his pocket. "They found this when Mark fell at the front ; we think you know what it is." He pulled a wrinkled paper from the wallet that

Dossier

Missionary Identity Faith is a gift, but the measure of our faith is Gabriella Imperatore obtained from what we are able to communicate. Faith is "a gift that you The "Missionary Identity” is not just a cannot keep for yourself, but it is to be matter of geographic territories, but of shared." This is the teaching of the Second peoples, cultures, and individuals Vatican Council and "we are all sent on the because the 'boundaries' of the faith are pathways of the world to walk with our not only through places and human brothers and sisters, professing and traditions, but the heart of each man and witnessing to our faith in Christ and making each woman" . us proclaimers of his Gospel." Pope Francis Let us not allow our missionary enthusiasm says that the missionary "is not only a to be stolen from us! The insistence with programmatic dimension of the Christian which Francis calls for Church to be life, but also a paradigmatic dimension that "outgoing" was interwoven with the path affects all aspects of Christian life."He planned by the Institute of the Daughters of warns of a submissive, a less than Mary Help of Christians at General Chapter enthusiastic attitude in spreading the XXIII, on the path to pastoral conversion Gospel, and cites and a renewed missionary practice. The Evangelii nuntiandi of Paul VI: "We must words the Holy Father addressed to the always have the courage and joy to whole Church resounds for us as propose, with respect, the encounter with consecrated women, for every educator, as Christ; let us become bearers of his Gospel an urgent appeal to renewing the passion ". Often there is violence, and falsehood in and commitment to the educational mission pointing out mistakes and proposals. It is of evangelization, in any situation, in any urgent to make the light of the good life of work, also unexpected, in which the the Gospel shine forth in our time by Salesian charism is expressed. proclamation and witness.

I hope that all communities will take care to Today, in a world where communication and implement the necessary means to advance human mobility make it difficult for a pastor along the path of the pastoral and to get to know his parishioners, where in missionary conversion which cannot leave previously traditional Christian regions there things as they are [...]. Let us Constitute in is "a growing number of those who are all regions of the earth a "permanent state strangers to the faith, indifferent to a of mission” (Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, religious dimension or animated by other 25-27). beliefs", where the the international Paradigm of Christian Life community is slow to halt the work of faithless death assassins without borders, we need a renewed missionary spirit. The crisis that the world is experiencing is them. Migration is not a temporary one of meaning and values, and for this phenomenon, but a challenge that involves reason it is "urgent to courageously bring our whole mission, and opens new areas of the Gospel of Christ, which is a message of attention toward the poor. It does not regard hope, of reconciliation, of communion, of only the institutional realities, both political closeness to God , of his mercy, of his and ecclesial, but every single person who salvation. It is a proclamation that the power is called to respond. It needs everyone's of God's love is able to overcome the contribution. Our bond in Christ must find its darkness of evil and to guide on the path of expression in the fact that we work together good. " The missionary spirit of the Church, wherever people need our help. therefore, does not lie in proselytizing, but in the testimony of life that illuminates the Welcoming is not an act of kindness,it is a path that brings hope and love. The political project, a re-examination of our preferential option for the poor, the common life in the light of the world where marginalized, and those who are excluded, migrants are the real actors, the avant- is the most direct and concrete of how faith garde. Rejecting the welcome is, instead, a in Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, takes fault, but above all, it means not accepting shape in the lives of Christians. Today it is the challenge to rethink one’s own the migrants who attract our attention. For communities and works. We must feel the many of them our land is a way station; for duty of being “sentinels of hospitality”, so some it is a strong desire to seek political that everyone - especially if poor, asylum, and others stay, hoping for a better persecuted, offended - feels at home no life. It is Christ himself that challenges us to matter where he/she comes from, and we see in each of these persons a stranger, have the responsibility to see to it that who is homeless, and asks us to welcome before they leave they will have been given the gifts of a culture, religiosity, a story. The Finally, there is "gratuity". "The way of future cannot be built without encounters, service is gratuity, because we have freely without the migrants. received salvation, none of us have bought it, none of us has deserved it, and it is sad Way, service, gratuity when we see Christians who forget the In the changing era in which we are living, words of Jesus: “You have freely received, our commitment is not only to improve freely give”. It is sad when one finds something, rather it requires a real Christian communities that have forgotten missionary conversion, to become a Church gratuity because behind it is the deception that "generates, helps to grow, corrects, (to assume) that salvation comes from nourishes, leads by the hand (Acts GC 23, riches, from human power. " 50). On our journey to God and to others, in Today faced with the wounds of history, to service and in poverty. Commenting on the be disciples-missionaries means making passage of Matthew (10: 7-13) in which one’s own the words of Mary Magdalene: "Jesus sends his disciples to proclaim the "We do not know where they have laid him," Gospel, the good news, the gospel of referring to the Risen Jesus. A humble salvation," Pope Francis emphasized that mendicant seeking together with others is one can extrapolate "three key words to the most beautiful proclamation that can be understand well what Jesus wants from his given. Antonietta Potente, 56, is a disciples-missionaries " and "from all of us Dominican Sister from Liguria, who is a who follow Him. " The three words are: biblical scholar and missionary. Small and 'pathway, service, and gratuity”. Jesus first frail, she is also determined and daring sent to a "journey". A journey which, of when she speaks of the poor. For almost course, is not a simple 'walk'. That of Jesus twenty years she has experienced an "is a sending forth with a message: to "outgoing Church ", living in Bolivia, first in proclaim the Gospel, to go out to bring Santa Cruz de la Sierra, then in salvation." This is the task that Jesus gave Cochabamba, she lived a form of to his disciples. Therefore, who "remains community life with a few Aymara firm and does not go out, does not give to campesinos. With them, she has others what he has received in Baptism, is participated actively in the process of socio- not a true disciple of Jesus." In fact, "he political change that has seen the her as a lacks a missionary spirit," he lacks going leader of popular movements. She “out of himself to bring something good to possesses a courageous and contro-current others." Then there is "service". We must choice that well expresses her missionary "walk by serving others." We read in the style, made up of a relentless seeking for Gospel: "Along the way, preach, saying, God and sharing with the least. A “The kingdom of heaven is at hand”. Heal Copernican revolution of the mission, which the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, the missionary-theologian proposes, is well cast out demons. "Here we find the duty of summed up in the chorus-imperative of the disciple in serving. "If a disciple is not on "walking together". Having been engaged in a journey to serve, he/she is not on a various teaching posts in Italy for years, journey. If their lives are not for service, they she teaches theology at the Catholic do not live as a Christian. " University of Cochabamba. From 2000 to 2004 she was a member of the Theological passion for the deep seeking that Commission of the Latin American constitutes the essence of consecrated life. Conference of Religious (CLAR). When One comes out of contact with God and asked why she became a missionary she another person profoundly renewed.” said: "A believer must continue unceasingly to seek,and my desire was to seek outside Journeying toward the peripheries of my culture, from what I already knew, An “outgoing” Church is the community of from my context: all this led me to go to missionary-disciples who take the initiative, Bolivia." which will involve and accompany, one that From that land and that intense experience I leads to fruition and celebration. [...] learned to read Mystery and theology in Therefore the evangelizing community is another way. There remained with me the ready " to accompany". It finds ways to dignity of a people that has changed its ensure that the Word becomes incarnate in situation without any kind of guerrilla a concrete situation, and bears the fruit of warfare, and today with all the struggle and new life, even though it may be apparently the mistakes of any process of change, has imperfect or incomplete (Evangelii opened a way for other people. This also Gaudium, 24). can be read as a process of evangelization: It is a church on the way toward the the poor are not only those who are waiting peripheries, listening to the Gospel and to for us, but those who know life so well and the poor. It is a Church modeled on the push it forward. It is up to us to help these prophet Jonah, called to Nineveh, and processes of change.” setting out on the road to proclaim, first of Sr. Antonietta said: “The mission changes all, the amazing mercy of God. It is a the life of a Sister because it expresses a Church capable of not only listening to the cry of the poor, an urgent imperative, but presence, and an ability to communicate also of the many expressions of one faith, more eloquently than many sophisticated which in every culture and continent takes strategies. We need a strong commitment to on a specific form. People need words and continue to be missionaries in the gestures, which, beginning from ourselves, demographic, social and cultural directs our glance and desires to God. Faith transformation which the planet is generates a testimony announced no less undergoing: the struggle to create and than a living witness. With his personal educate; massive immigration that produces touch, Pope Francis shows the strength and important metamorphosis in the social agility of this shape and style of this witness. fabric; a change in lifestyle that takes us How many images and metaphors from the away from sharing with the poor and Gospel he succeeds in communicating, weakens social ties. "If you have not satisfying the search for meaning, igniting touched them, you have not met them," said reflection and self-criticism that opens to Pope Francis of the poor . Without the conversion, animating a denunciation that preferential option for the poor, "the does not produce violence, but provides proclamation of the Gospel, which is itself insight into the truth of things. In the current the primary form of charity, risks being fast-changing world, and in some cases as misunderstood or submerged by the ocean a result of scandals, we run the risk of of words to which today's communication losing this widespread presence, this society exposes us on a daily basis” healthy proximity, of being able to enter into (Evangelii Gaudium, 199). the world as a sign of a love that saves. It is also a closeness that has a strong symbolic “The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the Indian Province of Mater Ecclesiae of Guwahati (ING), are committed to the and reduced to slavery? The missionary mission toward the poorest, reaching the spirit is also the response to the cry of pain population in refugee camps in Assam after and sorrow, to that new call that opens to a a violent massacre broke out between renewed missionary dynamism. In its ethnic Bodos, Adivasis, and Sathali, which outgoing it is further strengthened in faith resulted in the death of many people, and hope as we go with courage and joy to especially children and women in areas of the existential peripheries, those in need of Sonitpur, Kokrajhar, Chirang and the light of the Gospel. Providing a welcome Bongaigaon. Thousands were homeless, is not simply organizing a service, offering a many had been forced to flee their villages. bed, a place to put one’s things, giving food, Many houses were destroyed and rice fields and staying warm. It is not just “doing” for were burned. Children, women, and the those in need, but it is especially and elderly were most affected by this cruel and primarily making room for these young inhumane action. Relief camps were set up women who have been violated in their in different places, but people continued to dignity, so that they may find the warmth of suffer due to a lack of the most essential a home, live in our lives, our feelings, and things: medicines, food, clothing and will be able to find space in our heart of houses. "The FMA joyfully welcomed the consecrated women. At Caserta in southern invitation of the General Chapter XXIII to Italy, this gave rise to Ruth House. Ruth reach out to the new “peripheries”, and becomes a presence, a "friend". This is the together are committed to realizing the meaning of the name, to say with all the mission as Don Bosco and Mother ardor and tenderness of one’s womanly Mazzarello would have done. They are heart, "Where you go I will go also; engaged in the formation and education of wherever you lodge I will lodge; Your people girls who are in refugee camps and prepare will be my people and your God my God them to take exams. There are 156 girls "(Ruth 1:16).One word, that of Ruth, which from 12 different camps of Kokrajhar and became the choice, commitment and loyalty Darrang to whom they are giving special of life, hope and salvation history, that formation in the homes of the Auxilium in becomes the passion of daily love, so that Bongaigaon, to Dotma and Majbat. In all the everyone can find in Him the dignity and centers, two FMA endeavor to accompany freedom of the children of God. them in the process of education and formation to the true values of life. The It is a courageous gesture that has led the young people were also given learning Institute of the Ursuline Sisters to take care materials and stationery, as well as clothes, of women in difficulty, especially blankets, and all necessities. Faithful to the immigrants, who live in a state of invisibility, mission and charism of the Institute, the of social and human precariousness. It was FMA of Guwahati live the mission among a gesture that led them to leave the safe the poorest of society with daring and confines represented and protected by courage. "What is the life of a person community life with its traditions and worth? Of what value are the lives of those religious customs, to set out on a heretofore who live along the sidewalks of untraveled road. The road, the symbolic marginalization, young migrants who are place of the existential periphery, always deceived, sold, purchased as merchandise gives hospitality to those who are considered to be losers, and are therefore How are we to look to the future, taking into rejected by history. It is a place, account the challenges that the ongoing continuoually inhabited by Jesus, so much changes pose to our communities in so as to be traveled to meet and be touched mission?"Starting afresh from the least, by those who are his favorites: the poor, the those most in need." How to keep faith, oppressed, the enslaved, thus restoring today, to this promise?How are we to live in their dignity and salvation. Ruth House thus the peripheries so that new life may flourish, became a living space inhabited by faces, in a culture of generated persons? by so many stories where the dimensions of listening and meeting weave and color the “Wake up the World!”. This is the appeal of day's essential gestures used to make a Pope Francis to religious. To awaken living, paths that bear the fragrance of ourselves and others is the only evangelical dignity: Human-psychological health, cry at this time; this is what it means be learning and improvement of the Italian prophets today . This is what it means to be language, socialization and formation in missionaries today. order to make women more aware of their liberated dignity, a protagonist of her own pathway to freedom and autonomy. These [email protected] are the miracles that are realized when the doors of the heart, mind, and practical initiatives become open to the embrace of welcome.

Gift and Education

Experiencing Gratuity

Edited by Mara Borsi

The consolidation of gratuitousness emergence of personnel is improving cannot be entrusted only to educational meeting for the pleasure of meeting and interventions with regard to reflection celebrating together. Here one should not and contemplation. We need to invest see merely avoiding commitment. It is, energy in action under two titles: to gain rather, a time when it is affirmed that the experience of gratuity in practice and to meaning of life is to be with others more begin a new positive lifestyle. than working or in group efficiency. Certainly, together with education, it is A first experience is the immediate contact necessary to manage and handle spaces of with the useless, the rejected, the responsibility. marginalized, the poor, the elderly. Not to silence, every now and then, one’s own The strategy of volunteering conscience on their lifestyle, perhaps one of self-centered consumerism, but to learn We know that the young volunteers are from them a reason for living. This means generous and open. We can courageously going to school. At the same time, it is propose a pedagogy of peace to them, inspiring to meet with the "witnesses" of a which "requires a rich inner life, clear and life spent in giving to others, for a cause. valid moral references, appropriate attitudes and lifestyles. We must teach people to love The attitude of gratuity should be and to educate themselves to peace, and to consolidated in particular through volunteer live with kindness rather than with mere experiences. Against a welfare society that tolerance. Encouragement to say no to is too centralized it is necessary to re- revenge, to recognize their wrongs, to evaluate the role of volunteering in society accept an apology and finally to forgive is to invite it to justice, starting from the idea of important, so that mistakes and offenses gratuitousness. may be recognized in truth to advance together towards reconciliation” (Benedict Volunteering closely recalls the choice of XVI, 2013). non-violence as a way of life. Even here it is necessary not only to invite a theoretical We educators and teachers can reflection but to participate in small, local courageously and without discouragement initiatives, and to commit self to a practice of propose to them, from childhood to youth non-violence in the workplace, in the family and adulthood, 'something extra', lofty and in group life. goals, vast and exciting aims for good! Let us encourage the witness to the faith and in One educates to gratuity by favoring sharing it, let us accompany the young experiences of an encounter between people. Only in this way, together, will we generations, and among young people and be more aware of the reason for our faith groups in different living environments. The and our hope. "Education to gratuitousness has resulted in a generation of generous young men and women, who join voluntary Earlier programs were focused only on associations, especially those found in the children's rights. Now VIDES also takes into Institute. In this way, volunteering becomes account external factors that affect the a place where we train together - young and child's life - the environment, the family, the old - to grow in patience, meekness, joy in parents. Therefore, the Association also giving to others, willingness to do the will of teaches parents how to increase revenue, God "(PG Scope, Educating to Gratuity, no. and how to accompany their children. 7/2013). Over the years, I realized that this was the [email protected] right place for me, one where I could get involved, use my talents, and where I could strengthen my skills.

My family was poor and had to face great difficulties. Because of this I would have to stop studying. VIDES, however, helped me VIDES International: Young People with a scholarship and showed me that Speak money was not a problem if one is truly committed. It had confidence in me and Ciao! I am Marian Z. Belarmino. I am helped me to grow through various eighteen, a girl of Mobile Library (BMDK), experiences where I also was able to and a VIDES animator. I frequent the third experience my potential and meet children year of the course for Business from different parts of the country. We Administration in Manila. My family consists shared our experiences and learned from of mom and dad, and three brothers and we each other. live in slums in the city of Quezon. I was twelve or thirteen when I met Vides I could realize unexpected dreams, and Philippines when the activity of the mobile became a more aware person recognizing library began in our community. I started to that life is more beautiful if it has the flavor of gift. attend out of curiosity, but I stayed because I was drawn to the activities and games. I participated in various projects and saw My journey was not easy. There were times how much work the volunteers did. There is good coordination. They became part of a of ups and downs, but I stayed. The large, beautiful organization, from which I association has seen me grow up, and I saw how VIDES grew. learned three essential words: One for others. I will always be a gift for others.

The Word not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the way, when he explained the scriptures to us?” They then Emmaus: Community and Proclamation left without delay and they returned to Eleana Salas Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those who were Setting with them, to whom they said: "The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." A large bible, a crucifix and the Paschal Then they told what had happened on the candle. A knapsack and sandals. way and how they had recognized him at the breaking of bread Invocation to the Holy Spirit: Reading: the text in itself Come Creator Spirit, come, come. (2v) (or another hymn to the Holy Spirit known by At the end of the journey of faith, Luke all) proposed a fundamental commitment: to listen to the Word, We are now at the height of the journey of and to share it in the community, as the Emmaus and Resurrection: the return to the disciples lived the experience of listening community and the joyful proclamation of to the Word, and the conclusions they Easter.All that had hindered the recognition reached. Compare and comment on other of the Father's plan is fulfilled in Jesus. The biblical passages in which the disciples ardent heart and forward-looking eyes, the recognized the Risen Lord (John 20: 16; certainty that the project of love was 21.7). realized in Jesus, makes their hearts burn They rose and returned to Jerusalem.” Unlike the passage of the Transfiguration, with joy for the humanity of the Master ... there was no temptation to stay, because they cannot hold it for themselves! No one the invitation of the Lord was to go to can stop them. proclaim that which they had seen and heard (John 20, 17-18). The text is clearly proclaimed by a reader. They met the Eleven with their companions. Each participant personally re-reads the The journey to Emmaus was a way of text. Later one can repeat the most fleeing for fear of being considered significant sentences. accomplices of the condemned; they had abandoned the community and the Luke 24, 31-35 disciples. The first fruit of a return is Then their eyes were opened and they fraternal communion. What did those who recognized him. But he vanished from their returned and those who remained have in sight. And they said one to another, "were common? (John 33-35). They tried to share sentiments, words, and gestures...Then Jesus would be present in their midst (vv 36 ff).

Meditation: the text for us today and "to see" a faith capable of discovering the signs of God among the young people In the light of the Scriptures what themes of the community in today’s world. most appeal to us, from which we get a sense of the events of our history?Let us Contemplation – Commitment evaluate the way we share the Word. To what extent do we share the depth of our It is not enough to study and pray the Word search for God and the experience of our of God; it needs to bear fruit in our lives. faith?Is our community the place of How are we to continue to cultivate the missionary identity, of passion for the mystique of our gaze to discover and young, of the joy of the proclamation? How contemplate the Risen Jesus? do we nourish it? How are we to make our communities Prayer We need to "open our eyes", to see places of proclamation and outgoing and contemplate the action of our merciful missionary identity missionary?Let us share Father and the Spirit. Let us continually ask some thoughts of our prayer. for the gift of faith. Let us fall in love with Final Prayer Jesus, our Lord and Spouse. For you, my God, I will sing, The reason for a heart that burns with the Da Mihi Animas is having had the mystical In the joy of being your witness, Lord. experience of the Risen One. We need to constantly ask for the ability to contemplate (Espinoza) Charism and Leadership through the daring of apostolic action, reciprocal charity, the spirit of family, Make Yourselves Loved maternal relationships between the superior Piera Cavaglià and Sisters, and the missionary spirit.

Fr. Philip Rinaldi, third successor to Don He used to say: "Work for the formation of Bosco, indicated formation as the way to the Sisters and you will have many add color to the sketch initiated by the vocations, good and valued in every Founder. respect. All our Sisters are to be educators, but how do we educate if we are ignorant?” FMA Formation Formation of women and families In order to implement the new social In motivating the need for formation in view mission that Don Bosco and the Church entrusted to the Institute for the formation of of the mission Fr. Rinaldi guided the young people, it was necessary to consider attention of the superiors and communities as a priority the formation of the FMA as on what Don Bosco taught. In education it is teachers and missionaries.The innovative necessary to care for the little ones, but at aspects that presented themselves for the the same time to be open to the young education of the girls required a more women so that they may be good mothers. systematic and in depth formation of the There has been preserved a very interesting religious. Fr. Rinaldi promoted suitable conference on this issue which spurred the environments in which there were specific Institute during those years to evaluate and formation courses at various levels. perhaps indicate a new perspective at the Accustomed to working, he never tired of apostolic level: "Caring for children is an guiding the FMA to rediscover the angelic work! It is never quite sufficiently requirements of their mission, and to understood and never quite done to prepare themselves for it with the perfection ... .But what good is it to work professional competence and spiritual with children if we later lose the young perspective of the Salesian spirit. From the people, the mothers? It does not help to broad reality of formation Fr. Rinaldi, in say: there is a seed that might germinate ... addition to the care of the assimilation of it might not even sprout. We have youth at Christian principles and those of their the most important time; we are antiques: Salesian spirituality, focused on preserving we continue to live as we did fifty years ago. the spirit of Don Bosco in the communities, Let us be caring, let us accompany the rather, of reviving it. What he reaffirmed young women even when they grow up, often was that vigilance was to be otherwise we will no longer see Christian maintained and the family spirit was to be mothers. If we do not care for it, the plant empowered in such a way that one heart will dry up and be overtaken by weeds. Let and one soul was to be maintained and that us think that the family is no longer what it there be mutual love and active once was: the Christian mother is lost, has cooperation. In Salesian Spirituality Fr. become half a person and neglects her Rinaldi accentuated certain characteristic family. I do not deny that I find in FMA great traits: profound union with God expressed zeal to follow the older young people, but because you think you became Sisters and nationalism. It allows us to feel responsible believe to have done all the good. But do for a long-range vision of the well-being of a you believe that there will be fewer global Institute, its spread throughout the vocations if there will be good mothers? It is world, to the point of economic sharing. the Lord who gives vocations. Let us not abandon those who are not called to He was convinced of the importance of the become Sisters. " formation of indigenous personnel not only in the various provinces and communities, but The missionary and intercultural horizon also through a time at the center of the Institute. On the one hand, Fr. Rinaldi In order to spread the spirit of Don Bosco in encouraged the formation of indigenous the world, Fr. Rinaldi, with prophetic vision, personnel and, on the other, he invited the points to the missionary strategy, not only to Institute to empower the missionary spirit to send the missionaries from Italy, but to care respond to the urgent educational needs in for native personnel at the Center of the the various contexts. Institute, forming personnel capable of inculturating spirituality according to the In his extensive and varied work of spiritual needs of the places. “The spirituality of the guidance and formation of the woman and of Institute”, he taught, “is missionary the FMA, Fr. Rinaldi on the one hand spirituality, and not only one of the emphasizes formation to the inner life, to the missionaries!” spiritual strength of the person in a Christian perspective, and on the other formation to At the first Congress of the Novice apostolic daring, the spirit of initiative, of Directresses, in 1925 Fr. Philip Rinaldi courage, and of social solidarity. spoke of the openness of the Institute beginning from the mutual solidarity among There remains only one regret: the the provinces: “Sending personnel for the educational experience of Fr. Rinaldi, which Missions is a means to awaken new still impresses for its modern approach to vocations. I will bless the Lord on that day initiatives and especially his farsighted when I know that the exchange of personnel insights for the formation of women, may not between one province and another has have had adequate development, and broken down the barriers between the Alps, therefore is still waiting to be able to revive its the Andes, and the Ocean, to form unity in extraordinary prophetic aspects in this unique the Institute”. phase of history.

The missionary dimension of the Institute is For further study: CASTANO Luigi, Beato nourished by the awareness of belonging to a Don Filippo Rinaldi (1856-1931). Vivente religious family that is open to the various immagine di Don Bosco e suo Terzo countries without barriers of language and Successore, Leumann (Torino), Elledici culture. This awareness gives to the 1990. VIGANÒ Egidio, Don Filippo Rinaldi experience of the FMA a broad, universal genuino Testimone e Interprete dello”spirito horizon. The transfer of personnel not only salesiano”, in Atti del Consiglio Generale from one Province to another but from nation della Società Salesiana di San Giovanni to nation facilitates openness, exchange, a Bosco 71 (1990). sense of belonging, and the overcoming of [email protected] A Glance at the World

North Horr:A New Frontier

passionate heart and apostolic zeal, is Anna Rita Cristaino experiencing how much good is being done and the great hope of sharing the Gospel Nomad with the nomads. The mission of the proclamation with the people of the desert. FMA in North Horr is characterized by the precariousness typical of nomadic peoples. The community settled in a small house We move from one season to find good land next to the parish and there has been good for grazing. One lives in tribes, where each collaboration with the priest and the whole family is also your own. The region is parish community. They are carrying out the desert, the large distances and trips last for project “Reach Out”, a mission of itinerant days. There are no precise appointments, evangelization, going through the Chalbi fixed schedules to be respected, but only desert and reaching groups of “Gabbra” long hours of travel, meetings along the nomads'' in the villages. Thanks to these way, and changes of direction. There are meetings the faith of the people and their requests for hospitality, welcome, sharing a sacramental life is growing, and through meal and a place to sleep. Conversations catechesis in schools the Sisters seek to begin with the demands of daily life, and promote a more solid and confident trying to bring the Gospel with its message Christian education. The FMA are involved of salvation in the traditional ways that have in all the activities of the parish. The survived for hundreds of years. insertion was gradual and after the mandate of Mother General and her Council, a small The FMA in North Horr presence was launched during the summer In 2011, responding to a request from the holidays. Some FMA, novices, postulants, Bishop, the FMA initiated a new presence in and Vides volunteers from Kenya and the the desert of North Horr in the north of UK have animated summer camps with Kenya, in the province of Our Lady of Hope various formation, educational, recreational- (AFE) that takes in Kenya, Rwanda, and expressive activities. There have been Tanzania. North Horr is a dry, weary land, several meetings with the bishop and the far from the city. At the beginning it was not pastor of North Horr. Together we have easy; there was some resistance, but then, sought to become more familiar with the with courage and a tenacious, visionary reality, the needs and the demands of the view, the Sisters answered the call. There territory and the people. We have planned was great enthusiasm on the part of the first together and set tasks and roles from the Sisters, Sr. Patricia, Sr. Sr. Anisia, and start, so everything went well with regular Sr.Purity. The full dedication continues to and intermediate evaluations. The the present time, thanks to the presence of cooperation continues to be very positive. the actual FMA community which, with The prevailing culture is the traditional of the place, and is, therefore, non- Christian. This makes the path of evangelization difficult. There are traditional rites and practices, in parish. They take care of the catechesis of contrast with life according to the Gospel. children and young people preparing them Education is the way for development so for the sacraments and also that of the that these people can improve their lives adults. The FMA also coordinate the training and escape the poverty that enslaves him. of teachers and care for the animation of the They believe that the education of girls Association of Catholic Women. They makes them more free and able to express animate groups of children of the Pontifical themselves, and consequently, they do not Missionary Childhood and small Christian favor their education, precisely to avoid the communities of the parish; they have risk that they will not be docile and oratories and summer camps; they care for submissive. Therefore, there is much of the formation of catechists and animators in work to be done; however, the people are the creation various groups and movements very happy with the presence of the FMA! for children and young people. In addition, every weekend the FMA accompany the The Sisters tell us: "In 2010, we gladly priest to the Mission Centers for the accepted the invitation of the Bishop of the celebration of Holy Mass, the sacraments, Diocese of Marsabit to work among the and the apostolate among young people people of the Gabbra tribe, in the parish of and adults. North Horr in northern Kenya. A year later, in 2011, we began the community entrusting What was the origin of this desire? What it to Jesus, the Good Shepherd. prompted the opening of this community, and why in this place? When asked these We felt that this was a positive response to questions, the Sisters replied: "In addition to the supplication of the Church for the New responding to the explicit invitation of the Evangelization. We also saw it as an Bishop, we also wanted to expand our opportunity to realize our dream of crossing presence into other parts of Kenya, to go new frontiers. " out of our “comfort zones” and to begin Making the desert bloom offering our charism in new frontiers, in places where there was poverty in all its The place is very dry and water is life for all. different forms, and where there was no There, where cultivation seemed religious presence. For us it was a impossible, the FMA with care, and using challenge, especially because it was an water properly, have made the desert area that had less than fifty years of bloom. For the first time the people of North Christianity. Then, too, it was an Horr saw how vegetables grow and what opportunity to network with the local Church flowers are. A desert also means great to collaborate in the evangelization of an distances. The closest mission, in fact, is a area of Kenya that was the poorest and three-hour drive from North Horr and is most neglected.” reached by crossing the desert. It takes five hours by car to get to Marsabit, the nearest Sr. Patricia Lacharite, Sr. Anisia Ngai, Sr. Gesel Mashauri, and Sr. Magdaline Mweni town. have learned the local language and know well the needs of the parish. They have The four sisters of the North Horr extended their apostolate in youth animation community coordinate 28 nursery schools in the chapels that belong to the parish. scattered in the desert in all centers of the They have also taken the commitment to coordinate catechesis in the whole parish, Another challenge is that of the war working especially for the advancement of between the two tribes living in the parish women. whose way of reconciliation seems far off. It In their contact with a people living an is a daunting task even to educate young essential life, the FMA feel enriched by Catholics to dialogue with Muslim being able to share the same lifestyle. The fundamentalists without using violence. challenges are many: the size of the Nomads with the nomads then, for an territory and the poor roads, which in some “outgoing” Church, one which goes to the places are non-existent; the lack of borders where a very strong poverty is still appreciation for formal education, especially lived, where people are still waiting for the for women, by the population. For girls, in fact, life is more difficult, since at a very proclamation of the Good News, and where early age they are given by parents in the Salesian charism, through a gradual marriage in exchange for a dowry, and they process of education-evangelization, can cannot object. Uses and traditional customs help entire populations to progress toward a are very strong, but not always in tune with different, better future for their children. the Catholic faith, so it is an important work of clear and respectful evangelization.

[email protected]

Consecrated Life

Communication and Animation

Maria Antonia Chinello

Why the binomial of animation and responsibility, obedience, and involvement communication? In what sense do we around the mission; it is active listening, speak of reciprocity between these two dialogue and inclusion and also a divergent terms? To animate is the capacity to way of thinking. reawaken inner energies, to communicate arouses involvement, It is a positive way of looking at life and the participation, and collaboration. person. Convinced of the beauty of the gift of life, we believe that every person, without GC 23 reiterated "the need to form exception, is profoundly capable of good ourselves to a leadership proper to the and, for this reason, it is possible to lead the times for a style of animation and individual to demonstrate the good that is in government that is authoritative for him/her and to live life to its full. Believing in consistency between words and gestures; communication is always possible, capable one that facilitates involvement of all, of repairing the breeches, of breaking down obedience to God's plan and co- walls, of walking towards the other with soft, responsibility in the mission. “This style of tentative steps, because " Animation”, I read animation and government leads to "clearly on the Internet, “lives the dynamism guide the project of giving new meaning to between two poles: the man dreamed of consecrated life, the presence and work in and the real man, utopia and the concrete, the light of the Salesian charism." The the difficulties of the present and the beauty challenge is the implementation, at all of a goal achieved with effort.” "Don Bosco levels, of co-responsibility, coordination for would say that in each person there is an communion, the assumption of "a style of accessible point of good, and Francis de animation and government that is more Sales would speak of "optimism". involving, in a circular manner, and awakens the responsibility and initiative of The Acts further urge us to "move from an each person" (Acts G 23, 31-40). animation and governance concerned mainly with the management of the works to Numbers 40 and 41 of the Acts reflect on a style that pays attention to the person, how to understand a new style of authority creating a climate of confidence in those and animation. The verbs, nouns, and who are called to lead the community, with adjectives used deal with concrete the participation of all on different levels, strategies and the dynamics of thus there will be reborn the shared dream communication. Animation is a service open that the Institute will become a suitable to dialogue, verification, and participation. place for future generations.” To animate is to grow and develop in co- Animation is essential because the improve itself, to always improve and grow dynamics of communication are important; in communion, holiness, and wisdom to fully how many misunderstandings, silences, realize its mission." The Holy Father warns against certain diseases that weaken unspoken, out of place words ... for this service to the Lord: the disease of being reason it is urgent to place oneself at the "immortal", "immune" or even service of communication, to make it "work", "indispensable", neglecting the necessary striving to understand people and to make and normal controls; the "materialism", oneself understood. Learning to excessive busyness; of “mental and spiritual communicate means learning how to stagnation; excessive planning and overcome the conditions of interpersonal functionalism; poor coordination; '' spiritual Alzheimer’s ": i.e., forgetting one’s own relationships. It is a goal, but also a history of salvation, one’s personal history question of method. An animation frightened with the Lord; rivalry and vainglory; by the mechanics that develop between existential schizophrenia; gossip, grumbling people that never touches the difficult and murmuring; deifying leaders and aspects that arise among people is not indifference toward others; funereal faces, animation. Freedom must exist not only with of one who believes that to be serious it is respect to things, ideas, topics, but also with necessary to paint the face with melancholy, severity and treating others with rigidity, regard to people. harshness and arrogance; in accumulating and in closed circles, where membership in What kind of leadership? the group becomes stronger than that of the What kind of leader (and leadership) are we Body and, in some situations, to Christ himself; and, finally, mundane profit, carrying out and witnessing to in our exhibitionism, when it transforms service communities, in the educating communities, into power. in groups and organizations? Are they merely functional to guarantee reaching an objective? Or are they relational, focusing on the affective wellbeing of the persons involved? Or are they ideal in order to anchor the witnessing of components? The answer is neither simple nor categorical. It is about ensuring the dialectic between power, inclusion, and identity. Power means that we act to change things, acting, influencing reality, doing “We share the "dream of being open and business; inclusion means participation, welcoming communities: spaces of the feeling a strong connection to others; Gospel where Jesus is the center; where young people can live the family spirit identity, finally, refers to ideas: I participate typical of Valdocco and Mornese in respect because I share the goals, the vision of the for each person and in co-responsibility; world and, by joining, one defines self. spaces which prepare for an active involvement in society (Acts GC 23, 58). Pope Francis is also incisive and precise about this. In his December 2014 address to [email protected] the Roman Curia, he stressed that the Curia is a small model of the Church, "called to

Music

In 1981 there was born in America a TV Now We Can See Music ! channel that would have revolutionized music through the creation of music videos Mariano Diotto supporting songs, MTV. The first video It all happened within the past ten years. musical video to be transmitted was, It was February 15, 2005, when three ironically, the Buggles song entitled Video young men: Chad Hurley (delegated killed the radio star. From that time on administrator), Steve Chen (technical every nation in the world started developing director) and Jawed Karim (councilor) their own type of television with a musical founded You Tube, the most important theme. They regained a quota of the market multimedia platform of the world. that had been lacking and especially reached a youth sector that had been distancing itself from general TV programming The first video uploaded by Jawed Karim was entitled Me at the Zoo. It was 8:27 PM The birth of YouTube began to chip away at of April 23, 2005 and it lasted about a scant this type of leadership of music themed 19 seconds. It was the most important television up to the present day where the revolution of the beginning of a new mass majority of young people enjoy music and media offering. Chad Hurley said: “We video directly from the web via the website wanted to create a place where whoever www.youtube.com. had a video camera and an internet connection could share a story with the rest Already in June 2006, the music industry of the world.” announced that every day about 100 million videos were displayed thanks to a growth From that time on, the evolution of this rate that was the world's first, transforming platform has been under the eyes of all. itself from a platform of videos made by Today it is the third most visited site in the users to one of new media content world after Google (which is the actual distribution. From now on, music was the owner) and Facebook. most important element leading to this successful platform divided by channels From the music on television to music (such as television). Currently the channel on the web MUSIC has 89,539,912 members

Until 2005 music was listened to on the Music on the web radio, played by acquiring a CD or already in a digital mp3 file, and could be seen on The success of YouTube is also linked to an television, another planetary mass media evolution in the use of media by young form through themed channels. people who, beyond the sound aspect, also love the visual. Music videos manage to combine these two elements in an excellent manner: music and image.

The ten most viewed videos in June 2015 YouTube. If YouTube was created as a were: the first dance of the famous Korean generic platform for sharing video, then the singer PSY entitled Gangnam Style which, music aspect of it has become the largest in 2012 made all the youth of the world source. Vevo is an exact variation of dance, and accumulated on the Web a good thematic channels that are exclusively 2.347.386.744 views. In second place was musical. Ownership of three major Justin Bieber with the song Baby which international music giants are Sony Music, totaled 1,173,901,560 views. Following in Universal Music and EMI, and is currently third and fourth places was the American the platform preferred by singers with over singer Katy Perry with two songs Dark 10 billion monthly views in the world. Horse (977,667,423 views) and Roar (945,675,691 views). In fifth place So it was that in just ten years young wasTaylor Swift with the song Blank Space people's music use has changed completely with 902,153,384 views.Today YouTube . They are no longer content just to hear a has locations in 75 countries, is available in music selection, but they also want to see it, 61 languages and half of the views are from getting excited, looking at it on the net or on mobile devices.In 2013 the YouTube Music their smartphones, sharing their social Award was created. This is the award given network , expressing their opinion with a by the industry to the videos of the most LIKE or with a written comment itself. popular singers through the nomination and This is the power of the new media also in winners, just as is the awarding of the music. Oscars for film

From YouTube to VEVO [email protected]

In 2009 there came into being a site called vevo.com that has some features similar to Dying Well… is good enough for us!

Dear friends, cleansing of your own life: putting in place I know that with you I can dare to say it. the issues of one's soul, becoming The title will not keep you from reading my reconciled with your Sisters in the case of letter anyway! If you have not yet noticed, I some little pending “debt”, making one’s dedicated this year to the sound traditions of “things” orderly, as though you were to our religious family, and I discovered that stand before the Almighty on that very day. we are not always able to maintain them in In short, it was a day marked by a careful the same condition that our founders had activity on many fronts, a tiring day.Today, given them to us. Also, what in my day what instead, one makes a retreat or...she was called the Exercise for a Happy Death retreats ! One “retreats” as soon Community is no exception - unfortunately - in this logic. obligations are less pressing, and so at One cannot use this expression today least once a month we are not forced to put because we can be mistaken for the up with those around us; one “retreats” to dangerous supporters of euthanasia! be alone with oneself and the radio is not a However (and I say this for our younger disturbance, because it helps us to say the members...) the Exercise for a Happy Death rosary; one retreats to her room and rarely was nothing more than what we now call the to the chapel, because she needs to “pray monthly retreat day!Now I have to ask but to the Father in secret”. In short, making the do these words still make sense? How retreat is becoming more and more a step were we able to go from practicing to die back, a withdrawal, a retreat into a shell, a well to retreating once a month? To me, hiding away from everything and everyone. who am a bit of an old lady and slow to Now I ask myself: is this the way that an understand, it seems that in this passage exercise of the past stumbles into a from the ancient to the modern way we lost comfortable armchair or a cozy couch and a few pieces of some importance. It is one falls asleep?No, because you know how it thing to practice, it is another to retreat! its with sleepy, foolish virgins...five were They taught us - I mean the young girls of enough! my age - that once a month you must suspend all activities to pursue a total Camilla’s Words !

In the next issue

DOSSIER: Broaden Your Vision...prophetic gestures Consecrated life needs to renew itself, because the Holy Spirit is manifested in different ways according to the times. We FMA today are entrusted with the search for new ways of bringing the freshness of the Gospel to men and women, especially the young.

ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION: Food and its Rituals Food can assume a "representative” value ", i.e., it represents something else besides itself, both in terms of the ritualistic and the symbolic levels. Expo 2015 explored these issues with a 360- degree view on the languages and through a global perspective

ARIANNA’S LINE: Fragile or Resistant? An observation on daily reality, the various forms of information, and conversations that are held among educators to emphasize the fragility of the younger and adult generations. Some suggestions to encourage, train, and empower natural resistance, and to become capable of overcoming the difficulties.

COMUNICATING: Communication and Vows Overcoming the temptation of going into the supermarket of life offerings to center on what is essential, learning to renew the choice for the consecrated life in a constant discernment of the actual implications of chastity, poverty, and obedience.

CHARISM AND LEADERSHIP: Scrutinize the signs of the times

The issues addressed in the text, with reference to the charismatic Mother Maddalena Morano, are: the ability to take (and to help others to take) steps forward, not to rest on what one does and does well, promoting the cultural aspect, to delegate! "

"