THE NOVEMBER MESSAGE of the RECTOR MAJOR from the Salesian
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Click for access to all referenced documents Volume II, Issue 11 November 2020 THE NOVEMBER MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR from the Salesian Bulletin DON ANGEL FERNANDEZ ARTIME, SDB “Don Bosco: The Man Who Always Asked Others for Help” Dear friends and those monies and the total readers [of the Don Bosco spent his life amount received. Certain- asking hundreds and Salesian Bulletin] ly, it cannot and should not hundreds of people for and, above all, be otherwise. help. He wasn't asking for friends of Don himself, but he was asking Like Don Bosco Bosco and his charism, for his boys. At the same Don Bosco spent his life I greet you almost at the time, he strongly believed in asking hundreds and hun- end of 2020, this year which Divine Providence, and for dreds of people for help. He we have lived through and that very reason he went We are a Family that wasn't asking for himself, belongs all to Mary which we will remember as tirelessly knocking from door but he was asking for his a hard year, painful in to door. boys. At the same time, he In this issue: many ways. It is a year that strongly believed in Divine I wish to take advantage In, With, and For 2-4 has changed us – without Providence, and for that of the publication of this the Church intending to have done so – very reason he went tire- issue [of the Salesian SF Groups & Social 5-6 in our lifestyle, habits, and lessly knocking from door Bulletin] to thank, in the Justice Teachings customs perhaps but, cer- to door. tainly, at least, in the name of Don Bosco, the Strenna 2020: To 7-8 He asked for monetary aid rhythm of our personal, thousands upon thou- Educate Like DB and for physical and mate- family, and community life. sands of people who are In Case You Missed It 9-10 rial help from people to car- We hope 2021 will come our benefactors, helping ry out the work entrusted Not to be Missed 11 filled with blessings. us Salesians in our works around the world. to him. He did not hesitate Our Family Album 12 While thinking about all to ask anyone who could do A few days ago I thought of that a year means, I pon- so to dedicate some of their something very simple that IMPORTANT dered something that I keep time or assets in favor of I could do: following the ex- DATES very much in my heart. I needy youth. He was perience of these past six don't know if it is due to helped by lay people, wom- Nov. 2 - Canada months, I felt that I should SSCC Mass of Remembrance how I was raised or to my en and men, and by priests, make a video message (IT) for Sr. Micheline & Fr. Romeo own nature but I have en- friends of Don Bosco, who online, 8:30PM ET that could be broadcast via graved into my very being collaborated with him in Nov. 5 - “Snippets” Advisory the internet to thank the the need to give thanks con- many ways. Above all, he Board Mtg. online, 7PM ET; very many people who have Mass for Deceased SF Memb. stantly and to be grateful had the very special help of for the so very many things responded most generously, Nov. 13 - Bl. Artemides Zatti, his beloved mother, Mam- as their means allow, to SDB that I receive in my life as a ma Margherita. I think I help those most affected by Nov. 14 - SF Day, Montreal, free gift, having nothing to can truly say, and with his- COVID-19. So I did just online 2-4PM ET do with personal merit. I torical value, something I that – in all simplicity and Nov. 15 - Bl. Magdalene Mo- don't know if others feel this love to say: that together rano, FMA; SF Online Meeting truth. Afterwards, I re- way. Maybe other people they founded the Oratory: with our Rector Major, Don ceived dozens of messages Angel 1PM ET consider that everything to Don Bosco's creative and they have is owed to them, thanking me for this act of Nov. 19 - online SSCC Provin- apostolic genius was added transparency in explaining cial Congress Prep Mtg. for all even life itself, but this is continued on the next page SUE Councilors 7:30 PM ET not how I feel. what had been done with Page 2 In, With, and For the Church S. F. Snippets (Rector Major Letter, cont. from p. 1) the maternal delicacy of his mother some nations of Oceania, it seemed to The Gift of the Salesian who gave feminine warmth to that me that I saw situations that were no house. She accompanied and en- better than those that Don Bosco had Family for the Church and couraged her son through all the had to deal with in Valdocco. the Young People of Today difficulties of beginning the Orato- I can assure you that this does not dis- text of the message of Fr. Joan Lluís Playà, SDB ry and of working with the boys courage me in the least; rather, it re- Delegate of the Rector Major who knocked on the door of his for the Salesian Family, given at the online news in me the conviction that at every meeting with the Salesian Family of house. Alongside Margaret was moment the Spirit of God raises up the Interamerica Region on October 25, 2020 Michael Rua’s mom. (Michael was millions and millions of people with I. Introduction the first to become a Salesian and hearts that want to make this world was Don Bosco’s first successor. more and more human. Without a The Salesian Family: A precious reali- Others joined him on December 18, doubt, you and I are in that number. ty in our midst that is at the service of 1859, when they, too, pledged to the Church's evangelizing mission… Thanks for all your hard work. Thank practice the Salesian way of life so many people united by the same you for believing it is worth it. Thank traced out by Don Bosco.) Then, spirit and the same passion. If Don you for not having allowed yourselves too, there was also the mother of Bosco often repeated, “It is enough for to be engulfed by the “acid reflux” of Archbishop Gastaldi and the father me that you are young for me to love people who always doubt everything of Dominic Savio who helped out at you,” we might as well say: “It is and everyone. And thank you for be- the Oratory. This group of people, enough that we belong to the Salesian lieving that we can live with hope. This who knew and loved Don Bosco Family to feel at home.” Yes, it is a is precisely what I shall propose to our well, gave his work a nuance all its great wealth for us. However, I would Salesian Family for the new year: in own, one that distinguished it from say it is more - it is a precious gift this difficult time of COVID-19, now other institutions of the time. They which has been given to us and more than ever, we are moved by gave the entire educational envi- which we are asked to know how to hope. ronment the imprint of a "family receive with faith - for the edifica- I wish you all well. atmosphere". tion of the Church and the good of Don Angel With his ability to ask for help, Don young people. It is a gift for the Bosco knew right from the start Don Bosco Founder Church and for young people. how to count on priests who offered of the Salesian Family II. The reality of the gift of the some of their time to the oratories - The term “Salesian Family” was offi- Salesian Family in the world the work that was taking shape cially uttered for the very first time by The Salesian Family has seen much through the industry of Don Bosco, Pope Pius XI on April 3, 1934, just two development in most Provinces of the his priests, and friends, even a spir- days after Don Bosco’s canonization, to world. Everywhere an authentic com- itual teacher such as Don Cafasso, the pilgrims who had come to Rome for munion of life has arisen which has the Theologian Borel, and Don Mu- the occasion: “You represent all those given impetus to the Salesian mission rialdo. Other benefactors and sup- whom you have left behind in the vari- thanks to the apostolic spirituality porters helped to finance the works ous places from which you have come - which characterizes us. begun by Don Bosco - in Turin, as all the great Salesian Family.” The reality of the Salesian Family in well as in various places in Italy, in the countries of your Region is a liv- France, in Spain, and in the mis- ing example of its significance for the sions of Latin America. world. We can say that because of it Times have changed, but I can as- we live, we get busy, and we are part sure you that the situations that of it. In reality, we wouldn't know how are experienced today in the world, to do without it. If we are sincere, we in the Church, and in the Salesian must recognize that Don Bosco presences are very similar to those changed our lives. The “Salesian Fam- of Don Bosco’s time.