Volume I, Issue 12 December 2019 THE DECEMBER MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR from the Salesian Bulletin DON ANGEL FERNANDEZ ARTIME, SDB “God is Born also among the ‘Differently-Skilled’ Children of Agartala” Merry Christmas rando Rehabilitation Center I thought about those little to all of you of Agartala in the state of miracles that they make friends of Snippets Shillong. The Missionary happen. They are trained. and of Don Bosco’s Sisters of Mary Help of They are happy. They pre- charism. Christians [(the MSMHC) an pare for life. Several of their I’m writing this greeting to Official Group of the Salesi- schoolmates, who preceded you a few hours after re- an Family founded by Vener- them years before, have turning to Rome from visit- able Bishop Stephen Ferran- finished their studies at the ing Nepal and the Salesian do, SDB, in 1942 in Gu- university. province of Shillong in wahati, India] serve 150 In that house I felt at every beautiful Northeast India. boys and girls from the Trip- moment the presence of the #Holiness for you, too! ura region. Among these, There I met with my Salesi- Lord, the fraternity of the about 62 live in the house an confreres, the laity, the Sisters that becomes self- In this issue: with the Sisters. During the members of the Salesian giving and service, and the visit, they performed for us a In, With, and For 2-4 Family, our FMA Sisters, joy of those children and the Church and our Missionary Sisters Salesian Family 5-7 of Mary Help of Christians. Firsts & Saints These Sisters serve in a cen- ter for boys, girls, adoles- More Salesian 7-11 cents, and young adults in Family Saints Agartala who are Our Family Album 12 “differently-skilled.” They totally captivated my IMPORTANT attention when in the Holy DATES Mass on that day about 45 of these boys and girls, both Dec. 5 - Memorial of Blessed deaf and mute, were in the Philip Rinaldi, SDB front pews of the church Dec. 6-8 - CPC Meeting and and “sang” all the songs traditional “Hojagiri” dance. adolescents who are grate- Formation Day, Marrero, LA with sign language, follow- It was impressive to see eve- ful to the Lord, grateful for Dec. 8 - 178th anniversary of ing the Sister who stood in ryone dance, and dance to what they’re receiving in Don Bosco’s meeting with front of them, signing the Bartholomew Garelli the rhythm of a music that life. I watched, observed, lyrics of the songs for them. they don’t hear as do we, but and felt gratitude in the Dec. 10 - SC Core Formation I was moved to see how they Team Online Meeting, 7:30 they do “hear” and listen depths of my heart. sang making signs, how very well with their other PM ET So it is, once again, that I’ve they paid attention and con- senses. Another youngster, a Jan. 9, 2020 - Online Forma- been able to verify, as be- tor Session II, 7:30PM ET centrated, and their expres- gymnast, surprised us with fore in Nepal or in Siliguri, sions of happiness. her high level of skill. The Jan. 15, 22, 24, 30, and 31 - that God continues to write I prayed with faith. I prayed most beautiful things of all CELEBRATE OUR SALESIAN beautiful life stories in SAINTS!! with them and for them. were her sensitivity, joy, those in whom He is pre- smile, expressions of grati- Jan. 31 - Induction of new The following morning we sent. He is born in so many Cooperators, St. Francis de were able to visit them at tude in her sign language, Sales Center, Miami hearts. their home: the Bishop Fer- and her prayer for us. continued on the following page Page 2 In, With, and For the Church S. F. Snippets (Rector Major Letter, cont. from p. 1) Radical Renewal: Reflections I learned some signs in those few by Fr. Thomas A. Dunne SDB hours – enough to greet them, to tell December 1, 2019 - As Province Dele- We responded YES to God’s invita- them that I enjoyed everything, and gates for the Salesian Family in tion in imitation of Mary’s FIAT. to thank them. It felt good and I felt North America, both of us have had By saying “YES” to God’s invitation that we should thank the Lord for the opportunity of participating in a to a special relationship with Him the gift of Don Bosco and of this, his number of inter-provincial and inter- and membership in the Salesian Salesian Family, because we all add national gatherings of the Salesian Family, we are changed as persons. to it, even if but a little – but every- Family. We have done a lot of listen- We become one with God in being co- thing is for the good. ing, dialoguing, reflecting, and pray- responsible for furthering his mis- With this letter, dear friends, I want ing during those gatherings. Recent- sion with young people and families to help you to see those little, though ly, it seems to us that these gather- most in need. Being inducted into a great, “miracles” of education and ings have become far more focused Group within the Salesian Family is salvation. and vital to our ministry of accompa- not like joining a club or being part Therefore, this Christmas I proclaim niment and formation with the Sale- of a social or prayer group. Our in- again that the Lord is present in the sian Family in our provinces. duction into a Salesian Family midst all of us (whether we are very It is clear to us that there is a move- Group is permanent (for life) because aware of it or not so much), and He ment within Don Bosco’s family that we become one with the group (its becomes Life, first and foremost, can only be traced back to the ani- members, mission, and activities). among the most humble and simple, mating presence of the Holy Spirit. We participate in these Salesian like the children of Agartala. This movement is vital for the sur- Family Groups because of who we vival and growth of all Groups within are, not because of what these I promised these children by signs the Salesian Family in North Ameri- groups do. Membership and partici- that I would pray for them and ask ca and throughout the world. pation in a Salesian Family Group other people to do so. They thanked cannot be thought of as periodic or me; their look said it all, and their In the Salesian Family Charter, we optional in any way. smile reached deep inside me. read that the Holy Spirit shaped Don Bosco in his charism and in founding It's Christmas, dear friends. It’s a a vast spiritual and apostolic Family time of salvation, today and forever, It is clear to us that there is a (#1). It would appear to us that this but we receive it as an evocation and movement within Don Bosco’s same Holy Spirit is active today Life in a special way at this time. Family that can only be drawing our members forward to- traced back to the animating Together with the “differently- ward greater fidelity and effective- skilled” children of Agartala, we ness in carrying on Don Bosco’s char- presence of the Holy Spirit. wish you a Merry Christmas – a ism and mission with the poorest happy birthday for Baby Jesus, who young people and their families Co-Responsibility is Love for all of us. (Salesian Family Charter #5). From that beginning point, members With affection, We believe that this movement of the of the Salesian Family are co- Again, Merry Christmas! Holy Spirit is calling all Salesian responsible for the continuance and Don Angel Family members to a deepening and growth of Don Bosco’s mission a growth of their charismatic identi- among the poorest young people and ty in four vital areas. their families. Salesian Family mem- Vocation bers are not “volunteers” who step in Our experience over the past few now and then to provide help for years indicates that this movement those who exercise responsibility for of the Spirit within the Salesian furthering Don Bosco’s mission in a Family is based on the realization local area. Rather, Salesian Family that we have been called by God to an members are among the “co- intimate relationship with Him in responsibles” who have accepted the carrying on the mission of Christ in obligations of carrying on Don the style of Don Bosco. We did not Bosco’s mission in their local areas. choose to follow Don Bosco’s charism Salesian Family members cannot be on our own. We were called by God. continued on the following page Volume I, Issue 12 Page 3 (“Reflections,” cont. from p. 2) Midwest SSCC Take Charge, complacent with taking part in Don not wait around until they were Autonomously, in Co- Bosco’s mission on a periodic or op- “authorized” to be Don Bosco for the Responsibility and tional basis. neediest young men and women in Communion - Remotely! Accompaniment their towns and villages. They were by Elizabeth Wlodzimierski Salesian Family members are called called by God for that purpose. They to imitate Jesus in reaching out to called together a team from among the young as they are “on their way” the community of believers, identi- through the events of their everyday fied the needs of the poorest young, lives. In this, Salesian Family mem- discerned the way forward, and initi- bers follow the example of Jesus who ated a pastoral response that was in walked with His troubled disciples line with the charism of Don Bosco on the way to Emmaus (cf.