The Triveneto (Italy) experience
Mestre, January 2009

FOREWORD
This report offers collaboration as Salesian Family in Youth Ministry at province or region level. Bear in mind that for various aspects, the work is “constantly in process”, both because the ministry set-up is dynamic (not static) and because there are some open questions.

 

• A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY

Existing collaboration in the Triveneto amongst SDBs, FMAs and ASCs finds its basis in the impetus that came from 1988 throughout the Salesian world. At the time (there were 2 SDB, 2 FMA and 2 ASC provincials and councils) there were some province level activities set up and strengthened, coming out of a shared journey by a number of Salesian Family entities mostly involved on behalf of the young.
The earlier set-up has been continued and recently reinforced by the unification of the SDB Provinces of (ivo+ive) and the two FMA provinces of (ivc+ivp), which happened at the same time in 2003, and through unification of the two Salesian Cooperator Provinces in 2004.
That was when common pastoral activity was laid down for the two Institutes and the Salesian Cooperators Association. Other Salesian Family units in the area are involved at province level and according to circumstances.

 

• KEY ELEMENTS AND COLLABORATION CHOICES

Analysing the collaboration and shared responsibility at province level between SDB, FMA and ASC we can identify the following key elements:

• working in unity of intention or constantly seeking communion, never taking it for granted or as a goal already achieved; conceiving of communion as a basic element for educating be it educating by evangelising or evangelising by educating;
• the geographical area where we work is the same for SDB, FMA and ASC; this creates quite favourable circumstances for collaboration;
• the belief that pastoral collaboration does not happen because of pastoral opportunity but for charismatic reasons;
• having at heart the presence of the Salesian charism in the area so therefore the desire to present ourselves as “a single body”;
• having identified precise fields of action within the Salesian Youth Movement which, in practice, is the place where the collaboration takes shape;
• having identified an organisational structure which gives space to the different Salesian family members  (cf. SYM Annual for Triveneto);
• conceiving of local and provincial animation as a single pastoral activity on behalf of the young. The one body has two lungs, two movement of a single heart (the Triveneto SYM is not the sum total of provincial activities, but the whole complex of things done for the young at local and province level).
• the choice of youthful involvement in animating the SYM at province level; the happy choice of “Young for the Young” as a slogan has brought us to set up every activity as something which gives the young plenty of room to act, and which values their contribution in the various areas of animation (cf. Staff and Team);
• creating opportunities for the Salesian charism to come to maturity in adults: from the Salesian Youth Movement to the Salesian Movement; the Salesian charism is not one which belongs to “a single time” but is a gift of God forever (something in fieri).

 

• THE SALESIAN YOUTH MOVEMENT AND AREAS OF COLLABORATION

The place where common pastoral work for the young is carried out is the Triveneto SYM at province level (regional). Young and leaders come together, mainly from the houses in the two provinces, and these houses grow and work according to Salesian Youth Spirituality.
We can identify 4 areas of common activity amongst SDB, FMA and ASC which through staff or teams plan and animate with the young all the curricula or occasions listed below.

A - Broad animation

1. Large gatherings
During the pastoral year there are some occasions offering common formation and which strengthen a sense of belonging to the Salesian charism. These are:

• beginning of the year: the SYM Meetings (three, on different occasions according to age group: Middle School, Year 10 and 11, Year 12 and beyond);
• halfway through the year: Youth Fest (15-25) Kids Fest (9-14);
• end of the year: Vocation Vigil (closure of formation and vocational curricula at province level with Salesian Cooperator promise);
• beginning of summer: Leaders courses (courses for other Salesian and Diocesan occasions).

 

2. Evangelisation (over 20):

• Salesian Workshop on Faith
• Formation course for leaders and teachers
• School of Theatre and Arts

3. Summer experiences

 

B - Vocation animation

Various directions are offered to children and older youth and are differentiated according to vocational possibilities with a view to guiding them in the search for God's plan for each of them. They learn something of human, Christian and Salesian life; this is gradually developed by helping the youngster mature in his or her attachment to Christ in a Salesian way.

• Leader (Year 9)
• Youthful Horizons (Years 7-8.)
• Youth for Youth (Years 9-10)
• Inquiry Group (Year 11 and beyond )
• Diaspora Community M (post Grad. Inquiry)
• Diaspora Community F (post Grad. Inquiry)
• School for Cooperators (post Grad. Inquiry)

 

C - Missionary animation and National Civil Service

1. Missionary Animation
Older youth are offered ways to help their missionary sensitivity to mature:

• Here and There together
• Globalisation school

Young people who have already gained this sensitivity are helped to transition to an experience of membership of VIDES or VIS. This is a field of activity where we are seeking to bring about reflection so it is a more organic and shared project.

2. Civil Service
The experience offered by the Italian State's National Civil Service is common to both SDB and FMA institutes. The choice allows us to be part of the scene together and compactly and allows a broader orientation of volunteers where they are selected. The experience is taken in such a way as to allow young people to get to know one another or get to know the Salesian charism.
D - Communication

A decisive field for all our pastoral activity. Communication is always at the service of the community, the young and the initiatives offered them. There is a synergy between communication, province offerings and local life. Communication is considered for its information about province and local activities and for its formation of the young and pastoral workers.
The principal media we have are:

• the magazine Giovani per i Giovani
• the web site www.donboscoland.it  and the newsletter

The idea of not losing contact with a young person once we have first made contact is important (web site,magazine and other instruments guarantee a constant link with the SYM in Triveneto).

Note – Communion is also understood at a financial level. The Triveneto SYM is financially self-sufficient.

 

• GOVERNING AND ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURES

The desire to collaborate in the local area as a Salesian Family has led us over recent years to also think of structures which can animate both reflection and the carrying out of new proposals.
There are three principles at the basis of governing and organisational structures:

• shared responsibility in mission: responsibility which is distributed with respect to the identity of each member group of the Salesian Family involved, with appreciation for its specific nature;
• il youthful involvement, carrying out the slogan “Youth for Youth”;
• A link between province and local animation. The province in fact is at the service of the local situation.

 

Herewith the current structure of animation for Triveneto SYM

 

• YM SDB Delegate and FMA YM Councillor . These plan and coordinate the Triveneto SYM.
• SYM Secretariate. A group of young people with the sdb delegate, FMA Councillor and one in charge of YM for theASC, reflect on common provincial initiatives for Triveneto SYM.

 

The “Main coordination”, thanks to Strenna 2009, is taking on a new shape to be able to respond better to the needs of the area, the various Salesian centres and the desire for a more effective communion (not just an affective one) between the various groups that make up the Salesian Family.

Coordination hypothesis following on from Strenna 2009

• Unified Youth Ministry Team

Made up of 3/4 SDB, 3/4 FMA, 3/4 ASC and 3/4 young people. Team tasks:

• planning and coordinating Triveneto SYM common initiatives;
• reflecting in a unified way on the common activities of Youth Ministry;
• creating synergy and links between local and provincial situations.

                       

• SYM Advisory Body

A group which will guarantee representation from all houses of the two provinces and made up mostly of young people. Some elected youth (from the Advisory Body) would also take part in this unified YM Team. We are evaluating the possibility of creating geographical areas to guarantee greater local involvement.

 

• OPEN QUESTIONS

 

As a result of our common effort as a Salesian Family in Triveneto SYM some questions have arisen which we are reflecting on and which we want to share with you.

A weak point in our collaboration
We think one weak point is the lack of effective institutional places for gathering, planning, formation and collaboration of the Salesian Family in Youth Ministry at local, province and national level. Having these would mitigate the risk of collaborating simply on the basis of the sensitivities of those in charge.

Experiencing the Salesian charism as adults
One question we feel is not resolved is: “How to continue living out the Salesian charism as adults?”. The question appears to have many responses but in fact it arises when we see that many young people who have been formed within the context of Salesian spirituality struggle to find their place in the Salesian Movement.

 

The relationship between the Salesian Youth Movement and the Salesian Movement
It seems to us that the Salesian Youth Movement is well organised in terms of initiatives, formation options and participation structures which can guarantee the interiorisation of the charism. How can the Salesian Movement guarantee perseverance in the Salesian charism? Fr Vecchi wrote: “We need to invent and try things!” (cf. Fr Vecchi, The Salesian Family completes 25 Years, 1997).

 

CONCLUSION

We have said that the choice of working together as a Salesian Family for the young is not just a pastoral opportunity, but a charismatic fact. This is our daily experience enjoying the richness and pastoral results that come from it.
We are more aware than ever that encounter between different members of the Salesian Family, each according to the group's identity, gives greater consistency to our common educational effort. In fact it constantly brings into play: male and female sensitivities, different vocational choices (religious life or lay commitment), models of mature adults involved in service, young people whoa re seeking and who are deeply passionate about Don Bosco. This requires, on the part of each group, a commitment to growing in one's proper charismatic identity and the choice of being more mature in shared responsibility.
The desire to evangelise makes us passionate, we share our educative style, the responsibility to develop the charismatic inheritance we have from Don Bosco is a challenge for us. Living the "Da Mihi Animas" together for the salvation of the young is the most beautiful and prophetic gift we can give today tot he Church and society.

 

Fr Igino Biffi – SDB YM Delegate
Sr. Stefania Vivian – FMA Delegate for the ASC
Andrea Penzo – In charge of YM for the ASC

 

EXPERIENCES  OF COMMUNION IN THE SF
 IN THE CHURCH AND NEIGHBOURHOOD

 San Severo Diocese

In 1895 Don Rua set in motion an initiative of a singular kind: he sent six copies of a small booklet with the  Regulations of the Oratory of St Francis of Sales for externs written by Don Bosco to the bishops in Italy and one to every parish priest.
This prophetic gesture was of considerable benefit inasmuch as it opened up an institutional bridge to the Church and neighbourhood, a potential charismatic movement for salvation of an ever greater number of young people and source of a new springtime of members for various institutional associations of the Salesian Family.
This choice was also a reason for many secular priests  and their parishioners to become "friends of Don Bosco" and then zealous Salesian Cooperators. The movement widened and spread thanks to the Salesian Bulletin which extended the life of the SF and made room for a diocesan and lay movement which it triggered.
This was the story of the Salesian Family fully inserted into the Church and neighbourhood. Our roots as a Salesian Family go back to the end of the 1800's when diocesan priests and laity teamed up with the intention of bringing the Sons of Don Bosco to the city of San Severo in 1905. It was the same strength of teamwork that brought the FMAs in 1925. The SF was made complete (SDB-FMA-ASC-Past Pupils amongst lay and diocesan clergy alike, then later on some Don Bosco Volunteers).  From 1905 until the day he went to heaven (23 November 1977), there was one man, Servant of God Fr Felice Canelli, diocesan priest and director of the Salesian Cooperators and animator of the Past Pupils, who loved Don Bosco, modelled himself on his heart, espoused the Salesian cause and became a blood brother of the Salesians and Salesian Sisters.  He set about seeing to, guiding, supporting and promoting communion and mission within the SF; he  shared the gift of “Salesian heritage” in his parish, with the clergy, in the Diocese, within his own neighbourhood and  beyond the Diocese, in  every activity in favour of Don Bosco, his spirit and for the good of the  young. Not only this. With the Past Pupils, in order to live out Don Bosco's project of: “Good Christians and upright citizens” he founded the “Don Bosco” citizen group which then became the roots of the Popular Party and then Christian Democracy, a first scouts group: Don Bosco Rovers, St Vincent de Paul Conference, the ACLI, cooperatives for the needy, FUCI, co-operators for evening schools for young workers  etc.. With the first benefactors of the Salesian work he set up the Catholic women's group which developed into a Catholic Action group, and then the Knights of the Sacred Heart, the Women of Charity of St Vincent and so many other associations of a welfare and formative nature.  He not only believed in and supported communion and mission ad intra but also ad extra.  He not only fitted the Salesian charism to the local Church but transplanted a sense of Church into the work of the SF: it was not by chance that the “Dominic Savio” Catholic Action group or the coordination of the various groups (today ACR) given by the bishop to the FMA came about.
He wrote in his Diary"Jesus suffered and was tormented by thirst for souls. The programme of an apostle is "Da mihi animas" which means cooperating with Him to conquer and save souls!". Thanks to Fr Felice in our Diocese Don Bosco is at home there. Almost all parishes have his picture in the sacristy or an oratory dedicated to him. And if today we are here to tell you about simple, small, ordinary things, we owe it to him and what he sowed and built through the SF over almost a century. We are “standing on the shoulders of a giant” and we are proud of it.    (Sr Francesca FMA)
My name is Andrea Pupilla, 27 years of age and I am a Deacon in the Church in San Severo. A year ago the Lord “sent me to announce the Good News to the poor” (Lk 4:18) and serve the Church in Caritas in our diocese as vice director. I feel privileged: being with the poor and being with Christ. They are his “sacrament” (cf. Mt 25).
Providence wanted me to share my pastoral experience in the same building with the Salesian Sisters' community, in the former Salesian Institute, a true and proper gem in the city, a place of growth and formation for a great number of San Severino citizens, a city which over time had fallen on bad times. The Sisters have established a relationship of sharing and practical collaboration. The mission entrusted to Caritas is especially that of “educating”. It is not a welfare association, or volunteer organisation, but in its DNA it has a “mainly pedagogical function” (Statutes of Caritas Italiana art.1) where the poor, the Church and the neighbourhood are concerned. Seen this way, in the Caritas DNA I see a vocational way of expressing the Salesian charism, inspired as it is by a great educator: Don Bosco.
In this wonderful and demanding mission the Salesian charism is experienced as natural dedication to animating a group of Salesian Sisters' past pupils and some Salesian Cooperators to witness of charity. They give a hand with the daily meals and at the newly created work desk. There has been a collaboration in education of young people at the oratory and the education of young people coming from nuclear families in difficulty (an increasingly widespread situation recently in our neighbourhood) with after school activity run by the FMA and past pupils. I am part of the Youth Ministry Team and I work with Fr Nico, Sr Francesca and Fr Nazareno in diocesan leadership  “with a Salesian heart” in Youth Ministry. Finally, my desire to be a Salesian Cooperator aspirant is supported and confirmed by my daily pastoral activity, in contact with many migrants, most of them young, and to be found everywhere in Puglia   (deacon Andrea ASC)
I cam into contact with the Sisters through my children and I chose to live my Salesianity as a Cooperator who is socially involved.
In San Severo there is a youth centre called: “Epicentre”, separate from the parish but run by Fr Nico, a priest who is a Salesian Cooperator, and since he had asked me if I could give him a hand, thinking it would be good to have an adult in the midst of the youngsters, I enthusiastically accepted this new and stimulating experience. After more than a year I can say that the experience has been largely a positive one for me. My relationship with the youngsters has been an enrichment which has helped me to understand my  own children better. On the other hand, by speaking with them I think I have been able to understand their parents' behaviour.
Being a centre where the Diocesan Caritas is, I also cooperate with them there at meal times and  in a  youth employment centre seeing that I am also secretary of the CGIL union (Peppino ASC)
Passion for the young and their education has its roots way back for me and goes back to my major seminary days when I began my first ministry experiences in the oratory at the seminary, where a year later I became the director . A priest now for more than four years I have had an extraordinary experience at the Italian Catholic Mission in Kloten where I was involved working with youngsters from Italian emigrant families. But the most significant experience, which has become my whole life today, began in 1993 when, on re-entering the Diocese I was given two important tasks by Bishop Cesare Bonicelli: teaching religion in the secondary school and then setting up a youth centre which could be a reference point for young people in the city in particular for those who tend not to move in parish circles. Some parts of the former Salesian Institute were given to me. The Institute had been abandoned for some time. Little by little a place that had already seen the Sons of Don Bosco spending themselves generously for the education and formation of whole generations, began to take on life and fill up with young people again. That's how the Youth Epicentre came about and symbolically I wanted the date of its beginning to be 31st January, Feast of St John Bosco.  The years that followed were not easy. Meanwhile I was also appointed chaplain to the prison in San Severo and was also asked to be spiritual assistant to a community of people recovering from drug-dependency. Other than all those activities of the past and present  the greatest joy I have experienced and still do constantly with the youngsters in the Epicentre is to be a father for them, to be aware I've made a difference, despite the limitations the youngsters always forgive me for, in their human and spiritual growth . In 1996 I was appointed chaplain of the FMA and that began a stricter and more fruitful collaboration to the point where, in recent years a Sister came regularly to the Epicentre to be with the youngsters. This collaboration has had two highlights: the first in 2006 when before the Rector Major in Bari  I made my promise as a Salesian Cooperator crowning a commitment which had marked my whole life deep down; the second was in 2007 when the FMA left their “Matteo Trotta” Institute and came to the former Salesian Institute. This was a transfer I warmly encouraged hoped for since I saw the positive nature of a teamwork between the Epicentre and the Salesian Oratory. The two live side by side today, work as one and support one another. With a Salesian Sister I share responsibility for Diocesan Youth Ministry, while some Cooperators and past pupils ensure a constant presence in the life of the Epicentre and have set up a wonderful rapport with the kids. Some youngsters from the Epicentre have also become leaders in the Salesian Oratory and many gave excellent help over the last summer camp season after our community experienced a tragic time when two of the Sisters died. We join together for the Eucharist on Saturday evenings and on other spiritual occasions like for monthly recollections. In concluding I can say that the Salesian spirit has always marked my life as a priest…  and with the passing of the years I have become ever more aware of this. (Fr Nico ASC)
The  vocation to be a “Don Bosco presence” today  is something I feel especially when I am at school with my colleagues, with the children, their parents and when I am  with my relatives … I experience joy and happiness and make the effort to be a constant and pleasant presence. It is at those times that I realise more how affection, smiles, fraternal embraces arise. I thrive on this life of gestures, and affection seeking to be, in family, work and the neighbourhood, a good Salesian presence. Living as a Salesian Cooperator is the step up, the key and  door to help me to live each day in a spirit of communion (Teresa ASC)           
On 6 May 2008, in the presence of Fr Adrian Bregolin, I became a Salesian Cooperator. This became a point of arrival that the Lord had called me to over two years. Since my diaconate ordination in 1996, the Lord had confronted me with a youth experience, in Youth Ministry (where my collaboration grew year by year with the Salesian Sisters) and through teaching religion in lower and upper secondary.
Prolonged contact with the young had made me glimpse God's will that I devote most of my time to this youth mission. So I have always worked for this youth reality in need of so much pastoral attention in the diocese,. Especially the young people far from God: these are the ones I have always gone out to meet, in friendship and with attention.
My priestly lifestyle brought me, in 2002, to a more constant collaboration of presence and friendship with the Salesian Sisters. Through them I discovered that the Salesian charism stood out in my heart: it would be because since I was little, I went to a school called St. John Bosco, and knew his life well; it would also be because in so many situations I have perceived that the Lord was calling me to do something "great" for the young; and it would also be because in the parishes where I have worked, first as assistant priest then as parish priest, the mission for the young who needed to be sought out has always taken up most of my time.
From 1st September 2006 the bishop called me to be parish priest in a different place to the big city: a town of some 2000 inhabitants. It might have looked easy at first glance, considering the number involved. Then I became aware that of the 2000 inhabitants, at least 3/4 needed pastoral care and attention. Of these at least a 1/3 were children, young adolescents. They are the most important part of a community which empties out of young people heading away to find work or to study. Therefore dedication to the world of the young, here in Rignano Garganico, has grown beyond measure, taking up all my time and pastoral effort. The discovery I have made here has been that, in a town with so many young people, young Catholics were and are very few, attracted as the young are to the bar, to drugs and the great desire to remain anonymous citizens, and this creates a youth old before its time, at just 15-16 years of age, where they've had all the experience but have nothing left to dream for.
Rignano, besides, having provided at least 15 Salesians in the 20th century, had never had an Oraotry, or given real attention to the young. So the great aim was and is: an oratory in Rignano Garganico. Where? Obviously in the garage at the Presbytery, in our so-called "Pinardi shed". A lack of suitable spots, which we hope to fill in the future by constructing something suitable, has been no discouragement: The Oratory is more an experience to be lived than a place to fill up. Ans so along with all the groups of Catholic Action on 31st January 2007 (after 3 months being there) I set out to start the ANSPI  "Youth with Don Bosco" Oratory. "With", since it is only by being together that you can have an Oratory; "with", since Don Bosco, in a spiritual sense, having loved this place with so many SDBs, is really with us; "with", since all pastoral situations are not eliminated but given value (cf. A.C.).
From October last a picture of Don Bosco is enthroned in the Church in Carmine, now an oratory chapel, so prayer can be at the heart of it all!
Today, after a good 2 years, a small prophecy has come about: the presence of a Salesian Sister to help the Oratory to grow and for a constant mission amongst the young. So, then a "with" also becomes "with the FMA". Bringing about the Salesian charism in the world (and Rignano for me is the world I live in and carry out my priestly mission in)  is a truly unique objective and gives meaning to my being a Salesian Cooperator. (  Fr. Nazareno ASC)
For a young priest interested in the youth and children it is almost something natural, an unsought for mutual harmony. I have been through that, but now that I have grey hair, some of my parishioners say : “take the young away from Fr Dominic and you've taken everything away from him”.
Don Bosco has always fascinated me: trying to know him better, going to pray at his tomb, visiting the first oratory, in Valdocco…discovering that  from my town, San Paolo di Civitate, towards the end of the 1880's but while Don Bosco was still alive, a letter came to him asking him to send some of his priests to help look after the youth.  Then meeting the the FMA in the dicoese, accepting the proposal to be a Salesian Cooperator was something special. This choice seemed to be a logical consequence and the natural outcome of my being a priest with and for the young.
Today. with a  Salesian Cooperator “confrere” whom the Lord has given me often in my pastoral ministry (Pasquale De Salvio), we are able to fully live out our charism in service of the young and with them in service of the world.  In a parish of 3500 souls we follow up around 50 young boys and girls: Compline each evening, two formation meetings a week, taking part in the Sunday Mass, helping with the singing, liturgy, and the older ones giving a hand in teaching the younger ones in the ACR, working with the Parish Caritas volunteers for the services the request….  the two novenas to Mary Immaculate at Christmas special occasions. In the Salesian spirit of strong Marian devotion, we are giving a small input to the young to help them love the Mother of God: a decade of the rosary each day, and we are also trying to set up an ADMA group in the parish. Some (three or four) have asked to start a path of formation to be Salesian Cooperators in the great Salesian Family.
In the  spirit of the “da mihi animas ..” we are open to collaborating 360° with all educational and social agencies in the neighbourhood: we have given a copy of the Preventive System booklet to catechists, many parents, teachers in the primary and lower secondary and by some meetings they have occasionally asked for. We are working with the town council in summer activities with youth and in alcohol prevention projects. We are content with being Sons of Don Bosco in company with so many people who want to know him and be inspired by his total dedication to the world of the young.   (Fr Mimmo and Pasquale)