The Salesian Family as a network of people tied to the person of Don Bosco
Frame of reference
Talk by Fr Juan José Bartolomé: Reflection on a biblical icon “mustard seed”.
Presentation of the Common Identity Card: Roberto Lorenzini, Fr Pierluigi Camerini, Sr Carmela.
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During this meeting space find the phrase which Mark's Gospel speaks of:
"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds but when it has grown, it is the biggest shrub of all and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and shelter in its branches» (Mt 13:31-32)
Let's get to know one another and speak of our experience
Presentation of participants according to the Branch they belong to. Each Branch, during its presentation, makes reference to its particular SF group, speaking of the basic notion of the charism, ideas which can draw from the summary pages on the various branches of the Salesian Family outlined in the book: The Salesian Family of Don Bosco
Step 1:
The group reflects on the testimonies heard during the morning (Each participant will receive an outline sketch to help understand the experience:
- The presentation
- Common identity elements
- Elements of pastoral and charismatic significance
- Elements of significance for the experienceof family
- How Salesian spirituality was part of the witness in its unity and diversity
- Elements showing the impact of the socio-cultural context on the effectiveness of Salesian spirituality experienced as family.
Step 2:
The moderator recalls the elements which emerged from the experiences spoken of vis-a-vis the comments of the Rector Major in Strenna 2009 point 2.1. This will be done with e visual presentation:
"The Church has entered a new phase of communion, indicated by the Continental Synods of the Universal Church, ecumenical dialogue, the inter-religious movement, global solidarity, commitment to reconciliation. Characteristic of this communion are: going back to the basics; wider extension; more adequate understanding of the circumstances; greater visibility; more apostolic and missionary activity; reference to the mission: “Communion generates communion and takes essentially as missionary communion” (ChL 32). Even if ours is mainly an apostolic Family, because it is a family it necessarily finds its roots in the mystery of the Trinity, the origin, model and goal of every family. In contemplating the God who is Love, the God who is Communion, the God who is Family, we understand what mission, a spirituality of communion, being family means (“being signs and bearers of God's love”).
TheFather asks us to expand our hearts so that, as Salesian Family members and groups, we accept and recognise one another as brothers and sisters, men and women loved by Him: we are personally called by Him to work in his vineyard for the same purpose. The meanness of the human heart can raise barriers, create distance and separation, and look for – like the Apostles – the first place, which only harms the Kingdom. At times our fears or reservations about unity with others itself produce similar effects. The heart, like the Father's heart, means true and deep affection for young people and whoever spends his or her life for them. This becomes warmth, seeing everyone's worth, recognising people for what they can give and risk giving.
The Holy Spirit shows us a second attitude for building up family: grateful and joyful acceptance of diversity. Manifestations of the Spirit are many tongues, different charisms, various members of the body. There are billions of people, each one singularly moulded as a child of God. The Spirit never makes repeats, doesn't produce series. Don Bosco was a master at making unity flourish amidst the diversity of types and temperaments, situations and abilities. This sensitivity was less present in his time. Today instead diversity becomes an educational and pastoral challenge for human fellowship, the Church's witness and for the Salesian Family. Diversity means an abundance of relationships, a variety of strengths, a fertility in various fields and incalculable fruitfulness. How many unparallelled opportunities for dialogue, exchange of educational and spiritual experiences can be offered in the Salesian Family by men and women, consecrated and secular, priests and laity, each in his or her own situation as husband, wife and child, young person, adult and elderly, worker, professional person or student, people of different race or culture, full of energy or tried by afflication, saint and sinner! Certainly, unity in diversity does not happen naturally; but precisely so that we would have the strength to overcome our self-centred instinct, Jesus prayed: “That they may be one!” (cf. Jn 17: 11).
Jesus, the Lord, the Son who became our companion on the journey, who reconciles all things, things in heaven and things on earth (cf. Col 1:15), reconciling all things in God, points out a third attitude for us: the will to walk together towards a shared goal, to come together in one place which is in no way ethereal, the Kingdom; to form a recognisable community of disciples who accpet his mandate together: "Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation" (Mk 16:15).
Here then are the three essential attitudes for growth in communion: wideness of heart, acceptance of diversity, the will to walk together towards a shared goal".
Step 3:
A. Group discussion on the three attitudes pointed out by the Rector Major for growth in communion:
1) wideness of heart
2) acceptance of diversity
3) the will to walk together towards a shared
goal
- how do we make these three attitudes concrete?
- what other attitude is neecessary for the Salesian Family to be an ecclesial apostolic movement?
B. The moderator will pull together from the discussion those useful elements which make up a “paradigm of communion”, to be put forward on the last day of the Assembly.
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23 January
Afternoon
15.45 - 16.15
16.15 – 18.15
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