Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – In a letter addressed to all Salesians throughout the world, the Rector Major Father Pascual Chavez announced that 2009 marks the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Salesian Congregation. As the Salesian News Agency (ANS) reported, the anniversary recalls an event on the evening of 18 December 1859 at the Oratory of Saint Francis in Don Bosco’s room in Valdocco (Turin), where those gathered – according to what has been recorded by Fr. Alasonatti – decided “to band themselves into a Society or Congregation while, while aiming at the sanctification of each member by mutual assistance would strive to promote God’s glory and the salvation of souls, especially those in greater need of instruction and formation.”
The year 2009, which Fr. Chavez has referred to as “a year of grace” should help Salesians to recall their own origins and the goals they are called to. During this same year, the relics of Don Bosco gathered in an urn will begin a pilgrimage tour through the 8 regions of the Congregation, in preparation for the bicentenary celebration of his birth in 2015.
Beginning with the January 31 feast of Don Bosco, the “year of grace” will be characterized by several dates and events: 25 May, the Solemnity of the Help of Christians (postponed this year as it coincided with the Ascension), 24 June, his name-day, and 16 August, his birthday, and will culminate on 18 December 2009 with the renewal of profession by all of us Salesians. In an effort to offer a path of reflection on this “year of grace,” the Rector Major proposed a Study Commission.
It should be a year that helps Salesians in “taking to heart our identity as consecrated persons, dedicated by vow to the primacy of God and the following of Christ obedient, poor and chaste, totally at the disposal of the Spirit, and precisely on account of this totally dedicated to the young.” Fr. Chavez also recommended that the Salesians “tell young people the story of the beginnings of the Congregation, about those who were the “co-founders” with Don Bosco” and to remember that they have been envisaged as “evangelizers of the young and as animators of a charismatic family.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 8/7/2008)
