The 31st Salesian Family Group

By the Secretariat of the Salesian Family

General House in Rome, 19 July 2016 -- The Contemplative Fraternity of Mary of Nazareth, founded in Uruguay became the 31st group of the Salesian Family large tree. The Tenth Successor of Don Bosco, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, with the approval of the General Council at its meeting on 11 July, approved the aggregation of the to the Salesian Family of Don Bosco. The Fraternity is recognized as a public association of the faithful. There are about 300 members - lay people, consecrated and priests - living in Uruguay, Argentina, Italy, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The Moderator of the Fraternity is Mrs Silvia Ourthe Cabalé.

The Contemplative Fraternity of Mary of Nazareth was born from a concern of now Archbishop emeritus of Montevideo, Nicola Cotugno SDB. It was a concern that he had since the time of his novitiate when he showed an inclination for the contemplative life but was encouraged to remain in the Salesian Congregation. The urgent need for contemplation in the Salesian charism was confirmed over the years by various Salesians, including, in 1964, Fr Egidio Vigano who would later become the seventh successor of Don Bosco.

He received encouragement from Giuseppe Gottardi, SDB - Auxiliary bishop of Montevideo. On 14 August 1977 the first member of the Contemplative Fraternity of Mary made the promise of contemplation. Fr Cotugno said on that occasion: "What I can say with certainty is that this contemplation in action, which is the aspiration we want to live our lives, is deeply rooted in Salesian spirituality". In 1986 the Fraternity was recognized by the local Church and in 1993 it received juridical recognition as a private association of faithful.

The charismatic identity of the fraternity is based on contemplation in action. "Living contemplation is, for Christians, an experience of union with God in all activities and expressions of life ... Mary of Nazareth, the everyday woman, is our model of contemplation," according to the website of the Fraternity (http://www.fraternidadmariadenazaret.org) in 3 languages - Spanish, Italian and Czech. The decree of aggregation to the Salesian Family is available on the www.sdb.org site.

The Nazareth Fraternity makes an original contribution to the Salesian Family through the focus on contemplation in action, witnessing through education and pastoral activities in the Salesian style.

Probably the most known mission of the Fraternity is their animation of the small Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Colle Don Bosco (Becchi) with a permanent presence of their members.

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