By Fr. John, SDB
After one year and few months in his office, Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime as the Rector Major took a new approach in communication. The Rector major does continue the official ways, like the two letters in the Acts of the General Council for the SDB and one annual Strenna for the whole Salesian Family. Among his new ways of communication is the 'Cari confratelli' (Dear confreres) - a quarterly video message available on the ANS channel (also in 10 languages of the EAO region), a two 'minor letters' send to the SDB and Salesian family members every year.
But the most striking in his desire to communicate closely in an open manner is precisely his (almost) daily GOOD MORNING TALK on the Facebook. It reached already more than 300+ editions on his FB: ANGEL Fernandez-Rectory Mayor (public figure). https://www.facebook.com/pages/ANGEL-Fern%C3%A1ndez-Rector-MAYOR/1475236676049017?fref=ts
It's published in three languages (Spanish, Italian and English) and it's shared and commented by some hundreds - thousands people on the web every day.
It's really a new way of getting in daily touch with anybody in the digital playground - with a special focus on the young people, salesian lay mission partners, members of Salesian Family and larger movement of the Friends of Don Bosco. It's open to everybody.
What is interesting for us - the English online translator of his Good Morning Talk is one of the 1500 EAO Salesians. He does help the Rector Major faithfully every day to share his greeting also in English.
For those who are not in the Facebook or are not familiar with the FB - here are two most recent 'Good Morning Greeting' n. 304
GOOD-MORNING GREETING N. 304
The knot in the bed sheet (part 2)
OR THE ART OF MAKING ONE'S LOVE FELT, INDEED!
Good morning my friends.
It's still present in us, with no doubt, the story that I offered you yesterday.
I guess we can say it was a good story. And today I was thinking to offer you a simple reflection that could go beyond a simple word, though important, close to what it is needed to express affection to the sons and daughters, dedicating some time to them, be with them. Yet this is not the point to which I want to refer. I'd like to go a bit beyond the education field.
I'd like to refer to the ART OF EXPRESSING FEELINGS, TO THE ABILITY OF MANIFESTING WHAT ONE FEELS, BE IT WITH GREAT MATTERS, OR WITH THE LEAST DETAILS.
Increasingly, we've got to be convinced that at this stage of History, THE PERSONAL TESTIMONY, THE GESTURES FULL OF AUTHENTICITY AND SENSE, more than words, ARE THOSE TO MOVE THE HEARTS.
As to the father in the story, every night kiss and the knot in the bed sheet, was sufficient to let his child understand that his father worked a lot, yet HE LOVED HIM BEST. And that little boy grew up in PERSONAL HARMONY.
My friends: we need to express more what we have in our hearts; we need to be "less politically correct", even with the risk of looking naive or not much "deep" as others can believe, we need to be more down to earth, be accessible, look into each others' eyes, meeting the others without seeing a danger, an antagonist or an indifferent person..., all of that among the other things.
WE NEED TO MAKE Don Bosco's education system BECOME MORE A REALITY: IT'S NECESSARY THAT THE YOUNGSTERS SHOULD NOT ONLY BE LOVED, BUT REALIZE THAT THEY ARE LOVED!
Be happy. The Lord bless you.
Angel. R.M.
