Three Key Words of 38th SF Spirituality Days 2020 at Valdocco
Valdocco, Turin - Italy, 19 January 2020 -- With the strongly challenging Strenna 2020: Your Will Be done on earth as it is in Heaven (Mt 6,10) - Good Christians and Upright Citizens - the 380 participants of the 38th Salesian Family Spirituality Days at Valdocco were enriched with many testimonials and sharing, mainly from the lay members of our Family. During the first 3 days the three strong key words were clearly spelt out: Concrete - Courageous - Commitment.
The full time presence of the Rector Major and almost complete SDB General Council is a good inspiration for all of our provincials and rectors, how to animate the large Salesian Family. Also the presence of all 10 SDB provincials of the Mediterranean region (Italy, Spain, Portugal and Middle East) is a powerful witness.
All participants dedicated an ample listening time to many Salesian Cooperators and Don Bosco Past Pupils, who were sharing their social and political commitment in many different ways. With the help of simultaneous translation (App: Patagonia in 4 languages) the SF members were deeply touched by series of personal or group sharing:
Bishop of Mallorca (Spain) Sebastia Taltavull Anglada - Don Bosco Past Pupil (from the age of 6 years) - passionate for the effective youth ministry in his diocese.
Young animators and Alumni of Aleppo (Syria) Salesian Oratory operating also during the terrible Syria war with courage and joy.
Leadership of Italian Salesian Cooperators and Don Bosco Past Pupils presenting their 'Formation school for socio-political commitment' (Albert Marvelli).
Past Pupils of FMA Sisters, Cuneo (Italy) with their wonderful Oratorian commitment, where all young people are becoming animators of the younger generation.
Emma Ciccarelli (ASC - Italy) shared her commitment in the Bishops Conference Family Commission and social commitment to families.
Joaquin Martin (ASC - Spain) shared about his spirituality as an educator in Salesian school and vocation training center, meeting the youth at risk.
Jorge Santos (Past Pupil of Don Bosco, Portugal) as retired judge (Court of Appeal) shared his dedication to train judges also in African countries and daily commitment in St. Vincent de Paul Conference.
Nico Lotto (ASC - Italy, President of the Salesian NGO VIS) shared about the commitment against the human trafficking, amidst the refugees and migrants.
In order to digest all these rich inputs, the participants divided three times into 23 language groups. More than 20 different Salesian Family groups present realized some basic convictions in living the heritage of Don Bosco.
- need for balance of human and spiritual (citizens and believers)
- need for concrete commitment according the present difficulties of the young people, need for courage to grow daily in personal relationship with Jesus.
- need for credible life witness as basic condition for the initial proclamation of Jesus amidst non Christians or believers of other religions.
- need for a joint commitment as one Educative-Pastoral community, as Salesian Family in one's own place or as local Christian community.
For any SF member around the world with internet connection it is possible to savour the ANS Facebook streaming directly
For example video of Day 3: Panel sharing
Main talks of the SF spirituality days are also available on Boscolink
The 4 days at Valdocco shared by Salesian Family members from four continents are also a good model for each province or local level Salesian Family celebration, formation or prayer on the Strenna 2020.
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