The mission of the VDB today
Frascati, Italy, 18 July 2019 -- The 8th General Assembly (=GA, every 6 years) of the VDB (Volunteers of Don Bosco) Secular Institute (World Moderator Ms. Olga Krizova) opens today at Frascatti near Rome. The GA has the theme 'The Mission of the VDB Today' and will also elect a new World Moderator after Olga K's (Slovakia) two consecutive terms. This will take place among the 84 members with the right to vote present, and other VDB observers and delegates.
There are almost 1200 VDB members who are spread across 60 countries around the world, living their consecration to God through the vows of obedience, poverty and chastity in ordinary daily life. They have no common life, but usually come together as a 'group' once or twice a month for recollection and formation days. Within our EAO region there are about 130 VDB and their vocation is growing.
At times is not easy for other members of the Salesian Family to understand their 'secular consecration'. Through the simple words or their World Moderator (2017-2019), Ms. Olga K. in the VDB quarterly magazine 'Crescere' we can understand this more easily: 'I want the good God to make me and all my sisters a living tabernacle in this world'. The next VDB World Moderator will be elected before the end of the 8th General Assembly.
The whole Salesian Family with 32 different groups is present through the RM's SF Delegate, Fr. Eusebio Munoz, and the VDB Central Assistant, Fr. Joan Lluis Playa. All of us can assist the GA 8 delegates with our prayers. During the preparation period for General Assembly the Institute proposed the following prayer:
God the most Holy trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Your name is Love. With this infinite Love, you enter the heart of every person and human history.
God the most Holy trinity, God of Love, bless our 8th General Assembly.
Guide our steps that we may discover new and profound ways to offer the world your water,
the only one that can quench our thirst.
We believe that every time we open our hearts to discover you in the faces of our needy brothers and sisters,
we receive the fresh water of your Love, the courage and joy to announce your news, like the Samaritan woman.
We ask you: Renew in us the desire for your Love and the thirst for you,
that we may welcome the living water that you offer us.
Give us strength from the Holy Spirit to become water of love for the whole world.
Amen.
Mary Help of Christians, pray for us.
St. John Bosco, pray for us.
Blessed Philip Rinaldi, pray for us.
Related materials:
- Crescere (VDB formation magazine 2018-2019) in English on the Boscolink
- Letter of the Rector Major for the Centenary of VDB Institute (1917-2017)
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