Hopes and Dreams: to GC28 from Australia

By Ms Lauren Hichaaba
Provincial delegate for missionary animation

Melbourne, Australia, 20 March 2020 -- As I prepared to go to the General Chapter 28 there were so many different things that I hoped to learn and discuss and to share. My hope is that at some point there will be scope and time to discuss the very important question about shared mission and formation with the laity and the Salesians of Don Bosco. As that is not possible right in this moment I have been asked to (briefly) share a few points. The one who made the request knows all too well that I do not have the gift of being brief:

Shared mission among the Salesians and Lay as mission partners

• First and probably most importantly, the relationship that exists between the laity and the Salesians of Don Bosco is so special and so beautiful. This relationship began with Don Bosco. It is wonderful to always reflect on the way that Don Bosco shared his mission with Mama Margaret, one of his most trusted and important key lay collaborators!

• My perspective comes from someone who takes their vocation to work for young people very seriously. There are many ways that the ‘Salesian’ vocation is manifested and recognising that there are many laity that have the ‘Salesian’ vocation is important as we discuss the way forward for the Salesians of Don Bosco and the laity.

• We need to celebrate the diversity of those that have the vocational call to follow the life of Don Bosco. There are so many different perspectives and lived experiences – we need to value that and more importantly there is great scope to start utilising that in a much more systematic and purposeful way.

• The main point here is that we must work towards greater and more diverse representation at all decision-making levels (e.g provincial councils...). This broadly includes the laity but most specifically voices that have historically been marginalised in the Church – women and young people particularly! I am not exactly sure what this means or how this looks – I just know it is important!

What kind of Salesians for the Youth of Today?

This is a complex question however at the heart of the answer are two key principles!

• The first is genuine, authentic presence. If I have learned anything as a mother of four…all my kids want is for me to be with them. The human desire for connectedness is something that all young people have – in fact all people have! Therefore, the answer to this very important question begins with presence.

• Secondly, probably most important of all, is ensuring that we do everything we do with an attitude of love. In an institution there can run the risk of institutionalism and clericalism that disconnect someone with their humanity….it is so important that together, laity and Salesians of Don Bosco continually connect with their humanity and their ability to love.

• There are so many incredible ‘guidelines’ on how to love…and St. Paul is such a great starting place…however l would like to also suggest that key to loving our young people is allowing ourselves to not only remain in touch with our humanity but to the point of vulnerability. If we can allow ourselves to be vulnerable then our authenticity and love will speak volumes. We must remember that to love is not the easy choice….real love takes work, it is scary and it does in fact leave us vulnerable.

• For this reason, it is only together in genuine and authentic and meaningful shared mission that we can undertake the crucial vocational call that we have to undertake the task to love the young people of this world!

• Full text of 'Sharing and Dream' on the Boscolink (for download)
• Lauren's Message to the GC28 on YouTube channel (10 minutes)

Related news article:

• AustraLasia 5280 (I) Two Lay Mission Partners from the EAO to join the GC28

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