Valdocco and the world, 13 January 2023 -- While the 280 SF members enjoy the second day of an 'almost pre-Covid' level of participation in the Valdocco theater and Mary Help of Christians basilica, more than 1000 EAO Salesian Family members met on January 13 in the digital space for the first of two EAO 2 hour-sessions. 'How to become a better Yeast in the human family?' - was a leitmotif of two hours long program composed of 12 recorded video clips and guided by three vibrant moderators - Celine and Pat (SYM) with Salesian Aspirant Pierre.
At the centre of the first day of the 2023 SF Spirituality Days at Valdocco were the Rector Major, Strenna Video and Open forum open to the participants about the various aspects of the 'Yeast' Strenna for this year. The first day concluded with the 'Via Lucis' (Way of Light) prayer, inspired by one of the SF Lay groups 'The Witness of the Risen Lord' (TR - Testimoni del Risorto). Fr Angel F Artime helps us to understand the deeper meaning of this Strenna message and invited all to read and reflect on the 'official' Strenna 2023 commentary published last December 2022. We mention just few highlights of RM's comments: 'Yeast - means share life witness by any means, any time - there is no special favourable condition! - Possible temptation for the religious: This Strenna is not for me! - This year we need to try lay people formation to socio-political commitment. - Salesian Family makes impact, but not like pop-stars. Our impact is based on daily presence, education relationship with millions of young people day by day in 134 countries. Nobody can compete in this aspect with the Salesian Family. One minute of personal encounter every day, heart to heart, makes a powerful, human family transforming yeast..." This year the world level program sessions of the 41st SFSD for the EAO region are translated only to Vietnamese and Thai languages.
On the first EAO session of 2023 SF Spirituality Days (January 13) only one SDB was on screen - Br Robert Narvaez (Obet) - sharing the Goodnight about his devotion to Saint Brother Artemides Zatti. The program was rich in diversity - Korean, Timorese and Chinese Salesian Cooperators contribution, World-wide VDB team life sharing, Australian Lay Mission Partner - Provincial delegate for Missionary Animation, DQM (Daughters of Queenship of Mary) and Don Bosco Past Pupils from Thailand. Through the final prayer all were able to understand the situation and pray better for the suffering people of Myanmar.
An optional 'Mixed group sharing' on the Zoom platform started after the 2 hours long EAO YouTube session in 8 languages, when 47 participants shared their wisdom about 'How to become a better yeast in the human family?'
- Being a good listener to all, especially to the young people
- Being cheerful, patient and loving, especially to people in need, troubled and depressed
- Feeding every day own faith with the Word, the Eucharist in the fulfillment of my duties and helping others
- Praying in a simple and rooted in the heart, live life of prayer. It's God who makes things possible.
- Living the simple Salesian virtues, like loving kindness and empathy with all people around me in the ordinary environment, filled with joy and hope.
- Ask myself often 'What is my dream in this situation?' Choosing to be positive in everything and becoming the 'happy virus' spreading Salesian joy
We are grateful to the Canlubang EAO SF studio (5 members team with Fr Jay David), to the Tokyo-Manila IT team cooperation that manages the LIVE streaming in 8 languages and especially the 19 Salesian translators who are doing their best. On the EAO Day 1 some 1100 views (real time) in the following languages - English 462, Korean 375, Indonesian 112, Vietnamese 86, Japanese 85, Tetum (Timor) 24 views and Mongolian 15 views. Of course, there were hundreds of other participants gathered in large groups following on large screens - like FMA in Cambodia, SDB in Timor Leste, Indonesia and Mongolia.
All 2023 EAO Salesian Family spirituality days text and videos, mixed group sharing are available on the SF-EAO YouTube channels (8 languages) and Boscolink.
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