The meaning of 'Salesian Family' - RM develops the theme in Asian context

HO CHI MINH CITY: 14th April 2007 -- In a tightly packed run of events, the Rector Major Fr Pascual Chávez, continued to develop a theme he has often returned to in recent times - the nature of the Salesian Family as an apostolic movement under Don Bosco's charism.  In the morning at Tam Hai, a Salesian praish near the provincial house in HCM, he met with Salesian Cooperators, past pupils and a number of parents of confreres, as well as many representatives of the parish itself.
    "The Salesian Family", he said, "is a movement of spirituality and apostolate, comprising Salesians SDB, Salesian Sisters, and lay people who commit themselves to the salvation of the young in need and employ the preventive system of education in order to do so". There were questions about the role of non-Catholic and indeed non-Christians who are active members of Salesian works in Vietnam.  The Rector Major indicated that they, especially the non-Christians, can be termed 'Friends of Don Bosco', yet, he indicated that the matter still needs reflection especially in the Asian context where Catholics are in the minority.
    By the afternoon it was the preventive system in action as two and a half thousand young people came in to honour the presence of the Rector Major.  They came from Salesian parishes and communities, but also from other parishes and groups where Salesians are involved.  The Rector Major delivered his message by way of the technique he now regularly uses for these events - response to questions, most of which were prepared earlier by a group of the young people themselves.  It was fundamentally a message of joy, hope and happiness.  This event was followed by a Mass concelebrated by some 50 priests. At the end of the Mass a welcome was extended to the Cardinal Archbishop of HCM diocese, Cardinal John Baptist Pham Minh Mân.  Before him, and with the offer of a medal of Don Bosco, the Rector Major renewed the commitment of the Salesians to serve the Church.
    The day concluded with a celebration of religious and cultural items presenting the Beatitudes for the young, and the victory of a culture of life of one of death.  The Rector Major concluded the day's events with the Good Night in which he asked the young people present to bring a message of joy, happiness, life and love to Vietnamese society.

The Rector Major in Vietnam - The Final Day

Ho Chi Minh. 14 April -- Today was really a family day for the Salesians of Vietnam. Almost 200 Salesians from all communities and presences gathered around the Rector Major on his last day in Vietnam.

The center of the Day was the delivery of the congratulations and expectations of the Rector Major to the whole province in the sense that he wished all the confreres to continue to keep alive the spirit of Don Bosco in this part of the world and maintain the level of meaningfulness and fruitfulness of their presences. As he could see the accelerating change Vietnam is getting, he also pointed out some important elements for the Vietnamese Salesians to be faithful to the identity of the consecrated life and to keep themselves update to respond to the needs of the young: to be mystic, to be prophetic and to be avaible to serve.

The family atmosphere was really felt by all those present in which gifts were exchanged between the Rector Major and the Province.

During the homily in the following Mass, the Rector Major insisted again the main mission of the Salesians is to be evangelizes of the young in Vietnam. At the end of the Mass, he unexpectedly put out a challenge for the Province to increase in quality and also in number in such a way that within few years, the Province would be divided into two Provinces!

All the present Salesians were heartedly welcoming the message and expectations of the Rector Major. Let his words and teachings become a program for life and action for our confreres.

Back on Roman soil but with fond memories and reminder ' to be mystics, prophetic and ready to serve'.

ROME: 15th April 2007 -- The Rector Major arrived back in Rome early this morning. He had left Ho Chi Minh City on 14th after a 'family gathering' of some 200 Salesians from all communities and presences.  At the core of this family celebration was his presentation of expectations for Salesian Vietnam, as well as his congratulations to the confreres for present achievements.  This visit had enabled him to note, as he is wont to do, the inevitable social changes that are occurring in Vietnam as elsewhere, with the challenges these bring to the Salesian vocation and mission.  He pointed out to the assembled confreres the important elements for Vietnamese Salesians to ensure that they remain faithful to the identity of consecrated Salesian life, and to remain up-to-date in response to the needs of the young "to be mystics, prophetic and ready to serve'.
     Again at the homily in the Mass celebrated together - an insistence on the Salesians' main mission in Vietnam: to be evangelizers of the young.  As Mass concluded he raised the sights still further - a challenge to increase in quantity and quality so that a second province is called for!