Subsequently the Rector Major intervened. In his greeting to the thousands of people connected from home he did not fail to convey his enthusiasm: “I must tell you that I am overwhelmed by a great emotion. It is a unique, special, new, different moment: it is the first time in our history that the Salesian Spirituality Days have been held for the whole world together, from Asia to the far west,” he said.
The video of the Strenna developed in collaboration by ANS and IME Comunicazione was then broadcast.
The Rector Major again took the floor to offer his comment. He recalled the extraordinary prayer moment presided over by Pope Francis in St Peter's Square on March 27, and then illustrated the different ways in which the world is looking at the pandemic crisis. He stressed the need to give an appropriate response on the part of the Salesian Family that has to do “with our charism and our faith, and with a certain vision of life and of the human being.”
Thus faced with all the problems of the pandemic-generated crisis, he indicated the examples of holiness of the Salesian Family, and summarized: “God accompanies us.”
Msgr. Derio Olivero, bishop of Pinerolo, spoke on the theme "Hope in Action". In his report he produced a careful analysis on the “reduction of hope” in contemporary society, but he indicated the way out via faith in God and in the relationships that form the identity of each person.
The joint session on Saturday 16 January was opened by a retrospective on the message of hope, still relevant today, which comes from the figure of Fr Paolo Albera, the 100th anniversary of his death being celebrated this year. Then, as part of the review: "The voice of the Groups of the Salesian Family in the world", various testimonies were heard from all continents and the Salesian Regions, and from numerous groups of the Salesian Family: a lively and faithful representation of how, united by their roots in Don Bosco, despite the diversity of their specific charisms, the different groups keep hope alive with solidarity with others and fidelity to God.
Yesterday, Sunday 17 January, the Rector Major presided over the concluding Eucharist of the XXXIX edition of the SDSF. On the occasion, referring to the Liturgy of the day, the Rector Major stressed that it is Jesus who satisfies “the thirst for meaning, the search” yesterday of the first disciples, today of every Christian or person who approaches the faith, because it is He who “gives fullness to what gives meaning to our life.”
Then he concluded: “Today, we, the Salesian Family of Don Bosco, want to be those disciples who hear You say: 'Come and see'. And that it can be said of us continuously that 'we went, we saw and stayed with Jesus'.”
Photos of the Salesian Family Spirituality Days are available on ANSFlickr.
The videos of the common sessions remain available on the ANS Facebook page.
