Austria – Study day on Rector Major's Strenna 2023

25 January 2023
Austria – Study day on Rector Major's Strenna 2023

(ANS - Vienna) - This year Austria’s Don Bosco Educational Forum organized its annual study day on the Rector Major's Strenna in mixed mode, both online and in-person. After a hiatus due to the two years marked by the pandemic, about 100 people from the various groups of the Salesian Family were pleased to meet in person at the Salesianum in Vienna; while about 30 other interested parties who could not get to the venue took advantage of the opportunity to be present through digital links. All of them were able to listen with interest to the speeches of the various speakers, including the guest of honor, the Economer General of the Salesian Congregation, Br. Jean Paul Muller.

In her words of welcome, the Provincial Superior of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) of Austria, Sister Petra Egeling, described Don Bosco's tradition of whispering a few good words into the ears of the young people at the beginning of a new year. This, she said, was the beginning of what is now the Strenna for the Salesian Family.

Afterward, the General Economer of the Salesians of Don Bosco gave the central lecture of the event, delving into the theme of Strenna 2023: "AS THE YEAST IN TODAY'S HUMAN FAMILY. The Lay Dimension of the Family of Don Bosco."

"This theme speaks of our vocation. The profound dimension in us works like yeast. Sometimes it makes us wider, sometimes it pushes us up, and sometimes it really does us good," Br. Muller explained, underscoring that "Don Bosco's mission has always been built on the fundamental principle of the Salesian Family."

"To be leaven for the world means to give an answer to the question about the youthfulness of the Church and its future: to keep alive the conviction that the experience of grace and miracles is possible as history, as a future," the Economer General of the Salesians continued.

In the afternoon, these reflections were explored, discussed, and developed in various work groups. In the workshop held by the main speaker, Br. Muller, participants explored the theme of "being present among today’s youth."

In the Salesianum kitchen, instead, yeast was experimented with to make bread.

And in yet another workshop, diversity in children's books and the importance of representing various people in different life situations in children's stories were presented.

The day ended with the celebration of the Eucharist for all those present, presided over by the Superior of the Province "Holy Guardian Angels" of Austria (AUS), Fr. Siegfried M. Kettner in his homily he recalled the meaning of that appointment to foster the sense of belonging and community in the Don Bosco family: "Today is the Feast of the Salesian Family, this is the Strenna Study Day," he declared.

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