Fr Chávez met the Sons of Don Bosco as a child, attending the Salesian school and immediately experiencing the fascination of Don Bosco. After completing all his studies of initial formation and becoming a priest in 1973, he was sent to Rome, where he obtained his licentiate in Sacred Scripture at the Biblicum in 1977, and then returned home to teach in the Theological Studentate in Guadalajara.
He also held positions as Rector, was Provincial of Guadalajara from 1989 to 1994, and Regional Councillor for the Interamerican Region, an assignment that was communicated to him, during the CG24, in 1996, in Spain where he was finishing his studies in Sacred Scripture for his doctorate, through a phone call from Fr Vecchi.
After a term as Regional Councillor, he had two as Rector Major, being reconfirmed by the GC26 in 2008.
As with the general program of his term of office, for Fr Chávez the strennas, too, “returned to Don Bosco”. “For Don Bosco, the strenna took on a specific significance: it was the gift of a suggestion which would serve as a stimulus for the formative process and spiritual growth of his youngsters and which, in addition, became a guideline for the whole community” he wrote in his first strenna in 2003. And this was the sense in which he interpreted and developed it.
At the same time, in his 12 strennas, Fr Chávez was also able to give them a new impulse, a broader and more pastoral sense, and he enhanced their dimension as an instrument of animation for the entire Salesian Family. Precisely for this reason, the Strenna is often in communion and continuity with the General Chapters: as an application and concretisation of them.
His first strennas have as their theme: the educational emergency, youth holiness, commitment to the family, the promotion of life, preference for the poor, global solidarity, the new evangelisation, ardent and active charity.
And they are often in tune with the times of the Church and the Congregation, such as the post-Jubilee, GC25, the 150th anniversary of Mamma Margaret’s death, the 40th anniversary of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, the 50th anniversary of Dominic Savio’s canonisation, the Centenary of Fr Rua’s death, and – as a way of preparation – the Bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco.
As a structure, also given its preparation, the formulation almost always has a biblical or ecclesial or Salesian reference; they are simple and short, but very rich in content and in the practices to implement them. And the commentary that accompanies them often ends with a story, a fable, a wisdom anecdote, a poem, or a prayer.
In addition, since 2006, for a better interpretation and updating, the Strenna has been accompanied by one or more DVDs that serve as a guide to explore the strenna theme: a real guide to reading and studying the commentary on the Rector Major’s Strenna.
There is no shortage of strennas dedicated to young people: their education, the commitment to holiness; the family; evangelisation. And many other themes along with other major ones.
In general, it is no exaggeration to say that it is with Fr Chávez that the Strenna has acquired an important value not only because it is for all the groups of the Salesian Family scattered throughout the world, but above all because it has become a real project, a program of educational, spiritual and pastoral life for the entire Congregation with pastoral proposals, indications and practical suggestions to implement it.
Below are the 12 Strennas delivered by Fr Chávez:
2003: The home and school of communion;
2004: Let us propose wholeheartedly to all young people joy in the call to holiness;
2005: Rejuvenate the face of the Church,the Mother of our faith;
2006: Ensuring that special attention be give to the family;
2007: For a true culture of human life;
2008: Let us educate with the heart of Don Bosco;
2009: Let us commit ourselves to making the Salesian Family a vast movement of people for the salvation of the young;
2010: In imitation of Don Rua, as authentic disciples and zealous apostles, let us bring the Gospel to the young;
2011: Come and see;
2012: Let us make the young our life's mission by coming to know and imitate Don Bosco;
2013: “Rejoice in the Lord always: I say to you again, rejoice” (Phil 4: 4). Like Don Bosco the educator, let us offer the young the Gospel of joy through the pedagogy of kindness;
2014: "Da mihi animas, cetera tolle". Let us draw upon the spiritual experience of Don Bosco, in order to walk in holiness according to our specific vocation. “The glory of God and the salvation of souls.”
