The Institute of the Apostles of the Holy Family was founded by Cardinal Giuseppe Guarino in Messina (Italy), on June 29, 1889, and have been part of the Salesian Family since 1984. The ASF live and bear witness to their vocation, especially by supporting families: inspired by Don Bosco's pedagogical system, they take care of children, especially the most needy; they dedicate themselves to the Christian and comprehensive education of young people in schools and parishes; they visit families in difficulty or disintegrated, offer advice to engaged couples, and open their homes to host families so they can enjoy rich and meaningful spiritual experiences.
130 years after its foundation, the ASFs are called to carry out a thorough review of the Institute's status, renew their mission's apostolic zeal.
For this reason the CIVCSVA has entrusted the role of Pontifical Assistant to Fr Muñoz with the task "of supporting the Institute in the regular development of religious life and in overcoming certain difficulties". In this role, Fr Muñoz has supported the ASF in its preparation of the General Chapter: first through two meetings with the World Council; and more recently, in June, at the ASF Generalate in Messina, with a meeting with the designated Capitulars during which both the methodology and the fundamental contents of the Chapter were defined.
Among the meeting's specific themes: the management of the Institute's presence; attention to the major religious figures; and the general objectives set by the Institute for its future. In this sense the ASF General Chapter will also avail itself of the support of Fr Sabino Ardito, SDB, Professor emeritus of the Faculty of Canon Law of the Salesian Pontifical University, for a review of the Constitutions and Regulations.
Tomorrow, Thursday, July 18, begins the week of Spiritual Exercises that precedes the Chapter. All members of the ASF shall listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit to understand what God summons the Institute to in these times and to put itself at His joyful service.
