Following on from a path already undertaken some years ago, that of assigning the preparation of the poster of the Strenna to artists from different contexts and geographical origins - so as to grasp each time the different sensitivities present in the Salesian universe - the Department for Social Communication wished to privilege the perceptions of Latin America for this edition.
Among the various illustrations proposed, the winner was that of the Argentine artist Gustavo Daguerre, 41 years of age and a whole life spent in Salesian circles, who currently works as pastoral coordinator in an institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and who in the past illustrated the pages of the national Salesian Bulletin.
Here's how he presents the poster:
"When I learned the phrase that will accompany the Strenna for 2021, I thought of the need to offer through an image what is strong for me in that prayer ... HOPE. And for us, as a community of believers, our hope is in Jesus. We often feel, in these times in which we live, that people are without hope. A pandemic is enough to make humanity 'tremble' and make it much more vulnerable. And in that wounded humanity, there are also our young people ... the privileged of our charism.
This is why, and almost by 'praying', we find the image of Jesus at the center, who supports us, invites us to rise, and not only with an outstretched hand, but also with an understanding gaze that gives dignity. And around it there is an environment that tends to convert, from a gray, dark, dense scenario to another full of color, with the necessary brightness to see in the faces of those who receive us, the testimony of Christ.
Our great challenge, as the Salesian Family, is simply to be a sign of Hope, to put light and color, to look with understanding, to continue to heal and accompany what this pandemic has hurt, to continue to be attentive to the needs of others, as Mother Mazzarello and Don Bosco taught us.”
The poster will be distributed in paper form and - compatibly with the postal services of the various countries - will reach the Salesian houses by October. Salesian illustrators from all over the world will also be able to modify the background to represent the different local contexts.
And on ANSFlickr, too.
https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/11278-rmg-strenna-2021-poster-released#sigProIde65268c786