The volume, the result of five continental methodological seminars (2018-2019) - with the overall presence of over 150 SDB-FMA, members of the Salesian Family and lay scholars - turns its attention to 48 SDB and FMA figures, mostly unknown to Salesian history, who distinguished themselves for having interpreted in a significant, innovative and sometimes pioneering way some traits of the Salesian charism in the different roles they played, in the different geographical areas in which they worked.
“We are faced with an impressive panorama of how an educational-spiritual experience of a past - that of Don Bosco in the nineteenth century - quickly asserted itself and was able to decline in various forms over the next century without losing the original freshness of the charism. The generations of SDB and FMA of the twentieth century received it as a gift, made it their own, enriched it with their own cultural and spiritual heritage and exported it beyond their own geographical borders where it took root and developed harmoniously in many countries,” say the curators.
Their lives represent a source of inspiration for all the members of the Salesian Family, especially now, in the current difficult historical conjuncture, when many are pervaded by symptoms of suffering due to the feeling of inadeguacy. Each character presented here in its originality and uniqueness is a virtuous example that induces reflection, a pill of hope. From them, then, and from their stories of apostolic audacity and Salesian vitality, it is possible to take life lessons to do the same, with creative and original fidelity like the one they had.
“Knowing the best of one's past is an unavoidable condition for recreating a new future,” the two editors of the text add.
The program of the appointment includes, first of all, a greeting by the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Fr. Antonio Dellagiulia, and an illustrative presentation by the President of the ACSSA, Prof. Fr. Motto. Afterwards, Prof. Giorgio Rossi of the University of Roma Tre, Fr. Giuseppe Crea, CMMJ, of UPS, and Dr. Rita Pinci, journalist and director of Donne Chiesa Mondo, the monthly women's magazine of L'Osservatore Romano, will take the floor.
The event, moderated by Prof. Francesco Casella, shall be held at the Faculty of Communication Sciences at UPS and will be streamed live on the University's YouTube channel and on the ANS Facebook page.
