Speaking with his usual paternal and charismatic manner, the Rector Major offered the "Salesian goodnight" thought to the members of the community, launching a strong invitation to never forget the real motive ("FOR WHOM") for which each one was going through this time of formation. The young people to whom one we are sent and whom Don Bosco himself favored and especially the poor youth. These are far away to be addressed a few years' later via ministry -but they are the family to which we belong, and which guides our attitudes and daily lifestyle from the very beginning - was the crux of his speech.
If we really have them at heart, he continued, they prevent Salesians from becoming an elite of privileged people to whom everything is guaranteed, and rather, they spur us on to take care as much as possible of the services that are necessary for the life of the community, as well as to invest time, dedication, and patience in the pastoral activities. He highlighted the fact that, despite the time constraints that the study of theology imposes, the members of the community reach out to 27 centres via weekend ministries.
Fr Á.F. Artime concluded his visit with the blessing and inauguration of some renovated rooms in the building, (previously owned by the Guanellian religious), to be more suitable to the formation community and the space reserved for the use of the Salesian Postulation Department promoting the cause of saints.
The evening continued with the fraternal agape prepared by the confreres from Albania, Croatia, Poland, Portugal and Italy -the European nations that are present in the community. They were responsible for the animation of the first of this year's continental-cultural weeks.
"Having Don Ángel with us was a surprisingly beautiful and welcome gift, in the sense that it took us by surprise, thanks to the fondness he has for us, to participate in this simple moment of ours, without altering what had already been organized for us on this day," commented the Rector of the community, Fr Silvio Roggia. It was an opportunity to meet the members of the community and the 22 participants in the course for missionaries taking place at the Salesian Pontifical University, who are housed at Community from the end of September until the conclusion of the course on 11 November 2023.
The initiative of the cultural-continental weeks is an expression of the intense interculturality of the Salesian community in Via della Bufalotta, which this year houses 48 Salesian clerics and 10 Salesian staff some of whom also attend some formative courses. In total, it hosts Salesians from 27 countries and 28 Provinces.
At the beginning of the academic year, the community dedicates a week to each continent, to present the characteristic elements of its geography, history, and culture, as well as of the Salesian presences, with a variety of approaches: liturgy, choreography, moments of presentation, sharing and the variety of foods. The aim is to mutually help each other to be open to the diversity of nations and communities, and to appreciate their richness.
The programme of the cultural-continental weeks this year opened with a week dedicated to Europe, followed by weeks dedicated to Asia, Africa and finally America. The entire cycle closes on 11 November to coincide with the anniversary of the first Salesian Missionary Expedition and that of the beatification of Zeffirino Namuncurá, the patron of the house.
