In his presidential address Fr Biju Michael, stressed the lay dimension of the Salesian Brother, stating that the Brother is not characterised by secularity but his religious consecration. The other triggers for reflection during the Congress were offered by Br Jean Paul Muller, Br Raymond Callo, Fr Ivo Coelho and Fr Robert Pen; besides two panel discussions, various group meetings and frequent interactive general assemblies. Br Muller, in his keynote address, exhorted the Brothers to be tabernacles that carry Christ into the world, stressing the point that without Christ and the poor as our priority, our competence has no value. Speaking on the theme, Br Raymond called upon the Brothers to be signs and bearers of God’s love, willing to be accompanied and formed in mission, in order to become contextually prophetic. Fr Ivo highlighted consecrated life as a living memorial of the life of Jesus, and an anticipation of what we will be in heaven. Fr Robert Pen spoke of identity, fidelity and leadership as lying at the heart of Salesian spirituality and mission. Our identity gives us purpose, fidelity sustains us through challenges, and leadership allows us to guide others towards the light of Don Bosco’s teachings.
In the light of the discussions during the Congress, the following three DREAMS and corresponding lines of action were drawn up:
Dream 1 (Formation and training)
– Qualifying Salesian Brothers to be effective in their ministry, by imbibing and transferring the values of Jesus to the youth of today, in Don Bosco’s way.
Lines of action
1. Cultivate the habit of spiritual and quality reading, to deepen one’s own spirituality and efficiency in the apostolate.
2. Initiate at the post-novitiate level (by the Rector, respective formation delegate and Provincial) a discernment about the field of specialization, with a proper aptitude test.
3. Immediately after the perpetual profession the Salesian Brother to begin the specific formation programme.
4. Senior Brothers who haven’t yet undergone the specific formation, be offered a 6-month to 1 year of formation programme / an ongoing formation.
5. Each Province to send at least one Salesian Brother for the formators’ course (formation of formators) annually.
6. One Salesian Brother to be on the formation team, as Brothers’ co-ordinator, of the post-novitiate at Karunapuram.
Dream 2 (Educational and pastoral care)
– Accompanying the young in the midst of our socio-politico-cultural context to form them as good persons and honest citizens, contributing towards nation-building.
Lines of action
1. Skill ourselves for interpersonal animation / personal accompaniment (career guidance, value education, family visits, personal relationships, spiritual guidance, counselling…)
2. Initiate non-institutional ministries (migrant ministry, evening schools…) while not losing sight of our current apostolates, to address new forms of poverty.
3. Get acquainted with digital technologies for effective accompaniment of the youth on the modern playground (media).
Dream 3 (Vocation discernment)
– Fostering and nurturing the vocation of the Salesian Brother, through a living witness and its explicit proposal.
Lines of action
1. Get involved in the planning and implementation of the vocational initiatives (vocation camps, producing and translating literature...).
2. Have the presence of a Salesian Brother on the formation team in the formation houses
3. Make oneself available and competent to take up various responsibilities in the province.
4. Conscientize and follow-up with the parents of possible candidates, the aspirants, and confreres.
5. Speak, make available literature, photos, and translations about the sanctity among the Salesian Brothers, of atleast three (Zatti, Sandor, Srugi).
6. Consciously use the term ‘Salesian Brother’ instead of ‘coadjutor’ or ‘lay brother’
7. Organise a region-wise three-day animation programme for Brothers in initial formation, annually.
8. Every Salesian Brother to make an effort to grow in their Salesian consecrated vocation through life of prayer, interiority, deepening of knowledge of the Salesian consecrated life and accompaniment by a senior brother, especially in times of crisis.
It is the responsibility of each and every Salesian Brother, along with the National and Provincial Delegates, to follow up the implementation of the above lines of action.
We go forth from this Congress, convinced of our IDENTITY as Salesian Brothers, with unwavering FIDELITY, to LEAD with humility and love.
