Turin (Italy). From 16 to 22 January, in Turin-Valdocco, the Formation Course for the Provincial Delegates of the Salesian Family was held, coordinated by Fr. Joan Lluis Playá, SDB, Delegate of the Rector Major for the Salesian Family.
The Course, which began at the end of the Spirituality Days of the Salesian Family, was attended by 22 members of the SF belonging to some of the 32 Groups that make it up: Salesians of Don Bosco, Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB), Cançao Nova (CN), FMA Past Pupils, and 4 Daughters of Mary Help of Christians: Sr. Leslie Sándigo, General Councilor for the Salesian Family; Sr. Gabriela Patiño, FMA Past Pupils World Delegate; Sr. Lucrecia Uribe, World Delegate for Salesian Cooperators (SSCC) and ADMA World Animator; and Sr. Maria Torre, Vicar and Delegate of the Salesian Family of Mary Help of Christians Province (IPI).
At the start of the work, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Father and Center of Unity of the Salesian Family, presented the Course and encouraged the participants to take advantage of this time of charismatic study and prayer to continue with renewed impetus to animate the SF present all over the world.
The days had the contribution of various speakers who, through their experience, presented some Groups of the Salesian Family: Fr. Giuseppe Casti, former World Delegate for the SSCC, on the theme “Don Bosco founder: The Salesian movement. The laity in the mind of Don Bosco”; Mr. Antonio Boccia, World Coordinator of the SSCC; Mr. Renato Valera, President of ADMA; the Lord Renato Cursi, Executive Secretary of “Don Bosco International”; Bryan Magro, President of the SDB Past Pupils. In addition, Mrs. Pina traced a historical path of the “Don Bosco Volunteers” Secular Institute.
From the interventions of Fr. Miguel Ángel García, General Councilor for Youth Ministry, and Fr. Francisco Santos, of the Formation Sector, on the relationship between the SF, Youth Ministry, and Formation, the urgency to give impetus to formation emerged, in order to know, understand, and love the Salesian Family, and then carry out a pastoral care that promotes vocations to all Groups.
Of particular importance were the two reports presented by Fr. Pasqual Chávez, Rector Major Emeritus of the Salesians of Don Bosco, on the Identity Card of the SF on the 10th anniversary of its promulgation. Fr. Chavez stressed that, if one truly believes in the SF, one will find the enthusiasm, the inner resources, and the operating methods to make it grow in its identity. Then the family will enjoy such vitality as to attract new vocations.
Guided visits to the Don Bosco House Museum in Turin-Valdocco, to the charismatic places of Chieri (TO) and Colle Don Bosco (AT) and to some significant points of Mornese – the Mazzarellis, the Collegio, Valponasca – embellished the days and contributed to the vital deepening of the themes.
Salesian feminine spirituality was at the center of the reflections of the day of 20 January, which took place in Mornese. The participants listened to the interventions of Sr. Lucrecia Uribe and Sr. Leslie Sándigo, who led the visit to the missionary exhibition at the Mazzarellis, presenting the Charism of the FMA which is prolonged over time. Ms. Olivia Furlán, Vice President of the Mornese FMA Past Pupils Association, along with Sr. Gabriela Patiño, made known this SF Group more closely.
In the heart of the day, the Eucharist was celebrated in the chapel of the College, highlighting the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the FMA Institute (1872-2022). With the visit to Valponasca and a moment of prayer inspired by the Letters of Mother Mazzarello, the visit to Mornese ended.
These days of formation were an opportunity for prayer, sharing and charismatic study, to reflect on the role of the laity in the Salesian Family, to get to know some of the Groups more closely, and to highlight the animation functions performed by the Delegate of the different Groups.
