Turin (Italy). On 22 December 2023, Mother General, Sister Chiara Cazzuola, and the General Councilors of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians went to Turin for a meeting with the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, and his Council. This is the last meeting with this configuration of the Council of Salesians, now close to the 29th General Chapter, to be held in 2025, presided over by the Vicar General, Fr. Stefano Martoglio.
After the cordial greetings and the ritual photo, the Rector Major recounts with simplicity and in a very familiar tone the experience lived in the last six months, recalling the death of his mother and, above all, the unexpected announcement of his creation as Cardinal by Pope Francis, which involves leaving the Salesian Congregation for a new service in the Vatican.
Fr. Alphonse Owoudou, Regional Councilor for Africa and Madagascar, will be the Moderator of GC 29 on the theme “PASSIONATE FOR JESUS CHRIST, DEDICATED TO YOUNG PEOPLE: For a faithful and prophetic experience of our Salesian vocation.” He presents the setting, the articulation of the process, the logo chosen. There will be about 240 participants, summoned to Turin, the heart of the Salesian Charism. Fr. Pascual Chavez, Rector Major Emeritus, will lead the Spiritual Exercises that introduce the event, while Fr. Mauro-Giuseppe Lepori, Abbot General of the Cistercian Order, will guide the discernment in view of the election of the new General Council.
At the end of the presentation, Mother Chiara thanks for the fraternal sharing and assures the prayers necessary for everything to take place under the action of the Spirit. She also includes the participants of the journey of preparation for the triennial Verification that will take place in the first half of 2025.
The two Councils then meet in the rooms of Don Bosco for the Eucharistic Celebration presided over by the Rector Major. In his homily, he comments on the readings of the day, and exhorts those present to follow the example of Anna, the mother of Samuel, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, to “to offer all that we are to the Lord, with our poverty and with a free heart, with the will to draw closer to Him every day.”
The evening ended with a fraternal dinner and an exchange of gifts. Mother and the General Councilors returned to Rome the following morning.
