Rome (Italy) On December 19, 2019, at the Salesian Central Seat in Via Marsala, 42 in Rome, the last meeting of the 2014-2020 six-year term took place of the General Councils of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and of the Salesians of Don Bosco
It was a fraternal meeting of reciprocal gratitude which began with the Eucharistic Celebration presided over by the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, in the rooms of St. John Bosco, a very significant place for the 160 years since the beginning of the Salesian Congregation. In his homily, the Rector Major recalled the date of December 18, 1859, when Don Bosco gathered around himself the first group of young Salesians.
One senses the living presence of the Founder in the Cameretta (rooms) that evokes communion as the Salesian Family and especially as Salesians and FMA, groups he himself founded. In the Eucharist we rendered thanks to God for the marvels he worked and continues to work in the communities of the entire world in favor of many young people on the five Continents. In wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, the Rector Major invited the Salesians and the FMA to “Let God be God in each one of us and in our communities.” Only in this way will it be possible to make visible His foreseeing love for the young whom God continues to entrust to us.
After the group photo, the General Councilors met for a time of conviviality in an atmosphere of Salesian fraternity animated with Christmas carols with the guitar accompaniment of the Rector Major.
The encounter concluded with the gift exchange and with the Good Night of Mother General, Sr. Yvonne Reungoat, who thanked the Rector Major and the Confreres for the fruitfulness of the meetings lived during the six-year term, for the themes that were timely and meaningful for the animation mission of the FMA Institute and of the Salesian Congregation. She invited everyone to continue the journey of sharing the charism and the educational mission God entrusts to the FMA and SDB in a time of great challenges and unique opportunities. She thanked the Salesians for the fraternity with which they accompany with their priestly ministry the FMA educating communities of the world. She urged them to continually renew in an authentic Salesian style, the spiritual accompaniment of the FMA and of the young through whom pass the radiance of the charism and the vocational fecundity of the FMA Institute.
The General Chapters of the two Congregations are at the door. Another wish and a renewed prayer is addressed for the success of this experience of discernment, which involves the two Congregations at all levels.
The Salesians of Don Bosco will open the 28th General Chapter on 16 February 2020; the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians will begin the XXIV General Chapter on 18 September 2020.
