Rome (Italy). On 27 December 2023, in Rome, in the Generalate of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, presented Strenna 2024 to the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and to the whole Salesian Family: “The dream that makes you dream.” A heart that transforms the “wolves” into “lambs.”
The event, broadcast live worldwide by IME Communication, took place in a heartfelt family atmosphere, in which the numerous participants present and those who were connected online, gathered around Fr. Ángel for his last presentation of the Strenna as Rector Major.
In addition to the Mother General of the FMA Institute, Sister Chiara Cazzuola, and her Council, also present were the Provincial of St. John Bosco Province (IRO); the Superior of the Preprovince Mary Mother of the Church (RMC); the Novices of the International Novitiates Mary Help of Christians of Castel Gandolfo (Rome) and Sister Teresa Valsè Pantellini of Rome – Via Appia; numerous FMA and various Salesians of Don Bosco, including Fr. Gildasio Mendes, General Councilor for Communication; the Superior of “Mary Seat of Wisdom” Preprovince of the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS), Fr. Josè Anibal Milhais Mendonça Pinto; Salesians Cooperators; Mother Graziella Maria Benghini, Mother General of the Salesian Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; FMA Past Pupils; Volunteers of Don Bosco; Witnesses of the Risen One; representatives of ADMA; and others.
Sister Leslie Sándigo, General Councilor for the Salesian Family, opened the evening by proposing a video-prayer with the unpublished song “I will give you a teacher,” composed by Maria Dina Bertotti for the Marian animation of the FMA Institute.
Sister Maria Ausilia De Siena, General Councilor for Communication, then introduced the video of Strenna 2024 ideated by Fr. Pierluigi La Notte and artfully created by IME Comunicaciones. “We are all there in the dream; the dream still continues through us,” said Sister Auxilia. Through an engaging narration, the video highlights different situations in which young people are prisoners of illusions and suggests educational possibilities to make them free in order to fulfill God’s dream for each of them.
After the screening of the videos, the first worldwide, the Rector Major took the stage to answer the questions of Marta Rossi, Salesian Cooperator, and Roberta Silvestri, teacher at the FMA School of Sacred Heart of Rome.
Inviting warmly to read the Strenna, the Rector Major explained the choice to retrace what the previous Rectors Major wrote in reference to Don Bosco’s Dream at 9 years, rediscovering the richness of their reflections. “At the heart of the dream are the children; there is a Teacher, Mary. The dream is a masterpiece of vocational proposal,” he added. Now at the end of his service, he expressed the intent that guided him, “Today, after ten years, I finish the Strenna with 12 very concrete points, with pastoral and educational proposals.”
Then a pleasant dialogue began, starting from the questions that included some passages from the Dream:
I saw a multitude of boys blaspheming… How to keep the dreams lit? It is the first question proposed by Roberta in reference to the difficult context today. Fr Ángel first of all encouraged finding the young people where they are and to “truly live the Salesian sacrament of presence,” walking with young people according to their vocation – religious/professional, etc. and loving what young people love, through listening, personal relationship, and presence in the digital world.
In time you will understand everything. How to face this educational challenge faced of an ephemeral that attracts young people? “I am convinced that a greater dose of enthusiasm can produce true miracles in education… In this culture of the ephemeral, life is played out deep down. It is here that we still have something to say, not as teachers, but walking with others.” He responded, also suggesting the Preventive System as a valuable tool to ensure young people an essential space of life, in freedom.
Not with blows… In a world where aggression and violence seem to be victorious, how can we propose gentleness, non-violence, and meekness as values and lifestyles that make people more human? Noting the difficulty of countering some very strong messages that reach young people through mobile phones, the Rector Major proposed to involve them in doing something concrete for others and to help create a space of peace in the reality in which we find ourselves, banning violence. “We cannot educate without a critical spirit. The great absolute value is peace, because human life is at stake.”
I will give you the teacher. Everyone on their journey needs people who think about and care for them. A suggestion for those who are engaged in the educational mission. “In our Salesian Family, if one does not have Our Lady present in their life as the support that accompanies them, they are not Salesians,” declared Card. Artime. “If Our Lady is lacking in understanding life, Salesian pedagogy, the preventive system, accompaniment, one is not of the movement of Don Bosco. Our Lady is not optional; for Don Bosco she was the guide.” And he expressed another conviction, “Young people in this digital culture, believe little in words, but believe a lot in testimonies and true witnesses.”
Here is your field… What is a “field” that has remained in your heart after the many trips and communities you have known? “The field in which I felt happy is when I arrived at a Salesian House and felt that I was among the neediest. This is our place. This field has many faces, many continents, many languages, many skin colors,” he replied, recounting some significant experiences. “Where there are the least, those who have no voice, and whom nobody listens to, this is the most beautiful presence we have.”
The Rector Major answered other questions willingly and with passion. Then Mother Chiara Cazzuola thanked him for his presence, for the fruitful dialogue, and especially for the Strenna that “brings us back to the heart of the Salesian mission, but also of our vocation. I believe that each of us is moved, when we re-read the dream at 9 years, because it really is taking back in hand the path of our vocational choice, begun by this fascinating encounter with Don Bosco.”
The event ended with listening to a new hymn on the theme of the dream, composed by Fr. Maurizio Palazzo, SDB, and followed with a time of fraternal conviviality.
Photo: Flickr FMA
