DMA 2015

Personal and community

journeys this year will be guided by the

Chapter event, defined as an

experience of the Holy Spirit and

ongoing education. To each FMA

community it entrusted concrete choices

and action steps for the future. The title

of the Chapter Document Broaden the

Vision-Missionaries of Hope and Joy

with the Young is a call and commitment

to bring to reality the lived experience

characterized by a strong missionary

dynamism. The DMA magazine places

itself in this view, and will accompany

the FMA, laity, and young people in the

process of the assimilation and

translation of the vital content that

emerged from the recent GC XXIII held

in Rome

Some aspects of the document will be

studied especially in the Dossier entitled

Broaden the Vision. This will serve as a

leitmotif and will urge us to scrutinize the

reality and the world with new eyes. The

historic moment in which we are living is

also rich in signs and invitations. In

particular, the Year of Consecrated Life

and the Bicentennial of the birth of Don

Bosco are gifts and appeals to render

our identity as consecrated persons

more luminous in the Church and

today’s society.

This year DMA presents new articles

that touch topical issues. Peace is the

Way to get to know actual situations of

conflict through the witness of FMA and

laity who are taking concrete steps to

promote a culture of Peace. The page

on The Word contributes toward

facilitating prayer with the young people

and the laity, while the article Charism

and Leadership presents the

characteristics of a person who fills a

dual role as animator and community

member, with efficacious leadership

with charismatic reference to some FMA

models. The themes on Consecrated Life

find a place in the articles in Women in the

Context with the presentation of the beauty

and richness of a femininity which,

knowingly accepted, give color and warmth

to the joy of one’s identity of consecrated.

In the Communicating section, however, the

theme of consecration is compared to

today’s society and with the Magisterium of

the Church.

Finally, in the Insert of each issue the

Millennium Development Goals are

presented from the struggle against hunger

and poverty to environmental protection,

from the promotion of women’s rights to the

defeat of infant mortality…challenges that

cannot be ignored.

Our magazine wants to broaden our vision,

to be a formation tool not only for the FMA,

but also for the many laypersons and young

people who frequent our houses.

Furthermore, it can also become a help for

community animators, and educators who

are called to be, with the young,

missionaries of hope and joy.

Have a good year, therefore, in company

with the DMA magazine!

The Editors

Peace is the Way

Peace is Not a Dream

Emilia di Massimo, Gabriella Imperatore

Peace is the Way

Peace is Not a Dream

"Stop, please, I beg you with all my

heart, stop." This was the heartfelt

appeal of Pope Francis in the Sunday

Angelus against the wars that are

ravaging the Middle East, Iraq and the

Ukraine. It is a peace that is missing not

only in the territories in the news during

recent time, because the places where

bloody conflicts exist are scattered

around the whole world. There are

dramas that are not always told, that

draw an impressive geopolitical map

because the number of seemingly

intractable, lasting conflicts, also due

because international diplomacy that is

often inconclusive.

The world is at war. Never, since the end of

World War II, has it been so true like today.

The world has not known a day in which

each country has lived in “peace”,

understood not as the absence of war but

as an attitude, both in personal and social

behavior. Looking for the causes of failure is

not simple. Nelson Mandela, the great

African leader, defender of human rights

and Nobel Peace Prize winner, argued:

“Peace is not a dream; it can become a

reality, but to keep it you have to be able to

dream”. Attention, however, must be paid

not only to the great conflicts, those that

become a media phenomenon and turn into

spectacles, but also to the unknown

conflicts,

those in which no one is interested because

there are no economic interests, they may

arise as a question or an apparently local

event, but they always possess international

or global aspects. The media revolution has

produced a series of social, economic, and

political changes, thanks in great part to the

advent of digitization of the access to

information; it has contributed toward

profoundly changing the very concept of

communication. The development of

interactive means has led to the proliferation

and the multiplication of channels for access

to information, and these have changed the

way in which the act of communication

takes place.We are informed every day

about Islamic terrorism and 'global warfare',

even though the reports may be biased and

often exist for mere propaganda purposes.

Yet no one speaks of the dozens of other

conflicts that are fought in the poorest

peripheries of the global village, where

globalized information does not arrive.Then

we ask ourselves: "Are we really better

informed and freer in our choices?” A map

synthesizing the current conflicts could be

an evalution that everyone can make

personally to answer the question. Presently

62 nations are involved in international or

internal war, to which we must add 549

militias, drug cartels, independence groups,

separatist groups and anarchist groups

involved. Hot spots are: Egypt (popular

uprising against the government), Libya

(war against Islamic militants), Mali (war

against the Tuareg and Islamist militants),

Nigeria (war against Islamic militants),

Central African Republic (Civil War),

Republic of Congo (war against rebel

groups), Somalia (war against Islamic

militants), Sudan (war against rebel groups),

and South Sudan (civil war). The number of

current conflicts is really incredible. Trying

to understand a conflict means attending

the school of 'faces', to avoid the risk of

focusing attention only on the facts,

forgetting that the protagonists are people

who have feelings, emotions and harbor in

their hearts many desires, just like each one

of us.

Peace is still the answer

Given the failure of many peace initiatives,

Deepak Chopra - an Indian doctor - offers

an alternative strategy to defeat the culture

of war, the same one that Mahatma Gandhi

proposed: "There is no way to peace, peace

is the wayThe Indian doctor said: “Like any

habit, war has dug a furrow in our minds.

We are looking for the war like a cigarette

smoker constantly looks for a cigarette while

complaining that we must stop. War has

become a habit, a vice. To defeat it, one

must assume the habit of peace”.

The episodes of war, violence, and

terrorism arouse fear and anguish in the

soul of our contemporary society. All over

the world people yearn to find peace, and

be able to give comfort to the suffering and

oppressed. However, it would be naïve and

superficial to attempt to define these

episodes as examples of pure evil and

depravity. In reality we are all involved in the

violence that takes place in the world.

Everyone is involved in the intricate network

of social injustice, economic disparities,

ecological disaster, war, and terrorism.

Mahatma Gandhi declared that if we

continued on this path the whole world

would go blind

Will we ever succeed to look beyond our

blindness to create a global community of

interconnected humanity? Terrorist attacks,

hidden or declared wars, small and great

acts of violence that touch every part of the

world must bring to birth in us the desire to

live for peace above all else. Often acts of

violence are rampant because of the lack of

education, of harmful nationalism,

ignorance, and deep economic disparities

between social classes. There are root

causes, but there is hope that these causes

can be changed, using but peace as a

means against war.

Words of Peace

Each of us can help to promote a culture of

Peace, multiplying ordinary daily actions:

being Peace thinking Peace feeling Peace speaking Peace acting in Peace creating Peace sharing Peace

Women in the Context

Women in Joy-filled Lands

Palma Lionetti

Starting a new column dedicated to women

while avoiding repetition and clichés is no

easy undertaking. Using a literary metaphor,

there could be a repetition of what

happened in the well-known novel by Jules

Verne "Journey to the Center of the Earth",

in which all of the tools that the protagonists

have at the beginning (the barometer, the

weapons, the picks ..) are lost during the

trip, leaving the person naked before the

forces of nature.

Certainly, it is always risky writing about

women, but this notwithstanding, it is always

"amazing, magnificent, and splendid," as

one of the protagonists of the

aforementioned novel expressed or noted at

the conclusion of every undertaking,

because one faces it with the confidence

and optimism with which he/she looks at the

possibility of penetrating into the mysteries

of a different dimension, and in our case,

that of femininity

The wealth of feminity

We will be accompanied on this journey

"into the lands of joy", by following a

semantic pattern of the points explored in

the circular letter entitled "Rejoice”,

addressed to consecrated men and women

for the year of Consecrated Life. We will

explore the richness of the femininity which,

when consciously accepted, gives color and

warmth to the joy of consecration. The

urgencies of the present world ask for the

response of the feminine genius. A certain

completeness will come about when

women's contribution will be fully

recognized alongside male consciousness.

However, to make this journey, which is

more an inner pilgrimage as Pope Francis

says, we need to take on a state of

"listening" before we get into those precious

and fruitful lands of the great resource that

is femininity.

There is an odyssey, therefore, telling of

women far from any presumed heroicity,

linked more to ordinary life, the struggle of

the condition of women; a more inner

journey, in an apparent immobility, yet free

from the constriction and imprisonment of

her freedom.

Therefore, moving in the lands of a

conscious and joyful femininity perhaps

means leaving behind common sense, and

beginning from the recovery of an authentic

sense of self worth. Unfortunately, to our

innate sense of "guilt" at times is added the

fear of not succeeding, a lack of recognition

that makes us timid in going forward, in

advancing, in desiring, in willing.

Fear also involves a judgment on personal

merit. We women usually feel less capable

than men; we fear their judgment, even

though often we fear so much more that of

other women. Side by side, however, with

this “fragility" there are luminous

"strengths", like the joy that comes when the

woman feels deeply inhabited by love, the

love that makes her s brave, and bold -

casting aside the feeling of being a victim -

that contrasts aggression with the practice

of a power that generates joy, because she

is capable of working as a team, giving

responsibility to others without feeling

belittled, giving substance to words, those

words that know how to create a positive

atmosphere.

A trap for us as women

Playing the victim, a real trap for us as

women, creates in us a very particular

sentiment, that of rancor. Interestingly, the

etymology of the word in Italian is

resentment, from the Latin rancere, (rancid)

that refers to spoiled food, having an

unpleasant smell, and the sour taste that we

all know. We must, then, be careful about

what we harbor in our hearts and minds!

Similar sentiments gradually remove the

inner energy in gaining for us a different

form of leadership, one composed of

freedom and lightness, a leadership that is

clean, elegant, such as the vaporization of a

delicate fragrance in the environment that

does not stun, but delights.

Then there will be women who are a

treasure for humanity, even though being a

woman was not easy...as it was not for

Mary of Nazareth, Catherine of Siena,

Teresa of Avila, Maria Domenica

Mazzarello; as it was not for Indira Gandhi,

Marie Curie, Jane Austen, María Zambrano,

Simone Weil, Maria Callas, Grace Kelly,

Marilyn Monroe. Being a woman is a

privilege…a privilege which, as Irina, a

citizen of Europe who immigrated to Italy for

a job (that she has since lost) said one

enjoys in her own intimacy, in confidence

among other women, or in the company of

men who are aware, or in great trials. In

short, it is one of the most feminine traits

that catches all of its luminous power of the

encounter of ordinary events and

happenings of life and reaches to those that

are extraordinary!

Ecological Education

Ecology at the Center of the World Scene Julia Arciniegas – Martha Séïde

A look at the latest, best-known international

magazines or even a brief search on the

Internet helps us to see that the ecological

theme occupies a central place in world

public opinion. Safeguarding Creation

becomes a meeting point among the

different religious denominations that

converge in demanding urgent and concrete

interventions against climate change, and in

favor of the various plans for the protection

of the environment.

2015 an ecological year

The year 2015 will see the unfolding of

numerous international events focusing on

initiatives aimed at engaging in the

promotion of environmentally sustainable

and lasting development. The UN has

arrived at the point of saying that the

Millennium Development Goals have not

been achieved because they have not been

integrated into the economic, social and

environmental sustainable development as

much as had been expected. The new post-

2015 agenda should take into account the

results following Rio + 20 toward a "green

economy" that is not merely an

environmental improvement, but a new

paradigm that seeks to alleviate global

threats such as climate change, loss of

biodiversity, desertification, depletion of

natural resources, and at the same time,

promote social and economic welfare.

On the margin of some events for 2015

Consistent with the recorded data, the General Assembly of the United Nations has proclaimed 2015 to be the "International Year of Light and Light-based technologies (IYL 2015)." This is a global initiative that aims to increase knowledge and awareness of each person on the way in which light-based technologies promote sustainable development and provide solutions to global challenges such as in the fields of energy, education, communications, health and agriculture (cf http://iyl2015.inaf.it/). France will host the 2015 Paris Conference on Climate Change (COP21). This appointment scheduled for December 2015, will mark a decisive stage in the negotiations of the future international agreement post 2020. The purpose of the Conference will be that all countries commit themselves to a universal agreement on climate constricting (cf http: //www.ambafrance -it.org/La-Francia-ospitera-la-COP21).

The concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has reached the highest levels in 800,000 years. Global emissions must be reduced from 40 to 70% by 2050. "We must act now to contribute to economic prosperity, better health, and to make cities more livable," said the secretary general of the United Nations, Ban Ki -moon (11/02/2014).

The central event of this year will undoubtedly be the "Expo Milano 2015". It will be a Universal Exposition with absolutely unprecedented and innovative characteristics. It will be not only an exhibition, but will also offer a participatory

process that aims to actively involve many participants around a crucial theme: "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life". From May 1 to October 31, 2015, 184 days of the event, more than 130 participating countries and 20 million visitors from around the world will be involved in a discussion on universal themes related to nutrition and sustainable development (http: // www .expo2015.org / en / cos-e). Reasons for hope Attention to the integrity of Creation is a sign of the times. It not only responds to emerging problems, but also becomes the possibility of forming alliances between groups, movements, and different religious denominations. Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople has called for a June 2015 conference in Fanar, Istanbul, on the theme: "Theology, Ecology and Logos, dialogue on the environment, literature and the arts." He spoke with Pope Francis several times on this issue and, in their meeting in the Holy Land, they signed a joint statement in which, at Article 6, they wrote: "We are deeply convinced that the future of the human family depends also on how we will know how to wisely and lovingly safeguard with justice and equity the gift of creation entrusted to us by God” (May 25, 2014). With great hope, therefore, we await the encyclical on ecology, announced repeatedly by the media and now confirmed on several occasions by the Pontiff himself. Taking a chance on education

Today there is the shared idea that solving

the ecological problem without a profound

cultural change and a rethinking of lifestyles

is unthinkable. Therefore, it becomes urgent

to educate to a new ecological awareness in

view of sustainable development, namely

the development towards the promotion of

the whole person in harmony with creation

(cf. Paul VI, Populorum Progressio, 14). It is

an invitation to take on the task of education

from the ecological perspective in order to

form to the love and protection of creation in

the commitment to make the planetary

citizenship effective.

An event to be followed: Don Bosco at

Expo Milano 2015

The Salesian presence at Expo 2015 will be

an event to be followed. It will have a

structure of approximately 350 square

meters, on a plot of 747 square meters, for

the whole time of 6 months. The pavilion will

have the name of "CASA DON BOSCO"

and will develop the theme "EDUCATING

YOUNG PEOPLE, ENERGY FOR LIFE". By

this presence the Salesian Family give

commemorate to the Bicentenary of Don

Bosco and the Strenna of 2015 and, above

all, will draw the world's attention to young

people, "the most delicate, most precious

part of human society" as Don Bosco said.

It will be a unique opportunity, a providential

challenge to interact with almost the entire

world (more than 140 participating nations),

to offer our cultural and educational

contribution inspired by Don Bosco, to make

understood and to witness to how important

young people are for the life of every social

and ecclesial community and for the entire

planet (http://www.infoans.org/,

11/07/2014).

Arianna’s Line

Encounters and Clashes

Giuseppina Teruggi

Life is composed of relationships, this seems to be an obvious statement. Actually, it is a fundamental truth: what would life be, or the world, without someone to talk to, to meet, to understand, or even to argue with? We can be more or less sociable, sometimes even preferring to be alone, but generally all admit that what matters is the quality of the communication network in which we are immersed at all times. And that quality depends in large part on us.

The process of the relationship

Attention to the human dimension of

relationships dates back to Sigmund Freud,

the founder of psychoanalysis. He was the

one who developed the intuition that two or

more persons in a relationship form a

different context from two or more persons

who are independent or detached.

Consequently, the positive development of

the human being is linked to good

relationships; pathological behavior

depends very much on experiences of

difficult or defensive relationships.

Self-awareness, self-esteem, the reason for

acting and planning for the future have as

their foundation the relationship with parents

or parental figures, and with the first

educators.

Today there is a consensus in attributing to

a good relationship an essential value for

the balanced growth of the person, while in

the conviction that there are no model

solutions for a harmonious formation of

personality. In fact, other factors are also

linked to the genetic or inherited makeup of

each person. It is inevitable that we

influence each other in interpersonal

relationships. Even in the mother-child

relationship, from the time of gestation. In

relationship situations, people modify one

another’s inner contents, their reactions and

behavior.

Relationships becomes interaction, i.e.

relationship between the ways of interacting

with another as a person. Especially when

you meet them.

I-Thou

We owe to Martin Buber the specification of

the human as an individual and as a person.

Individuality is expressed in the distinction

from other individuals, while personhood is

manifested by entering into relationships

with other people. It is precisely in

relationship that the ego becomes real. The

I-Thou relationship is necessarily reciprocal,

because the I works on the Thou as the

Thou on the I. Each I stands before the

Thou as radically another and confirms it as

such, in authenticity and reciprocity.

For the Viennese philosopher the

fundamental meaning of human existence

lies in the principle of dialogue, i.e. the

ability to be in relationship with other

people, with nature, with spiritual entities, in

a I-Thou relationship. The authentic human

being is defined as "the person in the I-Thou

relationship who becomes aware of self as

subjectivity" (Garzanti Encyclopedia of

Philosophy).

According to Buber, we are experiencing a

deep crisis caused also by the disintegration

of the traditional forms of social life: the

family, the village, work associations which

allowed establishing an authentic personal

encounter with others, an almost automatic

involvement of others. The current culture is

characterized by sociological situations and

the new media, which tend to leave the

person in a social loneliness, which can be

overcome only through interpersonal and

community relationships. Only in the

encounter with the '' other ', in fact, can the

person enter his/her true reality and go

beyond loneliness and isolation. It is in an

encounter that the individual becomes

person

Pitfalls in relationships An inadequate way of communicating between people can complicate our lives and ruin our encounters, turning them into clashes. Also because, as with the verbal relationships, what is perceived is not only the message itself, the words we use, the truth of what we say. What strikes most strongly is the emotional state, the intention with which we relate to each other in trying to give them the message, and how we place ourselves before the person psychologically. The influence of these aspects is so great that often it ends up being the driving force of communication, one that gives the effective or destructive result. In a relationship in which the communication is aggressive, for example, one tends to influence the other person, even unknowingly. The implicit goal that is transmitted is wanting to assert themselves and their own reasons, not listening and understanding others. In this situation the rule "I win, you lose" dominates. It is also shown by an expressive style: an authoritative tone, rapid rhythms that leave little room for reflection, tendency to interrupt the other person, even

raising one’s voice, the strong use of the pronoun "I", opinions presented as facts and requests as duties. Sometimes even the use of sarcasm. Examples can be multiplied even in our communities. Like when Mary exclaims impatiently: "But Anna, why don’t you ever do this right? “ Anna, irritated by the generalized criticism not recognozingg her work done with commitment, reacts: "Evidently you never explain to me exactly what I need to do." Maria pursues the question, even more tensely: "Ah, now it would be my fault? I remember very well what I said; I have an excellent memory ". Anna, increasingly distressed and exasperated responds: "Do you think I invent things? I understand that ... “And Mary: "With you it’s always the same argument.” In relationships, there are those who resort to a passive communication style. One stays in the background, giving to other person power over the situation. The goal is to protect themselves from a feared danger: "I lose, you win." In this case the expressive style is free from personal statements and assumes a vague, elusive form. The pronoun "I" appears very little, there are frequent references to duties and terms of justification, self-pity, and minimizing of their needs. If there is dialogue, it tends to end the conversation quickly and to escape rapidly into the situation of anxiety generated by an encounter. The person wants to "be in Peace", to avoid conflict. It deals with a form that sometimes attracts the sympathy and good will of those to whom it is convenient to be submissive listener. However, the price be paid is that others often end up imposing their will and even becoming bullies. Interpersonal problems are not addressed or handled with a passive attitude. Rather, they tend to deteriorate with a negative impact on one’s self-esteem and the possible risk of slipping sooner or later into an aggressive style. Guilt, low self-esteem, or even excessive correctness can lead to living situations of this type. One does not experience a genuine "interpersonal" relationship.

“We both win”: assertive communication How are we to react to difficult communication situations without becoming aggressive or passive? In our educating communities it is normal to have to deal with people of different characters, education, and styles. At times we find ourselves with ways that are quick, immediate, and invasive manipulative, and/or prying. Or we are so ourselves. We are aware of the need to know how to manage our relationship styles, not to get involved in useless discussions or unpleasant tensions. Although it is not always possible to transform a relationship into a pleasant and satisfying communication, we all want to live meaningful, serene encounters, or at least survive them with the least possible damage. In fact, sometimes our relationships cause an aftermath of suffering, of misunderstanding, of bitterness There are relationship strategies that have in common being neither aggressive nor passive, while protecting our needs and aspirations inherent in assertive communication. Aggressive and passive styles of communication lead to dissatisfaction in at least one of the parties. Assertive communication - which this magazine has covered in a previous article to those of the other person, to their needs and states of soul, and this is due to encounter, to listening , to an honest ,transparent agreement, the ability to "let go and allow others the possibility of making a mistake." We are assertive when we express ourselves clearly, with expressive voice, looking into the face of another, without intending to intimidate. We are assertive

when we express ourselves clearly, with an expressive voice, looking at the face of another, without intimidating them. We are so when our opinions are not offered as indisputable facts, and our requests are presented as such, that is as desires, without obligation or claims. The suggestions are given in a free and liberating way, without constraint or guilt, and the criticism is constructive. The questions are motivated by wanting to better understand the other, rather than by curiosity, and the proposed solutions are designed to solve problems of their mutual interest. Assertive communication rests on the premise, “We both win”, and at its basis there is the awareness of the emotional rights of every person.

In the fabric of daily life, in the face of manipulative or unjustified attacks, it is useful to try to shift the attention from oneself to behavior or the actual situation, and to accept the possibility of making mistakes without taking it for granted. This way even a clash can be transformed into a constructive opportunity for mutual growth.

We again find Mary who exclaims to Anna: "Come on! Why don’t you ever do this right? ". Anna, trying to focus on the problem instead of on her irritation, replies: "I have worked hard, but there must be some details that I did not yet have clear. Tell me what's wrong, so we can move on. "

Probably this kind of response would help 'every Mary' to re-dimension her findings, evaluation, and style. And, instead of a clash, it would allow for creating an encounter.

Dossier

Broaden the Vision

"Open your hearts to receive the interior

movements of God's grace; widen your

eyes, widen your eyes to recognize the

most authentic needs and urgencies of a

society and of a generation that

change.”(Pope Francis’ address to

Chapter Members, November 8, 2014)

Faces, hopes and smiles; listening,

dialogue, mutual understanding; different

languages, ways of being and thinking , this

is the mosaic that characterized the XXIII

General Chapter of the FMA. It was a great

assembly in an attitude of listening to the

Holy Spirit trying to understand what the

Lord wants to do with each person and with

the Institute today. The experience at the

chapter can be told with three words: stop,

look, go.

Stop

Arriving from different situations

experienced in their respective provinces,

with daily challenges that question our life,

our mission, our being with young people,

created the need to stop. The journey that

took place, of the recent six -year period just

ended, the processes set in motion, those

concluded and those that are foreseen,

everything was in need of a great, new

understanding. Stopping to become aware

of self and moving from a vision linked to

their local provinces to a universal vision in

which every part fits into the whole

composed of 83 provinces in 94 countries

around the world, with approximately 13,000

FMA.

Stopping to meet one another, to learn what

and how the charism creatively continues to

incarnate and acculturate in many areas of

the world. Stopping in order to awaken in all

the great passion for young people, for the

Salesian charism and the great love for the

Institute which, despite various "ailments", is

alive and working for the good of so many

young people around the world.

Look

Stopping is only a first step of the path that

leads to the next one, watching. Recalling a

phrase of David Cooperrieder that says:

"Our world is not a problem we have to

solve, but a miracle that we must embrace"

helped us to realize the importance of

looking at the world with tenderness,

embracing the miracle, and not defending

ourselves from it. After all, the world is the

place where we are called to exist, to

witness to and to proclaim the good news of

the Gospel. For this reason we looked at the

challenges of the current environment in

which we live as calls from God. He speaks

to us and invites us to find new appropriate

answers to the times of continuous change

we are experiencing. Let us look to our

communities, not to see the flaws and

problems, but to love them as they are, and

with that love to heal them, give them a new

impetus. It means looking at every young

person with hope, witnessing to the joy of

having met the Lord of our life, without

whom our lives would be gloomy and dark.

Go

The whole experience lived during the time

the Chapter was a continuous invitation I

continue to go with young people, in a

mission that leads to being in a permanent

state of "outgoing". Faced with so many

calls from God that challenge us continually with what

is happening around us and within us, we

cannot stand still, helpless. It is important to

feel a strong desire to leave 'without delay',

without fear of leaving one’s own safety, to

leave the mediocrity and courageously

pursue new paths that open up at the

moment in which we return to be in contact

with people. Going out with young people

towards a true encounter with Jesus, to

rediscover the joy of the proclamation.

Going with the little ones and the poor. Only

in daily contact with them we will have a

look at the reality that begins with meeting

their needs, a look that is "converted" and

evangelized by littleness, poverty, insecurity

The starting point

The reflection begins from the life of the

Institute, the world, the young, the poor,

setting the goal to seek together a way of

being with young people a home that

evangelizes. Five questions starting from

the Working Document, allowed for the

exploration of the theme articulated in five

nuclei: How to proclaim Jesus in a changing

world, to a generation that changes? What

new vision of community with young people

is needed to be a prophecy of Salesian

religious life today? How are we to take our

place in the culture of communication? How

is it that with all the formation we receive life

does not change? Are we just “restoring” or

are we doing something new?

The beauty of our Institute, also seen with

wounds and fragility, encourages and

continues to embody the charisma, alive

and prophetic, in the various countries of

the world where many FMA live and work.

Today it is necessary to believe that the

Institute has an original word to say. The

world asks us to witness our "difference",

and for us this becomes a commitment to

remain consistent and faithful to the Truth of

the Gospel. The desire to look at the

challenges as a call from God and as an

opportunity of faithfulness becomes a

response to the call to be with young people

and adults, to seek and work together for

the benefit of other young people, so that

more and more arrive at a vital, humanizing

encounter with Jesus in the different

experiences of life.

A word that often echoed during the time of

CG XXIII, both among the chapter members

and those who followed it from their homes,

was the word 'new'. What is new? What is

the “newness” of this chapter?

Newness cannot be fabricated, newness

must be allowed to emerge and grow,

newness needs space and confidence,

courage and foresight, personal and

community journeys. To be a new

community, you need to decisively

implement a change of mentality to prepare

us to set aside established and sometimes

a little outdated patterns, and to start

looking at our educational mission with new

eyes. Only a new glance, which begins from

a perspective of hope and joy, can promote

new choices and concrete steps

implemented at different levels: local,

provincial, general

Like the disciples of Emmaus

The present moment that we are living in

consecrated life, and as an Institute, often

leads us to be like those disciples who, after

the death of Jesus on the cross, thought it

was all over, that their hopes for the future

were forever unfulfilled.

Their experience, however, tells us of a

change. The disciples who looked with sad,

and disappointed eyes at the facts of the

death of Jesus on the cross, allowed

themselves to be approached by a stranger

to whom the opened their hearts,

confessing their doubts and their

melancholy. While listening to the stranger

who helped them to read their reality in the

light of the Scriptures, their heart started to

burn, so much so that they did not want to

let him go. In his own words this man was

able to touch the most intimate part of their

lives. They were afraid of the advancing

darkness and of losing even that small light

they had glimpsed in the words of the man

who became their neighbor. They invited

him into their home for dinner. Jesus broke

the bread and their eyes opened. They were

ready, had been prepared on the way to a

change, to leave aside the sadness and to

welcome the news of the Kingdom of God.

They recognized him and their joy was

immense. The outside world with its

contradictions, its lights and shadows was

the same, it was they who were new, and

different. They let themselves be

transformed by an encounter that life

changed forever because it was authentic.

Together they left for Jerusalem: every gift

of grace that cannot t be buried and

guarded with jealousy, but must be shared

with the whole community. Then the two

disciples who returned to the others told of

what had happened in them, and began

without delay to be missionaries of hope

and joy.

A new glance

Poverty, the perspective of the peripheries,

being with young people, our relationships

made new by a profound life of communion

with the Lord, our passion for education and

evangelization, push us to scan the horizon

for a glimpse of what the world and young

people expect from us.

It is important to know how to accept the

unexpected in the world, in the life of every

FMA and of the communities, in the entire

universe of youth. We must welcome and

understand it in order to act with evangelical

courage, with charismatic answers and with

the passion of the DMA.

Becoming aware that all around us there are urgent situations of poverty, does not leave us indifferent. The contact, being with the poor, having compassion for them, suffering with them, helps us to grow in love, to become more human and to have a different perspective on education! For us to be preventive means to dream of a more just and peaceful world for all, a world in which everyone can freely do their part, a world in which all humanity will find themselves well in order to give the best of themselves. We dream of the best for our young people we dream of a happy life for them, one of commitment, full of love and solidarity, the result of a life of true, deep faith. It is precisely the young people who teach us the meaning of a Christian "difference".

It is life with them, with the least, with those who are on the margins of society for whatever reason, which will teach us to be poor, to look at the world and ourselves with new eyes. As it is written in the Working Document of the CG XXIII: “the periphery is not just a geographical place, but also a perspective from which to look at reality, to welcome the mysterious wisdom that the Holy Spirit communicates through the poor who identify, for us, with young people most in need. " This is the "perspective", "the view of the

peripheries" to which Pope Francis so often

invites us, who makes us fear only the

"tranquility" and the search for the "quiet

life". To be happy for us does not mean not

finding difficulties, because our joy comes

from the hope and faith in the One to whom

all things are possible. That's why we

should learn to thank God for all the times

that we are uncomfortable!

The horizon

"I hope that all communities will act so as to

implement the necessary means to advance

in the way of a pastoral and missionary

conversion which cannot leave things as

they are. (...) Let us establish ourselves in

all regions of the earth in a "permanent

state of mission '" (FRANCIS, Apostolic

Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium n. 25-27,

November 24, 2013). These words of Pope

Francis are a call to renew the passion and

commitment to the educational mission of

evangelization, in any situation, in any work,

traditional or heretofore unprecedented, that

demonstrates the Salesian charism.

We have to feel that the appeal of Pope

Francis is addressed directly to us, to the

whole Church to get moving and get out of

the zone of our security. The Church, in

fact, by its nature cannot help but be

missionary, and must have "open doors" to

"go out to others" and” to reach the human

peripheries". For Pope Francis, in fact, a

Church that does not proclaim the Gospel is

a church that remains in the empty rooms of

a spiritual worldliness that does not produce

results, indeed, is more likely to produce

harm. It is because we are loved by God

that we are renewed in His image and

empowered to be witnesses and

instruments of his mercy. We love because

God first loved us (cfr. 1 Jn 4:19), and we

need to recognize ourselves to be

continually thirsting for this love, constantly

in need of conversion. Here is the beating

heart of the perennial renewal of the

Church! And also our own. Familiarity with

Jesus and a profound knowledge of the

mystery of his existence, in fact, constitute

the foundation of shared pastoral

discernment. This is why the horizon from

which concrete steps and important choices

flow is that of pastoral conversion. It is a

conversion that urges us to leave our

mediocrity, and to choose authentic life so

that the religious life may become true

prophecy.

For a new evangelization it is important to

be aware that only a personal, authentic

encounter with Jesus, at different stages of

life, transforms us from within, makes us live

new relationships, leads us to communion

between ourselves and with young people,

and gives us the courage to dare to travel

new paths. It is necessary to have the

contribution of each person in order to carry

out a true pastoral conversion. There are no

alibis of age, roles, places, and

circumstances. Each person, beginning

from self can implemher its reality more

evangelical.

Given all of the above there are three great

choices that GC XXIII entrusted to the

Institute: Transformed from the encounter,

Together with young people; Missionaries of

hope and joy

The road opens as we are walking

This is just the beginning. The journey

begins and continues in the various locales

where each person is called to be

transformed in order to be together with the

young missionaries of hope and joy, as

advocated by Mother Yvonne Reungoat

during her closing address to the members

of General Chapter XXIII. "The heart opens

to gratitude for the wealth of experience that

we have lived and shared. It is a wealth that

we will gradually discover when we will go

back to daily life. We have had an

experience made up of mutual listening,

dialogue, discernment and prayer, and

especially of great hope. Throughout its

development the Chapter has been an

important time of continuing education, and

definitely something has changed in us”.

Even the DMA Magazine, in the next

dossier will follow this path to share together

along the journey that the Institute wants to

undertake as the Mother invites us to do: "...

let us reaffirm together trust in the

wonderful action of the Spirit working in the

Church, in the Institute, in humanity and

especially in young people. Let us continue

to decipher his voice among the many we

hear every day, to discover his call to "go

out", to free ourselves from our schemes

and fears to be true collaborators of the

Spirit in evangelizing, and helping young

people, especially the poorest, to meet

Jesus in the Church and to be evangelizers

of other young people. A new door opens

today on our steps: they are steps that lead

us out in the midst of the world to turn on a

new light, to be an effective educational

presence among the young and to offer

everyone a prophetic witness. Jesus

reaches us as we journey. Our hearts will

be able to recognize him, but we must

always be alert, like sentries”.

Go Forward with enthusiasm…

I cannot help but encourage you to go

forward with enthusiasm along these lines

that the Holy Spirit is suggesting to you.

Open your hearts to receive the inner

movements of God's grace; broaden your

vision to recognize the most authentic

needs and urgencies of a society and a

generation that is changing. Be prophetic

witness and educational presence

everywhere, with the unconditional

acceptance of young people, facing the

challenge of interculture and identifying

ways to make your apostolic work effective

in a context - that of youth - permeated by

the virtual world and the new technologies,

especially those digital. (...)

You should always put Christ at the center

of your existence; allow yourself to be

shaped by the Word of God which

enlightens, guides and supports; nourish

your missionary spirit with persevering

prayer, adoration, with that "wasting time"

before the tabernacle. Be for all

missionaries of hope and joy, witnessing to

the values of your own Salesian identity,

especially in the category of the encounter,

a fundamental aspect of your charism: it is a

source that is always fresh and vital where

you can tap into that love which revitalizes a

passion for God and for the young. The

inevitable difficulties, encountered in the

journey, should not slow down the

enthusiasm of your apostolic action. Indeed,

the example of St. John Bosco and St. Mary

Mazzarello urges you to contribute even

more enthusiastically to the new

evangelization with your activities in the field

of education and schools, of catechesis and

the formation of youth to the apostolate.

(Pope Francis, address to the Chapter

members, November 8, 2014)

Four pillars of being a home

Welcome

The young person who crosses the threshold of

an FMA Community must feel and experience

that they are center of attention of each Sister;

they must feel important, necessary, the favorite

in the manner of Don Bosco. Today more than

ever there must be a decisive personal

accompaniment, giving those who are growing

the certainty of being loved, understood and

welcomed in their innermost being, in a pure,

genuine way. The young person who is being

welcomed must find people willing to be close to

their situation and able to love them in their

poverty; a welcome that must avoid "playing the

game" of reaching everyone, but struggles with

creativity to make different proposals, focusing

on the maximum for each person.

Motherliness

Being women implies the natural inclination to

be mothers, and it is this desire and ability to

carry in self, to support, to nourish and then,

also to let go, that must be apparent from the

relationship with a Daughter of Mary Help of

Christians. A hard skin, but a tender heart; the

ability to follow rules, but only in view of a

greater good, that of a single young person; to

make as explicit as possible the Love that

invests and permeates the relationship with

young people.

Witness

One witnesses by direct, personal knowledge. It

is therefore necessary that Christ shines forth in

each of the actions, movements, thoughts of a

Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, because,

thanks to her special consecration, she has

direct knowledge and undertakes to transmit this

knowledge (which should not only be

theoretical) to anyone who crosses the threshold

of the house. He is the center of every FMA life,

and thus, like Him she loves, rejoices, and

hopes for every young person.

Prayer

First we need to be authentic women of prayer.

This is a challenge, in a time in which to

propose a faith that is not “do it yourself”, nor

purely functional with regard to the sacraments

or geared toward a “quid pro quo” and

immediate satisfaction and has the direct

consequence of the distancing from those who

"use" God. At the same time, a spirituality of this

kind draws close to and involves in a clear way

those who experience contact with a “genuine”,

deeply-rooted faith, not one that is mediocre, but

is in continual seeking for a profound dialogue.

The true home is the one where a family lives,

builds relationships based on familiarity, i.e. the

ability to be comfortable with the young, putting

them at the center to learn being with them, and

only after this, concerning one’s self with doing.

This means having the courage to open the

structures, minds, and hearts; sharing the daily

life of the community with the many who cross

your threshold; opening the times of prayer, and

showing the beauty of Christian, consecrated

women ; rediscovering the value of collaboration

with the Salesians not only at the level of

activities and ministry but also towards the

building of a home for the whole Salesian

Family; truly accepting the very poor, even with

respect to the new poverties which are not

material but spiritual and existential; while

rediscovering poverty as a charismatic given,

without which we would not even be able to live

in the Salesian spirit; reaffirming courageously

that the least are favored , because they are the

"first wounded " by life.

(Young people to the Chapter members,

October 11, 2014)

MiILLENIUM GOALS FOR DEVELOPMENT

A CHALLENGE THAT WE CANNOT MISS

The Millennium Development Goals sanctioned by the

UN General Assembly were the most ambitious ever

established by the International community. They were

to be achieved by December 2015

The fight against hunger and poverty, to environmental

protection, promotion of women’s rights, to the defeat

of infant mortality, AIDS and Malaria…

The results heretofore obtained were diverse and

“unequal” in different continents and nations.

The International community is called today to the

drawing up of a new Agenda that will constitute the

frame of reference for development during the years

following 2015

.

Gift and Culture

Taking a Chance on Gratuitousness Mara Borsi

For some time now there been has established a culture of crisis: one lives in a climate of widespread unease and malaise. There is the discomfort of those who realize that "having" does not pay, and the discomfort of those who cannot deal with the problems that life poses. There is the sarcastic nihilism of one who feels mocked by life, and there are those who preach the abandonment of a new consumerism. However, in this context, there are some emerging values to which young people are very sensitive. Among them is 'gratuity'. In an era of disillusionment and anguish gratuity is an original way to cling to life in its spontaneity, against the logic of domination and appropriation, against the materialism of life and the destruction of natural resources. Gratuity says seeking and having a love affair with life in all its forms. Gratuity supports and affirms the gift culture. Gift and the marketplace Giving a gift is a unilateral, asymmetrical gesture, expressing gratuity, and in this way it contradicts the law of the market as an equivalent exchange. The gift created is a new society that was not there before. Today, the marketplace has become a logic, a set of ideas and categories in people's minds and, therefore, the it is much more than economics, finance, multinational or other material realities. The person is reduced to homo economicus, and the world is reduced to commerce. That is why

the logic of competition dominates in the popular mentality. Precisely in times of crisis conflict seems to temper all. The times of conflict are finished even for many for the young people. In the family and at work, in the group as at school, an attitude of tolerance dominates in a large way. In the family they are trying to live what unites them as affective level, moving beyond divisions, still present on the level of positions, are interpretations and models of life. At work and at school the goal has become the creation of a human environment especially through improved interactions with peers. A eye to the young people

If we look attentively at the world of young people it seems that they will recreate the choice between two existential ideas, that of having and the being.

The context of the logic of possession in life is basically designed as a void to be filled. One lives by calculation administering all as a kind of double entry made up of give and take, always as a balance. In a logic of life inspired by gratuity, self and others are seen as a wealth that comes from the unfathomable mystery of life. The relationship with others is not ruled as a double entry, but on the need to "offer" one’s inner wealth. Life is not meant as a void to be filled, but as a richness, a mystery to be discovered and communicated.

VIDES International: the word to young

people

The slum 22 de Enero is all gray and

muddy. Poverty goes beyond material and

is a given in discomfort and delinquency

that govern the district. Not all eyes are as

beautiful and profound as those of the

children with whom we spent the days;

some are dark, dark as the shacks around

us. Despite everything, however, something

allowed us Flavia and Lavinia to admire

enthusiastically everything that surrounded

us. Three FMA, Sisters Vilma, Tati, and

Marta Riccioli, accompanied the VIDES

volunteer experience.

At the beginning we asked ourselves: "What

can we give? If giving means receiving,

what shall wetake home with us? “This is

the answer to our questions: the ability to

give unconditionally and to internalize of the

uniqueness of our dedication. Gifts for us

began the first day: the extreme hospitality

of the locals, the essentiality of the shacks

constructed with sheet metal, odor-scented

garbage burned to provide heat and light,

the smile of Peace, and a meal always

ready to say thank you.

But the greatest gift that no one can take

from us, we received from the children and

was ASSURANCE. We often feared not

succeeding, of taking a wrong step. But we

were protected by the children Juan,

Milagros and Wanda, who placing their little

hands in our own, told us by their silence,:

"Be at peace; we are there." So many

beautiful things: the merendero at 5 p.m.,

the songs, the dances, the asado, the slum,

and Vilma, Tati, Marta.

And our gift to them? It was in the "thank

you" to everyone, big and small, thanks to

the enthusiasm that only two girls, just a bit

older, could give.

Our experience did not end with our return

to Rome, but continues to grow and mature,

to observe and listen, to discern and learn,

to decide and act.

These are the key words of the formation

period: "education" to human rights and to

the relationship with the world. In Argentina,

but also among the local volunteers, who

continue to act in our city at the center of a

refugee children, it was essential to

understand the meaning that VIDES gives

to these words: everything is

interconnected, from observance to action,

to dialogue with each other.

It was an experience that continues, that

has not changed our lives, but the way we

live it.

The Word

Emmaus 1: A Stranger Approaches Eleana Salas

Setting:

- A large Bible and on it a crucifix and nearby the paschal candle - Arrange the chairs in a circle around the Bible - You may draw a path on the floor on pieces of paper,

Invocation to the Holy Spirit:

Come, o come, Spirit of love, come, rest

in us.

Jesus' death on the cross (not only for the

terrible suffering that it entailed,but also for

the “civil death", canceling also a memory of

the person), was a profound crisis for the

first Christian communities. In addition, the

fate of the Master could even touch his

followers; for this reason in the Garden "all

(the disciples) abandoned him and fled" (Mk

15, 50); others left Jerusalem and returned /

fled to their countries. This was probably the

case with these two disciples.

Some sensed that these, "two of them"

were actually a couple: Cleophas, and

Mary, his betrothed, who were, according to

John 19:25, near the Crucified, and

probably were also among the group of

disciples who went to the tomb, at the time

of sunrise on Sunday. Certainly the

conversation between them began from

different points of view.

Their eyes and hearts were still in the dark.

At this a stranger approaches, and

successfully takes part in the conversation.

The text is proclaimed clearly by a reader.

Each participant silently reads the text

again. After this, we will speak out the most

significant sentences.

Luke 24, 13-19

13 On that same day two of them went to a

village called Emmaus, which was about

threescore furlongs from Jerusalem; 14 and

they spoke to each other about everything

that had happened.15 While they were

talking and discussing, Jesus himself came

up and began to walk with them. 16 But

their eyes were impeded to such a point that

they did not recognize him. 17 He asked

them, "What were you speaking about as

you traveled along the way?" And they

stopped and were sad. 18 One of them,

Cleopas by name, answered him, "Are you

among the strangers in Jerusalem, who

does not know the things that have

happened there in these days?" 19 He said

to them, "What things " They said: "The fact

of Jesus of Nazareth, who was a mighty

prophet in word and deed before God and

all the people.

a. Reading: the text in itself

Emmaus. Various locations are competing to be the place indicated by Luke. Look for explanations of the notes on your Bible and possibly on the maps of first-century Palestine. In any case, it is far from Jerusalem. The Disciples. To discover what was said to them, what they did with inner attitudes (such as their eyes, their hearts). What it was that overwhelmed them...Jesus. Follow attentively what He does: “Jesus Himself”: “He who was absent is now present” , “in person”. “Draws close”. He seems to have hastened his steps to be close to them. Cf Phil 3,12“Begins to walk with them.” Before speaking, He listens to their experience. “Asks them”: What were you speaking about along the way ? What did you have in your heart? The questions allow them to open their inner self to share what they have within.

Meditation: The text for us today

Emmaus: at a time in which the Church and Pope Francis invite us to “go to the peripheries”, we indicate what are the “Emmaus”, from where do the young people and others come and where they are going? Are our eyes, our interest open to find the “Emmaus of our time? Which attitudes toward those who are different (persons, age, culture, style) do we have before us? Let us compare our attitudes with those of Jesus in relation to His two disciples. How do we receive those who question us or our ideas, pastoral styles, ways of working, etc?

Prayer

Let us speak with the Lord in silence

beginning from this text:

Let us pray for Emmaus: Recall to mind the images of the areas frequented by our young people, including those which are now considered "refuse" ... Let us exercise "opening our hearts and broadening our vision," as Pope Francis asks of us.

“Jesus Himself approaches and began to walk with them”. Let us begin with our

attitudes, from the openness and trust that inhabit our hearts; let us be grateful for the bridges that we are capable of offering, let us ask for the ability to go out like Jesus, and approach others with much refinement, kindness, as He did ...Do I allow myself to be reached, to be touched by Jesus and by my Sisters, by the young people, by the lives of people ? May prayer prepare me for meaningful and authentic encounters, according to the DMA...

Let us share some echoes from our prayer.

Contemplation – commitment

It is not enough to study and pray the Word

of God; it is important that it should flourish

in our life. Which attitudes must I nourish in

my heart to approach that of Jesus in this

step? How can we better express in

community this “going out to the encounter”

to the Emmaus of our time?

Final Prayer:

Along the way to Emmaus, I journeyed

with a pilgrim. I did not recognize Him

along the way, now, I do, in the breaking

of the bread.

Charism and Leadership

Being Father and Mother: identity and

mission

Piera Cavaglià

Don Bosco, who experienced the drama of

growing up without a father since his early

childhood, was able to channel all his

energy into expressing a deep paternal

affection for his young people and his

Salesians. He recognized that paternal

authority is authentic only in God, and by

God, and was passionate about His

Kingdom of love and mercy. He therefore

wanted the transparency of this love even

with his human resources. His was a

paternity in the faith, like that of St. Paul

when he wrote to the Galatians: "My little

children, for whom I suffer again from the

pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in

you" (Gal 4:19).

Don Bosco’s deepest identity was revealed

in his being father, friend, brother. For him,

animation and government not just any role,

but a spiritual generation.

Being and Acting like Don Bosco

The first Salesians learned almost by

osmosis from Don Bosco how to be

directors, to animate and to govern the

communities that were gradually being

opened. His testimony was for them a daily

itinerary of formation. His very person, all

given to the good of young people, his style

of guiding the community, his strong sense

of communication, his wisdom imbued with

charity and family spirit, his passion for the

Kingdom of God, all became a school for

his sons, for the educators and directors of

the first Salesian houses. He formed them

to responsibility to give a solid foundation to

the Congregation, today we would say that

he formed them to incarnate and inculturate

the charism in the various environments.

Every director was, at that time and in

successive times, a leader, (not a

spectator!) of the process of the foundation

of his work, and so Don Bosco

recommended to the directors in the April 6,

1869 evening meeting in the library: “ Let us

seek to become worthy founders of the

Society of St. Francis de Sales, so that

those who read our story later on can find in

us models, and will not have to exclaim:

‘What kind of founders were they!’ Help me

with your good will and obedience in this

great undertaking. It is up to you to make

my task easy” (MB IX 600).

It is true that the charism of the Founder

was given to Don Bosco by the Holy Spirit,

but in a certain sense it was up to each

member of the Salesian Congregation,

especially those who had the task of

animation, to implement the commitment to

guard, renew, develop, and make it visible

on the local level . The charism shines forth

especially in those who open their hearts to

the Spirit, becoming the transparency of His

love, manifesting to all the genuineness of

this love that helps to grow, give trust, and

promote life.

Fr. Paolo Albera wrote: “We need to say

that Don Bosco favored in us in a unique

way that was all his own: one could feel an

irresistible charm. I felt that I was loved in

a way like never before, singularly, superior

to any affection. We were all surrounded

almost entirely in an atmosphere of

contentment and happiness. It could not be

any other way because from his every word

and act there emanated the holiness of

union with God who is perfect charity” ACS

1 (1920). Don Bosco identified the basic

attitude of those who had directive

responsibilities in "charity and kindness."

These should be the characteristics of each

director towards the confreres, young

people, and collaborators, as much as to

every person encountered.

Formation guidelines for Salesian

Directors

Don Bosco formed the directors using

varied ways: personal encounters,

especially the private talk, letters and

annual community meetings at Valdocco,

usually around the feast of St. Francis de

Sales. In these “conferences” Don Bosco

was the teacher, but he favored subsidiarity

and complementarity. At times he left the

presidency to Fr. Rua, and invited every

director to present the respective schools

and communities, bringing out difficulties,

hopes and future prospects. Expert in

involving youthful energies and in showing

trust to every person, for Fr. Giovanni

Bonetti he traced out a very concrete

program of action: "Remember that the

Director need not do much, but should work

that others ay do so, taking care that each

person complies with his duties "(letter of 19

April 1871 in Epistolario edited by F. Motto

III 324). Today we would call it subsidiarity

or coordination for communion. The terms

change but the spirit is similar: it was the

condition for a family atmosphere where

everyone feels loved and valued. Don

Bosco wrote to the young director Michael

Rua what the synthesis of his life program

was : "In omnibus caritas. Act in such a way

'that everyone you talk to becomes your

friend "(Letter of August 10, 1873 in

Epistolario edited by F. Motto IV 142).

Revised and expanded in 1870-'71, the

letter would become a formation document

entitled Confidential reminders for directors,

and it is still a major source of the spirituality

of Don Bosco, founder and formator of

educators.1Francesco Motto wrote in his

commentary to this letter: "Our father's heart

and - why not? - his maternal solicitude

reached the point of worrying about the

physical health of the Director and his

brothers, their hours of sleep ("Each night

you should have seven hours of rest"; "Do

not ever command things that are harmful to

health, or what would prevent the necessary

rest "),of their treatment at the table (" Avoid

austerities in food. Your mortifications are

diligence in your duties and bearing the

harassment of others "), the risk of

excessive work (" Seek to share things so

that no one has too many burdens ").2

Unlike the socio-cultural animator, the

Salesian director wanted by Don Bosco was

to be the person totally consecrated to God

that was the awareness of being a docile

instrument of His love, helping each and

everyone to live the plan that the Father has

for each of His children. His vocational

identity, assumed and expressed with total

responsibility and with a fatherly/motherly

heart is the basic condition for properly

carrying out his mission of service for the

joy and hope of individuals and

communities.

1 Cf MOTTO Francesco, I “Ricordi confidenziali ai

direttori” di don Bosco, in Don Bosco educatore.

Scritti e testimonianze, a cura di P. Braido, Roma,

LAS 1992, 173-186. 2 Ivi 174-175.

A glance at the world

The Courage to Leave Anna Rita Cristaino

Rich in history and natural beauty, Mexico is

one of the most important nations in the

world. Despite the economic progress of

recent years, the country still experiences

severe problems of instability and social

inequality. Beyond the big city, there are

places in the country where it is more

difficult to find work, where one struggles

every day for survival and this leads many

people to leave their country of origin. In

addition to the significant migration to the

United States there is, in fact, a substantial

internal mobility. Thousands of older

adolescents leave their villages and go on

to overpopulate big cities. What drives a girl

to leave her family, village, habits, and

friendships?

Rosalia and Modesta told us what it means

to have the courage to go alone, to leave

everything, driven by a strong desire to

discover new possibilities for existence.

They left very young for a life to which to

give their energy, choosing unknown paths.

Rosalia tells us of her departure: "I came here when I was 17. It was not easy. I arrived at the home of one of my brothers. I lived there. I did not how to travel on the subway, I barely knew how to read. Coming here alone and starting to study has given me more confidence, it opened me to other ideas and I grew up; yes, even in fear I always went on. I am from a village called San Bernardino Laguna. Eight sisters and brothers grew up there. We did not have many resources. My dad worked the land, my mother was devoted to the housework. My brothers and sisters helped my father, but now they are all here in town. "

They bring with them the baggage of affection, of family relationships, of friends, of places visited and loved, a baggage full of well known maps. But in that baggage, a big space is left for big dreams. There is the dream of being able to work to support one’s self and not to be a burden on the family, to learn Spanish well, without forgetting the local language of the parents, to learn to read and write, or to progress in their studies, to be aware that you have many skills and still unexplored potential .

This is what Modesta said: "For us, people

from the countryside, there are many

difficulties because Mexico City is very large

and many, like me, arrive not knowing how

to read or write. Then we do not know

where to live. Many have no relatives with

whom they can live. This is one reason why

the majority of young people, women and

men who come to this city look for a job that

offers a place to live because we have

nowhere to go. "

Mexico City is enormous. It is a micro-world

of cultures, customs and traditions, of

people who are rich or poor, of happy

families and single men. It is a small

universe that leaves the person who arrives

from places where everything was close

and known breathless. The way one

speaks, moves, looks at life, the way one

dresses, eats, everything is different.

Arriving makes one feel like they are being

catapulted the middle of an ocean, and one

just has to learn how to swim so they do

not drown. One arrives with the memory of

a mother’s tears, the proud faces of fathers

who wanted to give and do more for their

children so as not to force anyone to leave.

One still feels the warmth of fraternal

embraces. Immediately one realizes that the

path to be traveled is all uphill. The person

has to find work, hopes to find lodging, to

make new friends, to take every opportunity

to learn something new about the city, to

learn something from every acquaintance.

"For many years”, says Modesta, “I felt the

need to leave so as to grow. I come from a

family that does not have many economic

opportunities, a large family. I have six

brothers. It was one of the things that

inspired me to come here. I arrived in this

city to work as a maid for a family, doing the

housework. After I grew in the intention to

continue to study, but I did not know how to

go about it. My only day off was Sunday.

Then I discovered that there was a school

where they gave lessons on Sundays, and I

got in touch with them. "

In 1970 the FMA of the Mexican province of

Our Lady of Guadalupe began the Mary

Help of Christians Youth Center which in

2001 took the name of Obra Social Auxilio.

Here every Sunday thousands of young

women who are are were welcomed. Over

the years, in addition to young women, they

have also welcomed children and adults,

migrants employed as workers in private

homes or in workshops.

Sr. Neida Julieta Carriedo, one of the FMA

who worked in OAS, explains: "Young

people who are assisted in this center need

help in many areas, and this is why we try to

offer the best possible solutions in terms of

professional preparation, intellectual,

spiritual, and moral study.They come from

different places of the countryside, seeking

improved opportunities for life. They come

here to work as domestics, so we

appreciate the fact that they devote their

only day off to better themselves

professionally.” L’Obra Social Auxilio,

(OSA), each year accepts about six

hundred fifty beneficiaries; reaching even to

1,000 registrations. Formation courses

include: academic training, apprenticeship

for work, human development, educational

psychology, sex education, appreciation of

the culture of origin, and critical approach to

communication. It is a meaningful space for

integral human development, an important

point of meeting and acceptance. Rosalia

further tells us: "This is also a religious

environment. I am Catholic and being here

has enriched me and helped me to grow.

Now that I'm already completing classes of

the Secondary School, I will continue to

those of the Preparatory, and this is helping

me very much. This school is my home ".

Modesta also studied at the OAS: "When I

arrived the school was entitled " Centro

Juvenil Maria Auxiladora ". At the time, it

offered courses to prepare for work, and

Primary and Secondary School, and since I

had not yet completed the Primary classes I

began to study to become a secretary in a

course that lasted three years. Then I was

offered to stay on as a volunteer ". Sr.

Neida explains: "At the Auxilio Social Work

there are about eighty volunteers who come

to collaborate Sunday after Sunday to help

in a gratuitous way: teaching lessons, and

giving support to all young people and

adults who are cared for in this center every

week." Rosalia and Modesta, are building

their future day by day. What is striking

about these girls is their willingness to

commit and sacrifice themselves. They work

hard and work well.

Modesta has been working at the Social

Rehabilitation Centre for five years, as

secretary of the director of the Centre and at

the same time she also attends the

University. The following is how a typical

day for Rosalia unfolds: "I start work at six

in the morning. I get up at half past five and

at six I begin to do what is necessary to

clean and keep the house in order, and this

takes me almost all day. I finish at ten or ten

thirty for dinner. All day I go up and down,

but I like my job because it helps me

financially and with what I earn I can help

my family to build their home ".

During our stay in Mexico we visited one of

the largest cities in the world, a nation rich

in possibilities for development and in

contradictions, where you can touch the

thread that binds together people from very

different backgrounds. We met hardworking

Sisters who were fraternal, and

sympathetic; and we met young women and

girls who are not afraid to take their lives in

hand. We have proof that when one is really

committed, even Providence will come to

our aid helping to realize ideas and projects.

To whatever each of us aspires, we must

begin to do it because it brings it bring with

itself daring, genius, and strength!

Consecrated Life

Communication and Communion with God Patrizia Bertagnini

Closeness with God is like the idea of

the rays of a circle. As they approach the

center, the distances between them

shortens, allowing for the overcoming of

fragmentation. In continual dialogue with

the Lord vocational identity is

strengthened and one learns to listen to

the brothers and sisters.

A world in pieces

The world in which we live has a common

denominator that is generally referred to by

the word fragmentary. It indicates the

gradual disappearance of communities

which were once real points of reference.

The group, the church, the village, the

people with whom we shared daily life are

community realities, which in the face of

urbanization, the spread of the means of

mass communication, the homogenization

and isolation of metropolitan life, all seem

destined to disappear. In this context the

person is reduced to the status of a mere

individual, a fragment struggling to find a

social position; the loss of the physical

community is matched, in fact, by the crisis

communication and solidarity.

From a social point of view, the person is

forced to abandon "solid" modern standard

with its codes, norms, values and

constraints, to migrate toward a "liquid"

society (Bauman), where everything is

uncertain, fluctuating, detached from any

reference; in a liquid life neither heroes nor

martyrs are of any value, because there are

no trenches to defend and no value for

which to give one’s life; they are judged to

be victims of “psychological dysfunction".

In their place "celebrities", come to the fore,

the stars, and the new heroes of songs,

sports, cinema, and finance. They are

celebrities that wear out quickly to make

room for other celebrities, other stars, which

act as social glue for the masses.

Each piece in its place

Is it possible to meet the challenge of the contemporary world and escape the logic just described?

God's relationship with man was, from the very beginning, in the name of communication, the Dei Verbum begins in a paradigmatic way : God is revealed, manifests his will, through Christ he speaks, he has relationships with persons, invites and admits to communion with himself "(cfr. DV, 2). Revelation has the aim of allowing each person to become a participant in the life of God himself, permitting each person to enter into the relationship of love expressed by the divine Trinity and, therefore requires the free accord of man to God's initiative.

But it is before the historical Jesus spoken of in the Gospels that the miracle of perfect communication between God and man is carried out; the Incarnation is the space in which God is present to the person calling him/her to a deeper relationship with Himself, a relationship in which there appears in all its evidence the attention of

God to make the relationship with the human person a virtuous circle that involves, as a final goal, the free, human response to God. The historical event of the life of the Son of God, while on the one side it exalts a higher Will of communication, on the other side it is proposed as the most fertile ground for this communication to come about in all its fullness.

A workshop of communications Each religious community is, by its nature, a

witness of the words and gestures with

which Jesus involves humanity in His plan

of salvation. This is why it "exists to

communicate to people of every time the

good news. If you do not commit to it with all

your strength in communicating what the

Lord has entrusted to you it would fail in its

mission "(Card. Ruini)

Drawing closer to the Lord and allowing self to be caught up in deep conversation with Him allows for the solidifying of vocational identity, an identity that we are called to guard, and which is based on fidelity to one’s own vocation story, on the awareness of the uniqueness of the value and on the need for authentic relationships that broaden perspectives. An identity that is authentically centered on discipleship becomes the gift of self, because when we give ourselves to others we discover the meaning of our own choices and consecration. The challenge of fragmentation requires of the religious community a special care of communication, both internally, as it is koinonia, fellowship, intimate bond, fraternal relationship of solidarity, shared responsibility and participation; and externally, because it presents itself to the world as actually engaged in an explicit proclamation of salvation, as a reality in the service of the person, as a sacrament of union with God.

On 25 March 1996, John Paul II signed the

Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata, a

document clarifying the doctrine or theology

of the VC. N. 36 reads:

"Every charism has [...], as its source, a

three-fold approach: to the Father, first of

all, the filial desire to seek His will through a

process of continual conversion, in which

obedience is the source of true freedom,

chastity expresses the tension of a heart

unsatisfied by any finite love, and poverty

nourished by that hunger and thirst for

justice which God has promised to satisfy

(cf. Mt 5: 6). [...] To the Son, by which we

are led to cultivate an intimate communion

of inner life and joy at the school of

generous service of God and neighbor [...]

to the Holy Spirit, insofar as it disposes the

person to be guided and supported by Him,

both in one’s own spiritual journey as well

as in the life of communion and in apostolic

action order to live in that attitude of service

which should inspire every choice the

authentic Christian”.

Parents and Children: love and conflict

Mariano Diotto

Music has always told of family events

with its unforgettable, beautiful

moments, but also of the saddest facts

of conflict and resentment or "things

unsaid."

Children and parents

The relationship with a loving mother is told

by Cat Stevens in his song entitled My

Mother. She found herself raising a child

as a single parent because her husband

abandoned her before the child was born.

The result was this song inspired by a 19th

century Madrigal: I know what my life is

worth/I know what it cost you/I will treat you

well/because it is all that you ask of me”.

“O Dad, sit down and hear my song/and if

you feel like it, then please sing along / and

if you feel like it then please sing along / No,

there’s nothing that I want to say that I

haven't said before /But to use your words, ‘

you can never be too sure’ /Look, even

though I don't always show it, I'm glad that

you're around. / I'm glad that you’re

around»3.

These are the words that Alain Clark uses in

the Father & Friend to tell the story of his

relationship with his father who is seen to be

a friend who remains close even when you

have grow to adulthood.

3

«Oh papà siediti e ascolta la mia canzone / e se te la senti

cantala anche tu per favore / no, non c'è niente che voglio

dire che non abbia già detto prima ma, per usare parole tue,

"non puoi mai essere troppo sicuro"./ Vedi, nonostante io

non lo dimostri sempre sono felice che tu sia qui».

Instead, in 2004 Bono of the group U2 wrote

the song Sometimes you can't make it on

your own which is his own personal

remembrance toward his father who

disappeared three years earlier. “We fight

all the time, You and I / and that's alright /

We're the same soul / I don't need to hear

you say / That if we weren't so alike / You'd

like me a whole lot more / Listen to me now

/ I need to let you know / You don't have to

go it alone».4

The suffering of being a parent

Life always reserves big surprises, and at

the end of a long tour with the Beatles John

Lennon realizes that he was an absentee

father to his first child Julian, and he wants

to wants to heal the relationship by not

making the same mistakes with his

youngest son, Sean. So he retires from the

music scene to be with his family and wrote

the masterpiece Beautiful Boy (Darling

Boy). In this song, Lennon describes his

love for his son, and the small and great

4 «Litighiamo tutto il tempo tu ed io / va bene / Siamo

la stessa anima / Non ho bisogno di sentirti dire / Che

se non fossimo così simili / Ti piacerei molto di più /

Ascoltami adesso / Ho bisogno di farti sapere / Che

non devi fare tutto da solo».

teachings that a parent has to give, from the

simplest recommendations :“Before you

cross the street, take my hand»5 to the

point of saying : «Life is what happens to

you while you're busy making other plans»6.

But being a parent means also losing

children to a tragic, unjustified death. This

is what Eric Clapton sings about in his

famous Grammy Award song: Tears in

Heaven. In this ballad of voice and guitar,

the musician tells us of the death of his

young son Connor who fell from the 53rd

floor of a New York skyscraper. It is the

desperate song of a father who hope to

again meet his son in Paradise where all

difficulties will finally disappear.

«Time can bring you down; time can bend

your knees / Time can break your heart,

have you begging please, begging please /

Beyond the door there's peace I'm sure /

And I know there'll be no more tears in

heaven».7 Clapton has not played this song

for many years, sincel he felt that he had

finally overcome the pain at the loss of his

5 «Prima di attraversare la strada, dammi la mano».

6 «La vita è ciò che ti accade mentre sei impegnato a fare

altri progetti» 7 «Il tempo può buttarti giù; il tempo può piegarti le

ginocchia / Il tempo può spezzarti il cuore, farti

implorare pietà, implorare pietà / Oltre la porta c'è

pace ne sono sicuro / E lo so non ci saranno più

lacrime in Paradiso».

son, and this shows that sometimes a

song is not "a simple song", but speaks

of one’s own life, one’s emotions, and

of their intimacy

Being part of the world

Some songs also tell of forms of

special parenting: ,a feeling that they

are part of a world in need of

individuals who know how to guide

other people.

This was the case of the Italian singer,

Fiorella Mannoia who sings of this form of

love in the song Luce: “There is no child

who is not my own nor injury of which I do

not feel the pain. There is no land that is not

my land, and there is no life that does not

deserve love. There is no voice that is not

my voice, nor injustice of which I do not

bear the offense. There is no Peace that is

not my Peace, and there is no war that has

an excuse”. This form of love overcomes

the degrees of parentage and makes us all

children of the same land and the same

God.

So it is that songs at times become a

message from parents to children and vice

versa. Because at time it is easier to sing of

some sentiments that to speak them:

And daughter, daughter , / I do not want you

to be happy,/ but always “against”/ As long

as you have a voice” ».8

8 Roberto Vecchioni nella canzone Figlia

Camilla

RE-CREATION

Dear friends, whether we want to admit it or

not there are some things in our lives that

are typical, real entrustments from our

Founders that we are betraying! The

situation is deteriorating as time goes on,

and I feel a moral obligation to report the

risks to which, in my humble opinion, we are

exposing ourselves.

If we cast a glance on our community, we

immediately notice that there are many

Sisters affected by the virus of

“optimization”. It is fairly easy to glimpse the

symptoms of this disease: we are always in

a hurry, we scarcely focus in certain

environments, and we quickly pass people

by, moving about the house always with

something in hand. We always have at

least two commitments to be carried out

simultaneously, and we say that we

scrupulously avoid downtime…

There is a sign by which we can be sure

that we are in the presence of the disease:

the “sick” Sister always has a reason for

deserting recreation.

There are Sisters who are never at

recreation, and do you know why? Because

they are victims of “optimization”. Those

twenty minutes when we finally meet those

whom we have not seen since breakfast, is

a real torment for them. I mean it!

For an active person who is constantly busy

with a thousand occupations, who does not

have time to breathe, to eat, to pray...those

twenty minutes closed up in a room where

no one does anything essential, where there

are those who tell jokes, who crochet, who

transmit a news story in which one has an

interest, who ask for help in carrying out

small jobs for the next day, who inform the

group on the health of an elderly person,

and even those who play checkers or cards,

well, believe me, to that person those

twenty minutes that are “time lost” bring an

indescribable suffering.

Clearly, I am not speaking of those Sisters

who need to carry out a determined task

right at that time, but of those who take off

as soon as the clock strikes. If the

community is lucky, they will see them at

the beginning of the Good Night, otherwise

they’re gone until tomorrow!

Now, I tell you, if that is the time when we

regain a bit of lost energy and we

strengthen our ties, evidently these others

re-create elsewhere with something or

someone else, because no one can live

alone, much less if she has chosen to live in

community!

I, instead, love recreation very much, but as

soon as the Good Night begins, I fall asleep!

Could it be that I’m “sick”, too?

Camilla’s Words...

In the next issue

DOSSIER: Broaden your vision...Encounter

Only a real encounter with Jesus leads us to “re-view” reality and allow it to transform us from

within. Our change is a transforming force of reality. Ordinary Salesian spirituality nourishes a

culture of encounter that brings us close to young people and to the laity, and makes us

solicitous in Mary’s style.

Ecological Education: Toward something new

The theme of Expo Milano 2015 is "Feeding the Planet; Energy for Life". This will be expressed

through the principles of awareness and interaction that are feasible thanks to new

technologies. The thematic areas constitute a real network that interfaces with the things of the

world, by helping people to understand that it is important to know and perfect each stage of the

food chain, since each depends on the success of the entire process.

ARIANNA’S LINE: Behind the mask

The article presents the various defense mechanisms with particular reference to the

experience of leadership: the sense of superiority, imposition, rationalization, identification with

the role, projection and analysis proposed through some solutions.

COMUNICATING: Communication and charism

The text expresses the need to understand that being present on the world stage today is not an

optional choice but a duty, a way to be heard (provided you know how to do it). The need to

review and renew language, and to find new ways to communicate well in tune with the laity

CHARISM and LEADERSHIP:

Accepting self and forgiving through faith

The issues discussed in the text, with reference to the charism of Mother Mazzarello, are:

authentically communicating, conflict resolution, and assertiveness.