(ANS – Turin) – In the Turin-Valdocco setting, the Salesian Family Spirituality Days continue at full speed. Yesterday evening, after the moment of discussion and debate with the speakers of the round table, the second day came to an end with the “Goodnight” and with a moment of prayer and song to Mother Mazzarello, performed by the San Bernardo Choir of Novara . Work resumed today and there were many – and intense – moments that characterized this third day.
In the morning, immediately after Lauds, the Eucharist was celebrated as usual at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, presided over by the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime. During the Eucharist, the preacher, Fr Joan Lluís Playà, Central Delegate of the Rector Major for the Secretariat for the Salesian Family, highlighted how “the theme of the Strenna is deeply present in our minds and hearts. The parable of the leaven is extraordinarily fruitful. […] The ’embryo’ of the charism that the Spirit planted in John Bosco’s tender heart continues to leaven the human family today”.
“Like the many grains of wheat that make up the bread of the Eucharist – continued Don Playà – we are all called to unite intensely so that Christ, through the gift of our life, may be nourishment for the children, young people and adults who sets before our eyes.”
At the end of the Eucharist, then, the participants in the Days gathered in front of the statue of Don Bosco, for the traditional group photograph together with the Rector Major.
Immediately afterwards, starting at 10.30, the activities resumed, with those present divided into various groups on the basis of their respective vocations (lay, religious, secular consecrated persons).
The afternoon work, at the Teatro Grande in Valdocco, began in an atmosphere of joy and fraternity with the presentation of some of the groups of the Salesian Family including that of the Sisters of the Adolescent Jesus and that of the Don Bosco Mission Community.
The assembly session then concentrated on the Salesian holiness of Artemide Zatti, thanks to the precious intervention of Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, Postulator General for the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Family. After retracing the fundamental stages of his life, Fr Cameroni underlined in particular how the Salesian saint lived his “being leaven” inspired by Don Bosco, or “doing things with love and out of love” and always with trust in God and in Mary Help of Christians. The lay dimension of his holiness was then underlined, that is, “the exercise of charity in the simplicity of a small hospital and a small town. He is an example and a model of consecration to his people in his daily work, having God as his source, motivation in faith and end of his life ”. And finally the invitation to follow the example of Artemide Zatti, to take our bicycles to go towards those in need, towards the poor, towards the little ones, bringing them the Word of God.
Subsequently, some young people from the Salesian Province of Lombardy-Emilian Italy presented their testimonies on Saint Artemide Zatti, explaining what they think the Salesian saint says to a young person today. There were many points of reflection offered by these young people, who agreed in affirming that Artemide Zatti sums up the concept of Salesian holiness well and that it is an incentive to walk on the path of holiness, loving Jesus and caring for one’s neighbour.
This continued with the eagerly awaited Youth Moment, which will occupy the rest of the afternoon and which is divided into six different activities. In fact, the coordination team of the GSFS 2023 wanted to offer a moment of dialogue and interaction between the young people and the members of the Salesian Family.
The day will close with an evening of fraternity, before resuming work on the final day tomorrow, 15 January.
Italy – Salesian Family Spirituality Days continue in Valdocco