New edition of the Spirituality Days of the Salesian Family

The 32 groups that make up the Salesian Family have a new appointment to participate in a new edition (number 41) of the Spirituality Days, which has at the center of the work the theme of the Strenna of the Rector Major for this year: “As leaven in the human family today. The lay dimension in the Family of Don Bosco”.

To this classic event of the Salesian Family, which has been taking place in the first weeks of January, before the feast of Saint John Boscosome 300 representatives of almost all the groups of the Salesian Family present in the world are registered in person.

Given the success of the methodology used in recent editions and increased by the coronavirus pandemic, also this year the Conferences are offered in a mixed modality, that is, with face-to-face activities for the nearly 300 members of the Salesian Family groups. registered, but also some specific acts that will be broadcast live, through the social networks of the Salesian News Agency (ANS), for everyone who wants to be part of the Days throughout the Salesian world and live them in community. These moments will be the masses at 9 in the morning and the work sessions in the afternoon, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. in peninsular time.

The Conference, in detail

The 41st edition of the Salesian Family Spirituality Days will begin this Thursday morning, January 12, with the welcome of guests and visits to Valdocco and the Casa Don Bosco Museum. The official opening will take place early in the afternoon, specifically at 3:30 p.m.

This inaugural event will be broadcast live worldwide on streaming. In addition to the greetings and welcome messages, the Year dedicated to Saint Francis de Sales will officially close, on the VI Centenary of his death. It will have the words of the Salesian Ivo CoelhoGeneral Councilor for Formation, and Don Angel Fernandez Artime, Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation, who will proceed to present the Strenna: “As leaven in the human family today. The lay dimension in the Family of Don Bosco”, in which he highlights the importance of the laity committed to the service of the Church and of the groups of the Salesian Family, in particular.

Subsequently, the mass will take place in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians and this first day will close the community experience of “Via Lucis”, liturgical-devotional path born precisely from the Salesian Family.

Friday, January 13, will open with Mass in the Basilica and a reflection session in which the participants, divided into small linguistic groups, will reflect on which aspects of the Strenna help the most to enhance the lay dimension of the Salesian Family.

In the afternoon, during the session broadcast by streamingthere will be a round table on the theme “The current moment of the laity in the Church”, moderated by Anthony Boccia, World Coordinator of the Salesian Cooperators. The themes exposed in four interventions: the apostolic commitment of the laity; the identity of the lay person; educational processes and youth accompaniment; and the role of the laity in the Church today.

Friday’s day will continue with a presentation by two groups of the Salesian Family, the Catechist Sisters of María Inmaculada Auxilio de los Cristianos (SMI) and the Sisters of Saint Michael the Archangel (CSSMA), which will also include a time for the meeting with the speakers of the round table and, at night, another prayer.

The activities during the morning of Saturday, January 14, will be carried out in the same way as those of the previous day, but, during the work time in the linguistic groups, reflection will continue to develop the ideas that emerged in the round table of the day former. In the afternoon, the assembly session, broadcast in streamingwill make it possible to deepen the Salesian holiness of Saint Artemides Zatticanonized on October 9 of last year by the Pope Francisco in the Vatican.

Next, the groups of the Daughters of the Royalty of Mary Immaculate (DQM) and the Missionary Community of Don Bosco (CMB) will be presented. Shortly after will be the presentation of various good practices of youth service, carried out by the Salesian Family in the different continents. The film “Zatti, our brother” will be screened and Saturday will close with a fraternity evening.

The last day, Sunday January 15, will open with the morning mass from the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, presided over by the Rector Major and issued by streaming. In addition, there will be a final work session for the participants, divided according to the group of the Salesian Family to which they belong. The reflection will focus on youth experiences from the previous day.

The last broadcast in streaming of the Spirituality Days of the Salesian Family will be the final conclusions offered by Joan Lluis BeachDelegate of the Rector Major for the Salesian Family, and of the Rector Major himself.

Follow him live

It will be possible to follow the different live shows in the four days of the Conference through the ANS profile in Spanish at Facebook: and also on the ANS channel of Youtube in Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/ANSchannel. It can also be followed in Italian, English, French or Portuguese.

New edition of the Spirituality Days of the Salesian Family – Salesianos España