16 February 2020
Greetings from the Motherhouse of all the Salesian Houses or Don Bosco schools and oratories around the world! Gathered here are 242 Salesians from all over the world, from Asia-Oceania, Europe, Africa, the Americas–from 66 nationalities, but representing the presences in 131 countries for the 28th General Chapter. “Capitulars” is how the participants are called . They are made up of all the Provincial Superiors, the elected delegates from each Province, and some other Salesians who are invited by the Rector Major. Fr. Provincial and I represent the Province of Philippines-North and Malaysia (FIN). This gathering is the fraternal meeting in which Salesians carry our a communal reflection to keep themselves faithful to the Gospel and to the charism of Don Bosco. It lays down laws for the whole society, to treat matters of greater importance and to elect the Rector Major and the members of the general council. It is held every six years, the first ones at the time of Don Bosco.
This place where we meet these next seven weeks is called “VALDOCCO” in the city of Turin, in Northern Italy. It is the place of the first Oratory of Don Bosco, where Don Bosco finally found a home that began with the Pinardi shed. It is where Don Bosco gathered boys, where he and Mamma Margaret welcomed the poor youth who came to stay to study or to learn a trade. It is the place where Dominic Savio and Michael Magone stayed. It is the place where the first Salesians made their promise, the place of Michael Rua, John Cagliero. It is the place where Grigio brought Don Bosco safely home. It is the place where Don Bosco multiplied bread and chestnuts, the place where he built the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. It is the place where Don Bosco died and where we find his remains. It is HOME for Salesians and Bosconians.
As I see the different Salesians coming in these past days the more I realize how great the work of God is, that work that he has done through Don Bosco. Today we officially begun with the meeting at the Auditorium. The Rector Major welcomed all the Capitulars. He mentioned the special character of this Chapter that is held at “the HOME our beloved father… the place where the charism began; in the playground where Don Bosco met the boys, in this house, in these churches.” He said that we look at these 49 days are grace-filled, for we are neither a business nor an international organization that makes its strategic plans for profitability. We are the Society of St. Francis de Sales, Salesians of Don Bosco and we meet to celebrate the General Chapter that looks with faith at our times and in planning for the future with fidelity. This meeting in the Auditorium was followed by the Eucharistic Celebration at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians.
Some notes: 7 Filipino Salesians are Capitulars–Fr. Gerardo Martin (FIN Provincial), Fr. Joel Camaya (FIN Delegate), Fr. Godofredo Atienza (FIS Provincial), Bro. Ed Villordon (FIS Delegate), Fr. Alfred Maravilla (PGS Provincial), Fr. Andrew Wong (INA Provincial), Fr. Roel Soto (THA-Cambodia Delegation Superior). Fr. Nestor Impelido is also present as a translator.
