20 February 2020
This is the second of the three Days of Spirituality. The morning was, like yesterday, another time for recollection. It began with the conference given by Fr. Eunan McDonnel, Provincial of the Province of Ireland. He developed the theme “The Profile of Today’s Salesian,” that corresponds to the second key topic of the General Chapter that asks the question “What kind of Salesians for the young people of today?” Fr. Mc Donnel, delivering his talk in English (with simultaneous translations), uses the method of recognizing, interpreting and choosing–the method chosen for GC 28 that is the same one used for the Synod on Young People, which was introduced in the document Evangelii Gaudium. Fr. McDonnel began with a description of today’s world: one on fire–“a time of rapid change, secularization and uncertainty.” With this situation, he asks what kind of Salesians are needed for the youth of today. He mentions a quality pertinent to the situation at hand: gentleness and loving kindness. He dwells on the question “What kind of Salesians…?” When we ask this, we are not able to arrive at an answer but we experience an invitation: Jesus’ words “Come to me.” We find the importance in listening. Fr. McDonnel put it beautifully: If, and when, we listen to God, the script changes. He concludes saying, “The spiritual life is not so much about doing as letting be done, letting God act in us, work through us.”
The rest of the morning was spent for quiet reflection and at midday, the Chapter members gathered in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians for the Eucharist presided by Fr. McDonnel.
After lunch, everyone gathered in the Aula Magna for the presentation of the summary of the contributions from the different regions on the report of the Rector Major, their responses to the reports of the different sectors. The principal challenges are in the areas of Identity and Form of Salesian Consecrated Life, Formation, Mission, and Management of Goods. The priorities for the next six years also fell under the same areas, with the addition of governing the Congregation in terms of structures, processes and coordination. This summary was given back to the different regions for further comments and suggestions.
The Good Night Talk was delivered by Fr. Luigi Cameroni, the Postulator General for the causes of saints. He shared on the chapter theme from the perspective of holiness. He highlighted certain members of the Salesian Family who have been raised to the altars and upcoming ones who have been declared venerable or servants of God.
