21 February 2020
We have come to the last of the three Days of Spirituality. The conference was given by Fr. Luis Fernandez Guttierrez, delegate of the Spanish Province of Madrid (SSM). He developed the last of the three themes for the General Chapter: Together with the Laity in Mission and Formation. He noted the Chruch’s rediscovery of the path of synodality in our times–the act of walking together, which is affirmed in our present Chapter: hat Salesians and the laity walk together. One highlight in the talk of Fr. Gutierrez is walking in the path of humility, which is the first step of discernment. Fr. Gutierrez touched on the importance of vocation. He said that the greatest service we can give to young people is to help them discover the person they are and are called to be. He concluded speaking about joy and hope. The Gospel is always a message of joy. Valdocco joy was lived with simplicity and Don Bosco knew how to communicate to his young people the importance of joy.
The Mass that concluded the morning of recollection was presided over by His Eminence, Óscar Rodríguez Cardinal Maradiaga, SDB. Archbishop of Tegucigalpa (Honduras). He is among the guests gracing GC 28, especially in tomorrow’s formal inauguration of the General Chapter. Concelebrating at the side of the Cardinal are the Rector Major, Fr. Angel Fernandez and the Rector Major Emeritus, Fr. Pascual Chavez. Cardinal Maradiaga acknowledged this honor of having Don Bosco’s successors at his side. In his homily, the Cardinal said that to celebrate the Eucharist to the Holy Spirit (since this was a votive Mass to the Holy Spirit) is an act of faith. We seek wisdom so that we may to respond to the needs of the young people today. The GC 28 is a time to search the plan of God as a Congregation. He mentions that the Letter of James (the first reading), is one of the favorite readings of Don Bosco, since he was very practical in living his faith – and keeping in mind how to help effectively the abandoned of Turin working youth in the streets and prisons. He concluded his homily with an entrustment to the Blessed Mother: “We celebrate the Eucharist in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. Yes, we believe that she did everything. We entrust to Mary our GC28 adventure. With Mary we would be able to find courageous response for the young of today.”
In the afternoon, the different regions went to their respective meeting places in order to continue reflecting on the Report of the Rector Major. Their task was to formulate questions for the Rector Major and his Council in relation to what has been reported to the members of the Chapter. These are meant for the Rector Major to shed light on the report on the State of the Congregation. The answers to these questions will be given to the Capitulars in the following week.
After the evening prayer, the Good Night Talk was given by the Provincial Superior of the Middle East Province (MOR), Fr. Alejandro José Leon Mendoza. He shared to the Chapter members that their reality is one that is very difficult and challenging. However, he also said that it is a great gift to be in the Middle East.
During the morning break, Fr. Gerry Martin and I were able to chat with the Provincial of the ZMB Province (one of the Provinces of Africa), Fr. Krzysztof Rychcik. I asked him about Fr. Oscar Zamora who worked in his Province. Fr. Zamora, a Filipino confrere who had died some years ago in South Africa. He narrated the circumstances. Fr. Zamora was playing football with the novices (he was socius). He sensed something different and went to his room, promising to be back. The games ended and at study period and dinner he was absent. Then he was discovered dead in his room, on the floor still with in his attire for sports.
These are memorable instances in the chapter–getting to meet confreres whom we have met in the past, especially those who were in the same community where I lived, and to meet confreres who belong to provinces where our Filipino confreres work as missionaries, or still, acquaintances (classmates, or belonging to the same community) of confreres in our Province.
