(ANS – Yaoundé) – The week-long retreat of the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, with the Provincial Councils of the Africa-Madagascar Region is proceeding with the rhythm proper to the Spiritual Exercises, marked by prayer and fraternity. During his conferences, the Tenth Successor of Don Bosco dealt with various themes inherent to provincial animation and governance, under the banner of Don Bosco’s motto, “Study to make yourself loved,” as well as talking in-depth about the Salesian mission and what characterizes it in the overall ecclesial action.
Last Monday, March 21, Fr Á.F. Artime carefully outlined the dual task of guiding and animating, explaining how this combination is not accidental: both are needed because governing without animation makes the action of the Provincial and his Council too rigid, but to animate without knowing how to govern ends up generating chaos and confusion.
Yesterday, however, Tuesday 22, in his morning lecture, he said that Salesians have received from Don Bosco many “gifts”, places like Valdocco or Colle Don Bosco, devotion to the Sacred Heart… The combination of these gifts has generated a “Salesian culture”, which each Son of Don Bosco is called to follow, especially in the educational field.
The two afternoon sessions of dialogue and discussion between the Rector Major and the Provincial Councils, during which questions, concerns, ideas, proposals emerged, were also rich in ideas… During these two days Fr Á.F. Artime spoke on many topics: he recalled that international communities are not so much a practical necessity as a prophetic reality for the Congregation; he spoke of the two-way mission, between sending and receiving communities; as well as of prudence in consolidating and opening new presences, always motivated by the needs of young people; the importance of discipline and sacrifice in Salesian life; the criteria for selecting Rectors and the usefulness of the new Manual for Rectors; and clericalism as a disease to be healed to sustain the vocation of Salesian coadjutors.
Furthermore, he recalled that rather than applying the categories of optimist or pessimist, the Salesian must be happy, enthusiastic, joyful, because he is moved by hope, rooted in faith.
Source link : https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/14965-cameroon-fr-angel-artime-s-wide-ranging-dialogue-with-provincial-councils-of-africa-madagascar
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Publish date : 2022-03-23 07:00:00
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