Good Night Talk of Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB to Salesians, Salesian Family and Youth of the World

Pope Francis' Address to Salesians' General Chapter

The following comes from Zenit:

Here is a translation of the address Pope Francis gave today to participants in the Salesians’ General Chapter.

Dear Brothers,

Welcome! I thank Father Angelo for his words. I wish for him and the new General Council the ability to serve by guiding, accompanying and sustaining the Salesian Congregation in its journey. May the Holy Spirit help you to respond to the expectations and challenges of our time, especially of young people, and to interpret them in the light of the Gospel and of your charism.

I imagine that during the Chapter -- which had the theme “Witnesses of Evangelical Radicalism” -- you always had Don Bosco and young people before you; and Don Bosco with his motto: “Da mihi animas, cetera tolle.” He reinforced this program with two other elements: work and temperance. I remember that in school it was forbidden to have a siesta! … Temperance! To the Salesians and to us! “Work and temperance – he said – make the Congregation flourish.” When one thinks of working for the good of souls, one overcomes the temptation of spiritual worldliness; one does not look for other things, but God alone and his Kingdom. Temperance, then, is the sense of measure, to be content, to be simple. May the poverty of Don Bosco and of Mother Margherita inspire every Salesian and every community of yours to an essential and austere life, closeness to the poor, transparency and responsibility in the management of goods.

The evangelization of young people is the mission that the Holy Spirit has entrusted to you in the Church. It is closely connected with their education: the journey of faith is inserted in that of growth and the Gospel also enriches human maturation. Young people must be prepared to work in society according to the spirit of the Gospel, as agents of justice and peace, and to live as protagonists in the Church. Therefore, you avail yourselves of the necessary further pedagogic and cultural reflections and updating to respond to the present educational emergency. May Don Bosco’s experience and his “preventive system” sustain you always in your commitment to live with young people. May your presence in their midst be distinguished by that tenderness that Don Bosco called affection, experiencing also new languages, but knowing well that the language of the heart is the fundamental one to get close to them and to become their friends.

Essential here is the vocational dimension. Sometimes the vocation to the consecrated life is confused with a choice of voluntary service, and this distorted vision does no good to the Institutes. The coming year 2015, dedicated to consecrated life, will be a favorable occasion to present its beauty to young people. In every case it is necessary to avoid partial visions, in order not to arouse fragile and propped up vocations from weak motivations. Apostolic vocations ordinarily are the fruit of a good youth ministry. The care of vocations requiresspecific attention, first of all to prayer, then proper activities, 

personalized courses, the courage of the proposal, support and involvement of the families. The vocational geography has changed and is changing, and this means new demands for formation, support and discernment.

In working with young people, you come across the world of youth exclusion. And this is tremendous! Today, it is tremendous to think that there are 75 million young people without work, here, in the West. We think of the vast reality of unemployment, with so many negative consequences. We think of dependencies, which unfortunately are multiple, which derive from the common roots of a lack of true love. To go against the marginalization of young people requires courage, maturity and much prayer. And the best must be sent to this work! The best! There risk can exist of being carried away by enthusiasm, sending to such frontiers persons of good will, but who are not adequate. Therefore, careful discernment and constant support are necessary.

This is the criterion: the best must go there. “I need him to make him superior of that, or to study theology …” However, if you have this mission, send him there! The best!

Thank God you do not live or work as isolated individuals, but as a community: and thank God for this! The community sustains the whole apostolate. Sometimes Religious Communities are riddled with tensions, with the risk of individualism and of dispersion, whereas there is need of profound communication and authentic relationships. The humanizing force of the Gospel is witnessed by the fraternity lived in community, made of hospitality, respect, reciprocal help, understanding, courtesy, forgiveness and joy. The spirit of family that Don Bosco left you helps much in this sense, it fosters perseverance and creates attraction for the consecrated life.

Dear Brothers, the bicentenary of Don Bosco’s birth is now upon us. It will be a propitious moment to propose again your Founder’s charism. Mary Help of Christians has never failed to give her help in the life of the Congregation, and she certainly will not fail to do so in the future. May her maternal intercession obtain for you from God the expected and awaited fruits. I bless you and pray for you and, please, pray also for me. 

Thank you!

Pope to Salesians: Working for the souls helps fight spiritual worldliness

The following comes from the NCR Canada:

Pope Francis encouraged the Salesians in their work with young people, saying that religious vocations are the fruit of good pastoral youth ministry.

"Sometimes vocations to consecrated life are confused with choosing to do volunteer work, and this distorted vision does no good" to congregations and religious orders, he told more than 250 religious taking part in the Salesians' general chapter in Rome Feb. 22-April 12.

The full beauty of religious life needs to be shared with young people -- not incomplete or biased points of view, which risk promoting "fragile" vocations that are based on "weak motivations," he told them during a private audience at the Vatican March 31.

Religious vocations are "ordinarily fruit of good pastoral care of youth," he said, and people discerning a religious vocation need prayer and special attention, personalized formation, guidance and support from young people's families.

The pope, who attended a Salesian school in Buenos Aires when he was 13, said he recalls the importance of the order's motto of "Work and Temperance," joking that the school even forbade everyone from having "siesta" or an afternoon nap after lunch.

"Working for the good of souls" helps people focus on the essentials of God and his kingdom, the pope said.

He also encouraged the Salesians to continue their efforts in education and help find answers to today's "educational emergency" through increased cultural awareness and strong educational preparation.

"It's necessary to prepare young people to work in society with the spirit of the Gospel, as workers for justice and peace, and to live as protagonists in the church."

However, the pope said, while it's important to learn "new languages" with the changing times, the most important language still remains speaking "from the heart" in order to reach out and forge friendships with others.

The pope also greeted the Salesians' new rector major, Spanish Father Angel Fernandez Artime, who was elected to a six-year term on the first ballot March 25.

Born Aug. 21, 1960, in Luanco-Gozon, Spain, he was ordained in 1987. He has degrees in pastoral theology, and philosophy and pedagogy.

He served as director of youth ministry in the province of Leon, and he was provincial of Leon from 2000 to 2006.

Father Fernandez was provincial of the South Argentina province between 2009 and 2014, during which time he got to know and work with the future Pope Francis, then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires.

Father Fernandez had been appointed provincial of the new province of Mary Help of Christians in Spain, but will not carry out that appointment because of his election as rector major.

Addressing his fellow Salesians March 25, Father Fernandez said: "I abandon myself to the Lord. We ask Don Bosco and Mary Help of Christians to accompany us and to accompany me, with my brother Salesians and with the congregation, and I accept with faith."

Pope Francis to Salesians: Reach marginalized youth

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday met with members of the 27th General Chapter of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The theme of the chapter is “Witnesses to the Radical Approach of the Gospel.”

In his address, the Holy Father said the Holy Spirit would assist the religious institute to understand the expectations and challenges of our time, especially those of the young people whose formation is the basis of the congregation’s main apostolate.

Pope Francis told the Salesians the evangelization of young people is closely connected with education, and he encouraged them in their efforts to respond to the current educational crisis, while always remembering the “Preventive System” of St. John Bosco, which is based on kindness and friendship with pupils.

He also spoke of the life of exclusion many young people face. “Think of the vast reality of unemployment, with all of the negative consequences,” said Pope Francis. “Think of the addictions, which sadly are manifold, but stem from a common root of an absence of true love. Reaching marginalized youth requires courage, maturity and much prayer.”

He urged the Salesians to use “careful discernment” when sending people to the peripheries inhabited by these excluded youth.

The Holy Father also encouraged the community life of the Salesians, which he said supports their entire apostolate. “The humanizing power of the Gospel is demonstrated by the fraternity lived in community, comprised of welcome, respect, mutual help , understanding , kindness , forgiveness and joy,” said the Pope. “The familial spirit bequeathed by Don Bosco is a great help in this respect, encouraging perseverance and building an attraction to the consecrated life.”

During their General Chapter, the Salesians elected Don Angel Fernandez Artime as the 10th Rector Major, commonly referred to as the successor of Saint John Bosco.

Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB: "I abandon myself to the Lord!"

(ANS - Rome) The 27th General Chapter has elected Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Provincial of Southern Argentina, as new Rector Major and Tenth Successor of Don Bosco.

The election took place at 10.20 a.m., on the first ballot, and was welcomed  with long applause. Fr Pascual Chávez, President of the Assembly, invited Fr Angel to come beside him, and said: "Dear Fr Ángel, through your confreres God has called you today to be the successor of Don Bosco. You are not called to be like the Rector Major, nor Don Vecchi nor Don Viganó. You are the successor of Don Bosco, not of Don Chavez. So, on behalf of the Chapter, I ask you if you accept."

Speaking in Spanish, Fr Angel said with an emotional heart: "I abandon myself to the Lord. We ask Don Bosco and Mary Help of Christians to accompany us and to accompany me, with my brother Salesians and with the Congregation, and I accept with faith."

The new Rector Major began right away to receive the embrace of all the Chapter members.

The New Rector Major: Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB

(ANS)  The 27^th General Chapter has elected Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Provincial of Southern Argentina, as tenth Successor of Don Bosco.

The election took place at 10.20 on the first ballot.

The official announcement was welcomed with long and warm applause.

Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, 53 years of age was born 21 August 1960 at Gozón-Luanco, Spain; he made his first profession on 3 September 1978, his perpetual profession on 17 June 1984 and was ordained priest on 4 July 1987. Originally from León Province, he has been Youth Ministry Delegate, Rector of the school at Ourense, member of the Council and Vice Provincial and, from 2000 to2006, Provincial of León.

He was a member of the technical commission in preparation for General Chapter 26. In 2009 he was appointed Provincial in Argentine South, a task he has carried out until now.In this capacity he got to know the then Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, and to work with him.

He has a Doctorate in Pastoral Theology and a Licence in Philosophy and Pedgagy.

On 23 December last he was appointed Provincial of the new province of Mary Help of Christians in Spain, an office which Fr Angel will obviously not now be able to take on, since he will exercise his ministry as Father of the whole Salesian Family. 

Best wishes, Fr Angel!

A Salesian General Chapter is beginning! Follow it here!

The Salesians of Don Bosco are about to begin the 27th General Chapter in Rome!  The Chapter is held every 6 years with all 120 provinces and 132 nations represented.  This year we pray for the Holy Spirit to assist the Chapter participants to choose a new Rector Major for the Salesian Family as Fr. Pascual Chavez, SDB is completing his 2nd 6 year term as the successor to Don Bosco.  You can follow the proceedings at Fr. Mike Pace's blog: A Chapter's Pace!

I will link to Fr. Mike's blog on the GC27 image to the right.

Here is the latest on the proceedings for the General Chapter participants from the Salesian News Agency:

Tomorrow morning, Saturday21 February, the members of the General Council and the Chapter members who have already arrived in Rome for the 27th General Chapter, will leave at dawn for Turin. There they will have three intense days of Salesian spirituality, reflection and fellowship.

The Salesians from the General House will travel by coach and will reach Turin in the early afternoon. There they will meet with other Chapter members who will be waiting for them in Turin. During the three days , they will all be accommodated at the Salesian House of Valdocco, the heart of the entire Salesian Congregation.

The activities will be concentrated between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning . Divided into language groups - in Italian , English and Spanish - the participants of the pilgrimage will study the theme of the chapter "Work and Temperance" in the history of Don Bosco and the Congregation:

• Valsalice, at the tomb of Don Bosco, in relation to his spiritual testament (Saturday afternoon);

• Becchi, where Don Bosco was born, in relation to the origins of his charism (Sunday morning);

• Valdocco, the birthplace of the Salesian Oratory, with specific attention to the lifestyle, the radicalism and apostolic zeal of the early generations of Salesians (Sunday afternoon 23);

• The Church of St. John the Evangelist , focusing on the contributions of the Successors of Don Bosco (Monday morning).

Among the other activities, there will be the Eucharist on Saturday afternoon (18:00 - GMT +2) in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, at which the Rector Major will preside and all the priests of the Chapter will concelebrate. The celebration will be broadcast live by satellite Telepace.

On the same Saturday evening, the Rector Major and the Chapter members will be entertained by a show staged for them in Valdocco by the post-novices from Nave.