By János Andrásfalvy
In the morning Mass, presided by the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Fr Guillermo Basañes, General Councilor for the Missions, preached the homily; on the day the Church remembers the figure of St. Teresa Benedict of the Cross, Edith Stein, Fr Basañes noted the spirit of donation that characterized the saint that is a distinctive feature of young people across the globe even today.
In the morning session, Mr. Jean-Paul Müller, General Economer, presented his report, followed by the usual group discussions then shared with the Assembly. The Rector Major also intervened with a brief note, gratefully thanking the many benefactors who, on seeing the work of Salesians for the poor and abandoned young people all over the world, have decided to help the Congregation.
In the afternoon, Fr Fabio Attard, General Councilor for Youth Ministry, introduced a reflection on the reality of Salesian pastoral work with young people in relation to the reality of the 10 Provinces involved in the Team Visit. In his speech, Fr Attard pointed out how the Holy Father, with the next Synod of Bishops, intended to focus not only on "youth and faith", but also on vocations and the importance of accompaniment of young people.
After the usual phases of elaborating on the theme, the Rector Major concluded the day stating that to be faithful to Salesian charism, it is necessary not to fear the future, nor of its difficulties: "I tell you, from my heart: be brave! Be brave!," he said.
The activities of the day ended with a fraternal encounter with the Salesian work of Péliföldszentkereszt, which, by virtue of its history, represents a mosaic of different European cultures and traditions.
On ANSFlickr there are numerous photos.