Vatican - A Synod with a Salesian flavor

24 September 2018

(ANS - Vatican City) - The synod of bishops that opens next October 3 on the theme "Youth, faith and vocational discernment" was recently defined by Msgr. Raul Biord Castillo, SDB, bishop of La Guaira (Venezuela) as: "a synod with a Salesian flavor". In fact, we cannot but agree: both because the chosen theme has obviously to do with the pastoral accompaniment of the young, that is, with the very roots of the Salesian charism; and for the broad representation of Salesians who will intervene at the meeting, as many as 16, in various ways selected to participate in an ecclesial assembly of great importance.

Among the Synodal Fathers we should mention first of all: the Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, elected by the Union of Superiors General (USG); and with special appointments, directly appointed by the Holy Father, card. Charles Maung Bo, archbishop of Yangon (Myanmar), who will be one of the four Delegate Presidents; and Fr Rossano Sala, one of the two Special Secretaries of the Synod.

Salesians who participate in the Synod as elected by their respective episcopal conferences are: Msgr. Roberto Bergamaschi, Apostolic Vicar of Awasa (Ethiopia); Msgr. Miguel Angel Nguema Bee, bishop of Ebebiyin (Equatorial Guinea); Msgr. Eduardo Pinheiro Da Silva, bishop of Jaboticabal (Brazil); Msgr. Patricio Buzon, bishop of Bacolod; Msgr. Virgilio Do Carmo Da Silva, bishop of Dili (East Timor); Msgr. Joaquim Augusto Da Silva Mendes, auxiliary bishop of Lisbon (Portugal); Msgr. Stefan Oster, bishop of Passau (Germany); Msgr. Pedro Baquero, bishop of Kerema, (Papua New Guinea).

Among the members of the pontifical nomination are Salesian cardinal Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet, archbishop of Montevideo (Uruguay); and Msgr. Luc Van Looy, bishop of Gent, Ghent (Belgium).

As a member of the Ordinary Council, card. Oscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, archbishop of Tegucigalpa (Honduras).

Finally, Fr Andrea Bozzolo, professor of Dogmatic Theology at the Turin Section of the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Salesian University, and Fr Renato De Guzman, Catechist in charge of the Office for the Pastoral Care of the Don Bosco Center (Philippines).

Participating for the Salesian Family are the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Sr. Lucy Muthoni Nderi, pastoral worker for young people in difficulty in Kenya; and Sr. Alessandra Smerilli, professor of Economics at the Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences Auxilium.

Such a large participation of Salesians at the synod on young people will certainly favor the diffusion of good Salesian practices in the Church and the assimilation of the ideas and conclusions of the Synod in the Congregation.