The Rector Major's visit began on the evening of Friday 15 March with his arrival in Mestre. On the morning of Saturday 16, in the premises of the "San Marco" Institute, an assembly was held with the Salesians of INE, all gathered to hear the impressions and advice of the Successor of Don Bosco. The Rector Major focused on the importance of the presence of the Salesians to carry out the mission of the work in the world. In the afternoon he went to Schio to meet the children and visit the community.
In the morning of Sunday, Fr Á.F. Artime continued his visit by participating in the "Festa dei Ragazzi" 2019 edition, organized by the INE Youth Ministry team.
"I went to the Salesians, felt very good among the young and so it continued until today ... Did I hear 'a voice'? No. But I experienced so many beautiful things that made me feel that I could be happy in that way."
He then praised the commitment of the children to support Salesian miThe Rector Major told the children how he met the Salesians and offered his vocational testimony.ssions in Syria, Brazil and Ethiopia and noted that in each country he visited he always saw, together with the suffering, the seeds of hope sown by the Salesian Family.
He then narrated his experience at the Synod of Bishops on Youth and shared how, from the reports presented, young people from the poorest countries are happier than those in European countries. "It's something we have to think about. It's the truth told by young people," he commented.
Finally, he spoke of some of his experiences in traveling to India and Syria, before concluding with the Eucharist.
The afternoon saw him busy with the Salesian center in Padua and a visit to the community of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
Photos of the visit, ending today, Monday 18 March, are available on ANSFlickr.
