The Rector Major answering the questions, starting from today's vision and knowledge of the world Salesian reality, will strongly reiterate what he has already manifested in his Program Proposal after the 28th General Chapter: "For us it is necessary and urgent that our Congregation live, breathe and walk trying to make 'Da mihi animas, cetera tolle' a reality in the proclamation of the Gospel, in favor of our young people and for the good of ourselves."
Fr. Á.F. Artime will therefore elaborate on what was expressed after the 28th General Chapter by emphasizing four urgencies:
- to give absolute priority to the commitment to the evangelization of young people with conscious, intentional and explicit proposals, in the knowledge that Salesians are invited to make Jesus and the Good News of the Gospel known to them for their lives;
- to help young people (and their families) discover the presence of Christ in their lives as the key to happiness and meaning in existence;
- accompany children, adolescents and young people in their faith education process so that they can personally adhere to the person of Christ;
- to be "true educators" who, from personal experience, accompany the young person in dialogue with God in prayer and in the celebration of the sacraments.
It will be an opportunity for the 10th Successor of Don Bosco to reiterate that without the "da mihi animas, cetera tolle," the titanic efforts of the Congregation will tend to the goodness of human promotion and social assistance - always necessary and belonging to the charismatic identity - but will not arrive at the first reason for which the Holy Spirit raised the Salesian charism in Don Bosco: "Faithful to the commitments that Don Bosco has transmitted to us, let us be evangelizers of the young" (Const. 6). The first aim of Salesian youth ministry is, in fact, the conversion of people to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The interview will, therefore, go to the root of the Salesian essence: "There is nothing more solid, more profound, more sure, more consistent and more wise than the proclamation of Jesus Christ" (Christus Vivit, 214).
To listen to the words and messages of the Rector Major on this central aspect of Salesian life, simply log on to the ANS Facebook page and YouTube channel.
