The Salesian Family Secretariat Consulte and Commissions A

The Salesian Family Secretariat, Consulte, and Commissions

A Bit of History � 1960 s: Vatican Council II’s call for renewal among the Religious Orders prompts the SDB to look with new eyes on unity and communion in Don Bosco’s Family. � 1972: The idea of the «Salesian Family» as we know it today is first proposed at the SDB Special General Chapter XX. � 1973: The First «Salesian Family Spirituality Week (Days)» is held. Their focus: common points of a Salesian vocation. � 1978: The Rector Major, Don Egidio Viganò, writes «Mary Renews Don Bosco’s Salesian Family» . � 1980: Don Viganò calls for a «Gathering to Study the Animation of the Salesian Family» .

� 1982: A Symposium on the Salesian Family is held to examine its history and charism. � 1982: Don Viganò calls the Local SDB Community to be the «animator of all the local Salesian Family» . � 1995: Don Viganò writes «The Common Identity Card» which calls for the establishment, in Article 37, of a Salesian Family Provincial Consulta. � 1997: The Rector Major, Don Juan Vecchi writes «The Salesian Family is Twenty-Five Years Old» . � 2000: Don Vecchi writes «The Common Mission Statement» . � 2009: The Rector Major, Don Pascual Chavez, chooses as the topic of his Strenna «The Salesian Family, Yesterday and Today» .

� 2009: The Vicar of the Rector Major, Don Adriano Bregolin, writes «Some Indications for the Animation of the Salesian Family at the Provincial and Local Levels» . � 2012: Don Chavez writes: «The Charter of the Charismatic Identity of the Salesian Family» (The SF Charter). � 2014: SDB General Chapter XXVII calls for a «Secretariat for the Salesian Family» . � 2014: The Rector Major, Don Angel Fernandez Artime puts out his first quarterly video message to his Confreres and to the «whole Salesian Family» : «Cari Confratelli» . � 2015: The Secretariat for the Salesian Family is established, with Don Eusebio Muñoz as its Secretary General.

Today (2016) there are 30 Official Groups on Don Bosco’s Salesian Family Tree.

But why a Secretariat, Consulte, and Commissions?

�There needs to be organization and a solid structure put into place because, as Don Chavez put it: “without real communion there is the danger of a progressive impoverishment of the project of Don Bosco even to the extent of being unfaithful to it. ”

Keeping the Family United: The Structure World The Leaders/Delegates of the 30 Official Groups with the Rector Major Consulta The Leaders/Delegates of the Groups of the Family present in the Province Consulta Local Commission Individual Local Communities and Groups The Leaders/Delegates of the Individual Communities and Groups present in a local area/region

Keeping the Family United: The World Consulta It meets yearly in May to: • Share the plans, projects, and experiences of each Group • Plan events for the upcoming year • Organize the Salesian Family Spiritual Days for the following year Pic from 2013 With all the Branches united under the Rector Major, unity and communion in diversity are safeguarded.

Keeping the Family United: The Provincial Salesian Family Consulta the Local Commissions and Rome, 2002: Don Bregolin: “The Salesian Family Consulta is a communion-building body created for the purpose of: v cultivating a sense of belonging to the Salesian Family v rediscovering together Don Bosco's charism and v reinforcing collaboration in view of the mission to the young. ” young

The Purposes of the Salesian Family Consulta/Commission 1. FORMATION Create initiatives to study Don Bosco, his charism, his Family, and his spirituality: to know him, to deepen our awareness of who we are because of him, and to know what he would do if he were here today

The Purposes of the Salesian Family Consulta/Commission 2. COMMUNION Come to know the other Groups and their identity Establish rapports of reciprocal trust and collaboration with the Bishops and other bodies in the Church Universal, harmonizing our forces, out of an increased sensus Ecclesiae

The Purposes of the Salesian Family Consulta/Commission 3. CELEBRATION & ANIMATION Organize common events and celebrations that help us live and enjoy being Salesian Family in the Church & seek to spread Salesian Spirituality where we live

The Purposes of the Salesian Family Consulta/Commission 4. COLLABORATION Study the pastoral challenges of the Local Church, seeking out poor and abandoned youth to reach out to them in a united, Salesian way Da mihi animas; cetera tolle!

Rome, April 2014, the Chapter Members call for the creation of a «Secretariat for the Salesian Family» which will be directly responsible to the Rector Major, and not his Vicar.

Why a “Segretariato della Famiglia Salesiana”? a) The Salesian Family has grown in number, charismatic awareness, and visibility, thanks to the Charter and the Strenne; b) The Rector Major is the point of reference regarding the charism of the entire Family; c) Those comprising the Segretariato, being directly responsible to the Rector Major, can better assure such a bond and will be more available and have more time at their disposal for all the job requires ; and d) The Vicar already has lots to do!

Responsibilities of the Segretariato o Animate the SDB Congregation in the Salesian Family sector and assure interaction with all the other sectors of the Congregation at the World Level o Promote communion among the various Groups, respecting their individual natures and autonomy o Guide and assist the Provinces in developing the Association of the Salesian Cooperators, the Past Pupils, and ADMA.

Members of the First Segretariato - 2015 SECRETARY GENERAL ADMA COOPERATORS Don Eusbio Muñoz Ruiz Don Pierluigi Cameroni Don Giuseppe Casti SALESIAN FAMILY PAST PUPILS DBV & CDB Sr. Maria Luisa Miranda, FMA Don F. José Pastor Ramirez Don Joan Luis Playà Morera increasing collaboration and shared responsibility for the Salesian Family between the FMA and the SDB

Bringing it home

SSCC ADMA CSJ DBV EX. SDB SSCC NY/NJ AND BOSTON FMA SDB WASHINGTON DC AREA SSCC SDB FMA SSCC EDMONTON and SURREY The SF Groups of the Province of St. Philip the Apostle TAMPA AREA SDB CSMA ADS ADMA EX. FMA ONTARIO FMA SOUTH FLORIDA DBV EX. FMA AREA SDB SSCC FMA ADMA SSCC QUEBEC AND NEW SDB NEW DBV BRUNSWICK ORLEANS SSCC ADMA AREA MIDWESTERN FMA SDB AREA SDB FMA SSCC EX. FMA SDB FMA CDB CSMI CSMA

Keeping the Family United: Our Province’s Consulta and Its Goals 1. Create an annual “Master Calendar” and establish foundational initiatives for the Family-at-large 2. Foster development and growth of the Local Salesian Family Commissions 3. Encourage and provide help to local Commissions in their endeavors to aid the Family to grow and to collaborate as effective, visible, incisive witnesses to Christ in Don Bosco’s way 4. Be a source of connection and communication between Rome and the Local Commissions and with each other 5. Keep the Don. Bosco. Salesian. Portal website updated and useful to the Salesian Family of our Province

The way to move forward: 1. Recall to mind Don Bosco’s original vision of the Family 3. study and pray to grow in this vision and act in harmony with it 2. be aware of the alterations to this vision that have occurred over the years Da mihi animas; cetera tolle!