Bye, Bye Bi-centenary, welcome TRi-centenary!

Without doubt, the Bi-centenary celebrations ( 1815-2015 )marking the birth of Don Bosco was a huge tribute to the "friend of Youth", Though organised mainly by the Salesian Family, the world of youth and society in general appreciated and commended the work of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The Salesians themselves, celebrated the event not only in civic  and social functions but in religious renewal programmes aimed at building a modern image of the Salesian Identity, striving to be like Don Bosco, , "Mystics of the Spirit, Prophets of fraternal communion and Servants of the young".  The Bi-centineray Year concluded on 16th. August 2015. 

What's next? Is it a Bye-bye to Bi-centenary, to be now shelved in the annals of history? It would be a sad conclusion, after all the energy expended and enthusiasm generated to let the Bi-centenary rest in oblivion while we return to the routine of the past, however worthwhile it may be to walk on beaten tracks. 

In fact, the  Bi-centenary experience should propel us immediately into the Tri-centenary of the birth of Don Bosco. It should urge us, Salesians to contribute now on, our own dreams to the global vision of Don Bosco and oblige us to take on tougher and demanding challenges of our times. Don Bosco, a product of his times, identified in a dream the problems of contemporary youth and devoted his energies with daring hope, to meet them. A vision was set before him, in a spiritual experience and a reliable guide was assigned to him. He initially restricted his youth services to benefit the christians. But very soon and in his life time, he reached out to youth in the distant mission lands. 

Though the Salesians today, faithful to the vision of Don Bosco, have spread considerably over the Continents, chiefly focused on the education of the poor belonging to all cultures and religious affiliations,  there is a fanatical challenge looming on the horizon and threatening the moral fibre  of youth especially in the Islamic countries that needs urgently to be addressed. Just as Don Bosco, undaunted, bravely confronted the forces of evil, to "save" his youngsters from the "devil", our salesian task  today is to boldly accompany the youth of our times in the war against poverty, injustice and religious fanaticism.

More pointedly, the recent threat of the Islamic State which is kidnapping and brainwashing the young generation to a vicious and brutal life of terrorism must awaken in us Don Bosco's a genuine concern and determination to arrest the exodus of violence and destruction of life. As Educators to love, justice and peace, we need to enter the Islamic countries with a powerful drive for sound education  to a holistic life. I know or better, I am convinced that Don Bosco's the Preventive system has proved very successful  as an education for transformation of the young into honest and Godfearing citizens. The testimony of countless Alumni staunchly supports this opinion. The three elements of "Reason, Religion and Loving kindness" even today, continue to empower the young and transform their lives. 

Our  Salesian educative presence is urgently needed in the Arab world. The Tri-centenary Mission dares us to take up this challenge by investing personnel and resources for the establishment of many educational institutions. The challenge is not at all to convert Muslim youth but rather to evangelise them to be better Muslims, true to their identity as a community of God and a people of peace. 

SALESIAN VISION - 2115

Vision - Salesians 2115!

Well that's quite a distant Vision to envisage. Besides, at 72, I am getting shortsighted. However, I venture to 'prophesy' that within the next century, the Salesians will certainly grow in many aspects of their life and mission. The fervour and fidelity stirred to higher levels in the Bicentenary Year will hopefully yield such results. However, I see the growth of the Salesian Family with a much greater presence of the Laity (Salesian Cooperators, Friends of Don Bosco, others) involved in the Salesian Mission. If the present trend continues, numbers may drop or increase only fractionally among the religious congregations Don Bosco himself founded ( SDB & FMA). Their presence, in the Salesian Mission though numerically small, will be seen in an even more important role of genuine guides and as "Spiritual Animators" of the many and varied activities, effectively administered and managed by the laity of the Salesian Family.

Thus, through the years ahead, in my estimate, the Mission of Don Bosco and the Salesian Charism as willed by God will be successfully carried forward and continue to respond to even greater challenges of a highly technological and young Generation. This will require a selection and adequate qualification and preparation of the laity in the Salesian Family for future missionary ministry and apostolic youth services.

Sounds more like an 'illusion' than a 'vision'!
Does it? But then, 200 hundred years ago, Don Bosco's Vision was seen by not a few even in church circles, more as an illusion of a dreamer.
Call me a false prophetic, if you wish.

But, if this "prophecy" is plausible, what it would imply is firstly, that the carefully selected lay members of the Salesian Family will have to be suitably trained, qualified and well-formed in Salesian Spirituality and Principles of education. Secondly, that these lay members are entrusted with increasing responsibility in the various levels of administration and management of all Salesian activities, be they educational, socio-cultural or spiritual.

There is a definite need for a paradigm shift in the living out of our SDB Identity in the Salesian Family and in the Salesian mission itself.
The SDB Congregation particularly is challenged to shift from direct involvement in various fields of Salesian activity, and to play a more important role of empowering the various apostolic activity groups. To do this, the SDBs are called to be competent Spiritual Animators and have a deeper personal experience of God which transforms them into "Mystics in the Spirit"; as "Prophets" witnessing to fraternal life in the wider community of the Salesian Family, and responsible for formation and animation of the Salesian Family to the "Servant" ministry of the Salesian Mission in the Church.

Infact, in the last few years the call for this shift has been growing loud in the exhortations of the Rectors Major, inviting the SDBs and the entire Salesian Family to follow Don Bosco's spirituality and be men and women in " Union with God". The most recent General Chapter, GC27 has ushered us into the Birth Bicentenary Year which is not at all a terminal point of arrival but rather a celebration of the journey of the Salesian Family moving forward towards 2115 as Mystics, Prophets, and Servants.