SF Newsletter n. 1

https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/27051-rmg-salesian-family-newsletter-a-new-tool-for-communication-dialogue-and-participation

Message of the Rector Major at the closing of the 2026 Days

The Days were a wonderful experience for those present and for those who followed them online. In his closing remarks, the Rector Major, in addition to thanking the participants and the coordination team, took up the four verbs (look, listen, choose, and act) from the final Manifesto, adding a word to each of them.

Look with empathy, that is, without filters, with love, with a sense of closeness, like Mary at Cana. The servants too. We run the risk of being good, generous, but looking only within ourselves: we are fine, we are happy...! No. This is why it is important to look at the realities around us with empathy, without judging, ready.

Listening while forming ourselves. This is not cerebral, intellectual, analytical listening. It is listening with the eyes and ears of Christ. We must remain on Christ’s wavelength, being familiar with Don Bosco’s wavelength. In a society entering a new era, we risk wanting to open new doors with old keys. Don Bosco saw opportunities when others only talked about “defending ourselves.” Listening needs to find hearts filled with the fire of the charism, with the light of the Gospel. This is a strategic choice.

Choose with generosity. The generosity which is a reflection of the goodness of the Good Shepherd. Goodness as a sign of divine beauty. Our service, therefore, is a consequence of a good God who loves us, serves us, and asks us to participate. We are generous because we have experienced God’s goodness and generosity towards us.

Act with faith, as a relationship. Hope is Jesus. Faith is like the architecture of our ecosystem. We breathe the presence of God. Let us therefore close with the angel's greeting to Mary, that greeting which awakened the extraordinary quality of her faith and continues to nourish ours.