It has often been pointed out that a beneficent Providence sends into the world at precisely the most opportune time those specially chosen-and therefore specially gifted souls-who are to bring to it healing, strength, and newness of life. Examples abound, and the birth of John Bosco, who was destined to be the Apostle of the nineteenth century, at a most opportune moment, is but one more instance, even if a specially striking one.

 

John Bosco came into a devout Catholic family of peasant folk on 16th August 1815, born just at the passing of the great Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, as though she, too, his future patroness and intimate guide, had sent him as a gift to the world, which through him might be brought nearer in mind and heart to her Divine Son; and perhaps not without significance was he named John, for in some ways he was both a Precursor and an Evangelist, preaching the Gospel of truth, of virtue, and of duty.

 

John was one of those gifted boys to whom all things come with surety and ease. He was sturdy in growth, stronger than most boys his age, quick at learning, and had a memory that seemed to retain with the utmost ease all that he read or studied; and yet was modest, frank, unassuming, and ready to assist everyone, both at home and outside. For such a promising boy the paths of study and intellectual attainment were surely open; he desired to become a priest, particularly that he might instruct other boys, whom he already perceived to be much neglected, and like sheep without a shepherd.

 

John Bosco, affectionately known as 'Don' Bosco was a man ahead of his times. He was wholeheartedly committed to poor and troubled youth and revolutionized educational practices and approaches to youth spirituality by harnessing the power of peer-mentoring and meeting young people in activities where they were most comfortable.

 

At a time when teacher and student were expected to remain distant from each other, where discipline was rigid and punishment harsh, Don Bosco modeled his educational system on an extended family where good and Christian learning was to happen in an environment of familiarity, spontaneity, trust and joy. He felt that the key to forming honest citizens and good Christians was in loving relationships, lived out through the use of reason, religion and loving-kindness.

 

Challenged by reality, inspired by dream-visions, animated by his enduring closeness to God, he responded innovatively to gift the young with a sense of realism and hope through joy-filled practice of their faith. He responded to the particular needs of his place and time but left an attitude and system geared for adaptation to the future (Peter Carroll)

 

Living the Dream

"To dream the impossible dream..." sums up the hope we carry deep within us. Realizing that dream is an inner drive which eventually leads us to happiness. Yet often this potential to think 'BIG' and follow our dream remains suffocated until the right moment comes along and our courage kick starts us into life.

 

The growing realization of what the dream, at the age of nine, was about and his unique ability to be at ease with the young who were homeless, illiterate and in need, spurred him on. He progressed from Sunday catechism classes in a local-field, to a daily trade school in an adapted shed. Young people flocked to him for education and shelter.

 

He fought for the rights of and proper working conditions for, apprentices. His fame and his work spread. Acceptance replaced rejection and people began to see John Bosco not as someone deranged, but as an extraordinarily holy man.

 

He was making the seemingly impossible, possible. Salesian spirituality has love, kindness and generosity at its core. It is a practical, service-based love of God and neighbor - especially for the marginalized and those in need. It is creative, optimistic, joyful, encouraging and life giving.

 

The Dream lives on

Two Hundred years later the dream lives on. That gift or charism given by the Holy Spirit to John Bosco still flourishes in many parts of the world today. Salesian priests, brothers and sisters still take this spirit to the remotest places on earth. The charism inspires them to bring God's love to the young in an unique way, especially to young people on the margins and fringe of society, so that they can rediscover their dignity and uniqueness as children of God.

 

Today a vast variety of works - schools of all kinds; working with street children and homeless young people; youth clubs; missions, retreats, parishes, etc. - gives testimony to its power and inspiration. Today we try to dream their dream anew.

 

The Salesian way of life still attracts men and women to the religious life. Also many lay people from all walks of life are attracted by the Salesian spirit, and work with great generosity for young people in differing situations. They are all supported by the traditions, insights and stories of the congregations. Many young people volunteer to give one or two years working in Salesian projects throughout the world.

 

Conclusion

Working at a Salesian institution, be it a school, a parish, a technical institution or an institute of higher learning or a college is an invitation to share in and become part of a rich spiritual and educational tradition that has love as its key motivation. Don Bosco's work began when he touched the hearts of the homeless abandoned youngsters on the streets of Turin more than two centuries ago. His work continues today in the work of each and every member of the Salesian family as we work for youngsters entrusted to our care. Therefore, each of us also has a responsibility to ensure that this Salesian Spirit is lived with energy and vigour.

 

2015 marks the Bi-Centenary Celebration of the birth of Don Bosco!

How we choose to celebrate it should reflect the pride most Salesians feel about Don Bosco.

It is time that we become creative and venture into the world of the young so as to be able to bring them closer to God and to the Church.

 

Youngsters today are not interested in a Gospel of compromise. They're bold, courageous and immensely generous and they will go after the devil with everything they have. If we want to see the Church survive, we need to rethink our youth ministry and like Don Bosco we need to "think out-of-the-box." It will make all the difference to us...and obviously to the youth we encounter

  

Fr. Jim McKenna SDB

 

The birth of Don Bosco on 16th August 1815, is indeed, an historical event deserving of a worthy celebration to gratefully acknowledge and commemorate a humble country Priest whose life and ministry as a Pastor and Educator, made a tremendous impact not only on the lives of marginalized youth and poor people of his time, two centuries ago, but continued to inspire and benefit young people and inspire Youth Workers and Educators over the years and across countries, leading to this moment in history, the Bi-centenary Year, 2014/15.

 

In the field of Education and Spirituality, Don Bosco, very much present in the Salesian Family he established and the Religious Congregations he founded, remains very relevant today both, as Pastor and Educator. His spiritual message, "God's will is your holiness" and his educative method based on "Reason, Religion and Loving kindness" appeal to the young and the old. This legacy of Youth Ministry must benefit future generations of youth. Hence, no question about "Why Bicentenary"?

 

Rather than "Why Centenary" perhaps the question to be asked is "How Centenary?" In fact, the Salesian Family, over the last three years began a spiritual preparation with the "pilgrim Don Bosco" visiting the Salesian world and arousing a greater commitment to the Salesian Charism. Careful to sidestep vain and expensive triumphalism, the emphasis, as clearly indicated by the GC27 (27th General Chapter) has been "to return to Don Bosco" by reclaiming the Salesian Identity: to be "Mystics in the Spirit, Prophets of fraternity and Servants of the young".

 

"Returning to Don Bosco" as a theme of the Bi-centenary obviously suggests that the tone of the celebrations must be less about building monuments' staging performances and multiplying activities but more about the 'rebirth' of Don Bosco's

Spirituality in every individual Salesian.

 

The reason for the emphasis on the spiritual tone of the celebrations is clear. Although, over the past two hundred years, on the one hand there has certainly been a positive growth in the Salesian Mission: for example:

· A fundamental option for the poor & the marginalized youth in particular;

· A Return to Evangelization and the Missions(Africa, East Europe, China-Hong Kong; Europe); Openings into the Islamic world(Gulf, Mid-East);

· A Professional approach to youth ministry, opening institutes of higher learning

and reaching out more to adolescent youth.

There has been, On the other hand, in recent years a growing concern about:

* A superficial Spiritual life lacking depth;

* A secularization of religious values;

* A focus on Social activism and worldly success;

* A neglect of family spirit;

* An increasing vocational frailty, fragility and infidelity.

 

In the context of such concerns, the Bi-centenary celebrations need to be more realistically focused on reclaiming our Salesian Spirituality and restoring it to its prime place in the life of Don Bosco, the Union with God. There could not be a more practical resolve to celebrate the Bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco than the determination to redefine the Identity of Salesian Family and every individual Salesian as the Union with God.

 

"Why Bi-centenary"? The answer is clearly written in the "How Bi-centenary" program of celebrations and the message is "Be Holy, as I am Holy".

  

Sincerely,

  
Fr. Jim McKenna, SDB