SGC voice

Below are some of the key issues the Special General Chapter of the Salesian Congregation 1971, dealt with:

POVERTY:
We ought to be genuine in the living of poverty. It must be evangelical more than juridical. It should take on the honest imitation of Christ. It should help us to concretely witness to personal detachment and solidarity with the poor. It must be characterized by courageous confidence in God and by tireless work. Poverty must be WITNESS and SERVICE.

OBEDIENCE:
Obedience and authority are to be recognized for the common good. It helps us share in the offering of Christ. It is a search for the will of God through openness and frank dialogue. The SGC warns against paternalism and infantilism. It demands purity of heart and overcoming of self.

CHASTITY:
The community must be a family. Family spirit is fostered in a friendly atmosphere. Chastity is portrayed as purity, dedication and gift of oneself.

FORMATION:
The aim of formation is to help the seminarian to a complete gift of himself to God by following and imitating Christ. Formation needs to be pluralistic, decentralized, flexible and functional.
  
SALFAM:
A family consists of interpersonal connections. The Salfam is an ecclesial reality with a special mission imbued with the spirit of Don Bosco. It is an expression of communion and characterized by an original spirituality. The Salfam shares in a common: (i) Consecration (ii) Vocation and mission (iii) Salesian Spirit.

WORKS:
Our works need to be critically examined to determine whether we are faithful to Don Bosco’s mission. Adequate plans for the future need to be drawn up. The indispensable conditions for a work to be ‘Salesian’ are:
1.    They must be at the service of the youth especially the needy.
2.    They must be completely pastoral in scope.
3.    They must be impregnated with the spirit which inspired Don Bosco.

EVANGELIZATION AND CATECHESIS:
Every Salesian is always and everywhere a teacher of religion by reason of his vocation and mission. This requires that we listen to the Word of God and engage in a serious study of it. This also calls for witness by living. People believe Christians who resemble the Christ they preach.

MASS MEDIA:
Don Bosco used media like theatre, press, music, etc. Media is a Salesian apostolate and can be used for catechesis, presenting the gospel, youthful liturgies, dialogue etc. A Salesian must learn and use the language of his time and environment.

 MISSION:
Don Bosco realized his missionary dream through his sons. He wanted the congregation to have a strong missionary character. The components of a missionary spirituality are:
Ø Fidelity to the work of evangelization
Ø Courage in the apostolate
Ø Joy in spreading the Gospel
Ø Trust in Mary, Help of Christians
Ø Working in Don Bosco’s style
Ø Be flexible, creative, enterprising, open to initiatives

The foundations of the missionary vocation are apostolic zeal and supernatural generosity.

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