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July 1, 1997
Dear Salesian Family Members:
As I begin my duties as Provincial of the San Francisco Province, I want to reflect on the motto given us for this year by Fr. Juan Vecchi, our Rector Major. "With our gaze fixed on Jesus, the first-born of many brothers and sisters, let us help the young to welcome him in faith."
Pope John Paul sees the dawn of the new millenium as an opportunity to proclaim a Jubilee Year. The year 2000 is meant to be a year of praise and thanksgiving to God for the gifts of the Incarnation and Redemption experienced in the life of Jesus. So, our ministry with the young must begin with Jesus. He is our friend, our model, our goal. Jesus becomes the focal point of all our ministry with young people. It's Jesus who leads us to them, Jesus who strengthens us in our ministry with them, Jesus who invites us to share our faith with them.
Fr. Vecchi encourages us to "...help the young to welcome him (Jesus) in faith." Hospitality, acceptance, kindness are various ways in welcoming others into our homes. We need to look at our various ministries and contacts with the young from the perspective of hospitality, acceptance, and kindness. Do our young people find in our ministry with them a welcoming and accepting attitude? Do they feel "at home" in our presence? Do they perceive the kindness and concern we have for them in the various ways we educate them?
Don Bosco reminded his Salesians that working with the young is no easy task. Yet a strong devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the loving assistance of Mary, Help of Christians, and fidelity to the teachings of the Church as reflected in the primacy of the Pope were sources of strength and blessing in our sharing Jesus with the young.
As we work with the
young during these summer months or as we prepare to receive our
young people again for another scholastic year may our words and
deeds truly be signs of welcome and acceptance in the name of
Jesus.
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