18. MESSAGE OF THE GC24 TO THE DON BOSCO VOLUNTEERS

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The members of the 24th General Chapter, gathered in Rome from all parts of the world, address themselves to you, dear Volunteers of Don Bosco, who were born and have grown up in his Salesian Family. We send you our fraternal greetings and our sincere thanks for having accompanied us in this event. The contribution you sent us enriched our reflections; we are grateful for your presence on the day the Chapter was inaugurated and during the week of work with other lay representatives.

In our capitular discussions, which were aimed at a better understanding of the reciprocal relationships which bind us together in the common Salesian mission and spirit, we have recalled the elements which serve to deepen and strengthen our collaboration and sharing, so as to arrive at a "vast movement of persons" united in the desire to evangelize by educating, in Don Bosco's spirit.

Your specific vocation in the Church and the Salesian Family helps us to a better understanding of how to be a living sign of Christ in the world, as also of the contribution of the woman in the Church and the world.

During the Chapter we endorsed the deep conviction that "consecrated persons are 'in mission' by virtue of their very consecration" (VC 72). In this case it is the life itself "which becomes educative, because it speaks of itself and raises questions". The statement refers also to your own consecration, lived in a harmonic synthesis with the values of the world. We appreciate your simple but demanding manner of bearing witness to the radical nature of love, so important for people of today who have ever greater need of visible signs if they are to believe.

In the contribution you sent us you wrote: "Through our immersion in the secular world we can pass on to you the sensitivity derived from our experience of those to whom our mission is directed". By indicating to us the problems of society which you live at first hand, you can help us to update our educative and pastoral work. This too is a gift for us at a time when we are reflecting on the 'secular dimension' of the Church, of the Congregation and of the charismata born in it for the world.

As Salesian women, you share fully in Don Bosco's charism, but in a unique manner with a sensitivity that derives precisely from the fact that you are women. You are often able to approach directly those with whom we are primarily concerned, supporting the mission by your professional competence. In this way you are present in the Salesian Family with attitudes of creativity and self-sacrificing generosity, albeit silently and sometimes in a hidden manner.

Dear Volunteers, six years ago, during the 23rd General Chapter, we shared the joy of the beatification of your Founder and third successor of Don Bosco, Fr. Philip Rinaldi. Today we renew once again our gratitude to God for a Saint who is our teacher in promoting collaboration with the laity. Like Fr. Rinaldi, we too want to find in each of you "a collaborator and an animator of Salesian commitment". (E.Vigaṇ)

In various circumstances you have asked for our help in formation and spiritual animation. We assure you of our willingness to provide this fraternal service. We also want to learn something from you who are consecrated Salesians in the world; we want to learn fidelity to the Salesian charism, so that we may have the same "thirst for souls" lived by Fr. Philip Rinaldi, to whom we entrust the promising beginnings of the male branch, for which we share with you our prayers and hopes.

May Mary Help of Christians be our guide in our common commitment of consecration and mission.

Rome, 20 April 1996