2. IN THE SALESIAN TRADITION[76] In continuity From Don Bosco right down to the present day, the idea of the laity and the awareness of their role has become, albeit slowly, something ever more vigorous in the Church and the Congregation. Vatican II, in particular, set out in a new way the role of the laity in the Church and in the world. To his appeal the Salesian Congregation makes every effort to respond with a growing involvement of lay people. [77] The Cooperators From the time of Don Bosco to the Special General Chapter there were no outstanding changes in the understanding of the vocation of the Cooperators. The GC19 and especially the GC20 (SGC) brought about a radical change of mentality. They can no longer be seen as simple benefactors or executors. They must be recognized rather as full sharers in the responsibility for the Salesian mission and points of reference for lay people in the broad Salesian movement. This was the sense in which their new Regulations for Apostolic Life were approved in 1986. [78] The Past-pupils From 1898, with the intervention of Don Rua, the past-pupils of the individual houses have accepted the invitation to form associations on the model of the Valdocco Oratory. In July 1909 the Statute of the International Federation was drawn up, and received a considerable impulse during Don Rinaldi's period as Rector Major; in Don Ziggiotti's first years it became a World Confederation: a civil association which gathered together past-pupils without ethnic or religious distinction. Recently have been added the women past-pupils of our environments, recognized in the new Confederal Statute as members with full rights. This statute clearly defines the identity of the past-pupil and opens up new horizons in the field of the Salesian mission. [79] Secular Institutes In 1917 some girls of the FMA Oratory in Turin expressed to Don Rinaldi the desire to consecrate themselves to God while remaining in the world; they called themselves the Zealots of Mary Help of Christians. Later they became the Cooperator Oblates of St John Bosco, and today they are the Don Bosco Volunteers (DBV). In 1965 the Turin diocesan authorities recognized them as a Pious Association, and in 1971 as a Secular Institute of diocesan right. In 1978 they were recognized as a Secular Institute of pontifical right. The kingpins of their vocation are Salesianity, secularity and consecration. The Rector Major and his Council have declared them to be members of the Salesian Family in the strict sense. After the GC23 a similar male group has begun to develop with the title Don Bosco Secular Institute (DBS). [80] Other lay groups Don Bosco also started up the Association of Clients of Mary Help of Christians, involving them in the spirituality and mission of the Congregation by commitments readily realizable by the majority of simple people. Recently another group has been formed, made up of women only, the Association 'Damas Salesianas'. Common elements in the Salesian Family The groups belonging to the Salesian Family "participate in a true spiritual kinship and apostolic consanguinity",6 characterized by the sharing of the same Salesian spirit and some basic elements, usually listed as follows:
[82] The Salesian Bulletin Don Bosco saw the Salesian Bulletin as an instrument for
linkage, animation, formation and involvement of large numbers of
lay people who looked kindly on his work. Today the Bulletin is
published in numerous editions in the different geographical
areas of the world, and represents a very valuable instrument of communication
for a fuller sharing of the Salesian spirit and a more updated
involvement in the educative and evangelizing mission of the
Salesian Family and Movement. |