Salesian Family Delegate Formation November 2016 15-17 Seoul KOREA 20-22 Dalat Vietnam 25-27 Cebu Philippines

personal expectations What do you want to take home from this formation workshop?

1. Why are we here? As sons and daughters of Don Bosco entrusted with a wonderful gift of apostolic and spiritual Family (=not common for all religious congregations) Call to understand, appreciate, live the family and build the family Embrace the fact that by our first profession we are not only becoming SDB but a Salesian Family (nuclear – central) people

1. Why are we here? When Don Bosco went to heaven, he left a family with a very specific traits: 33% of his Salesians were Salesian (Lay) Brothers; 20% of his Salesians were sent to the oversea missions; per each 1 consecrated Salesians there were 100 Salesian Cooperators – lay people and diocesan clergy or even many bishops Call to identify the virus of clericalism (within us - active & with the lay people – passive) and start to form mentality of one family, as mission partners

1. Why are we here? Salesian spirituality has many strong points – family spirit is one of them Probably the most effective and visible witness to the Gospel in our world of today (divided – fighting – with many walls) is the family spirit (2006 card. Zen: our most significant contribution to the Chinese culture and Church: family spirit!)

1. Why are we here? We are living a special period of Catholic Church history – Hour of Lay people What does it mean for me? What does it mean for my own community? What does it mean for our mission? What does it mean for our vocation promotion? Do we believe in the lay people, their vocation and mission? (crucial point!)

2. What are the dynamics of Salesian vocation growth? 2.1 There are some basic conditions for growth: Salesian Mission shared with many (lay) mission partners, lived as community commitment (Youth Ministry & Salesian family can’t be detached) The poor young people will save us, will save the Salesian family (RM)!

2. What are the dynamics of Salesian vocation growth? 2.1 There are some basic conditions for growth: Within the EAO context of minority Church, the involvement and formation of lay people for the Salesian mission is not optional – deep conviction! E.g. many apostolic work also in the EAO are being entrusted to the lay (Don Bosco Past Pupils, Salesian Cooperators

2. What are the dynamics of Salesian vocation growth? 2.2 There are some often encountered obstacles we meet: Simple ignorance of the great gift of lay apostolic vocation (Salesian Brother, Salesians Cooperators, Lay Consecration of VDB or CDB Low visibility of Salesian Lay Vocation, of Salesian Family in our media

2. What are the dynamics of Salesian vocation growth? 2.2 There are some often encountered obstacles we meet: From the first stages of initial formation we miss to ‘touch Salesian Family’ life… meeting personally different vocations, understand their own dynamics

2. What are the dynamics of Salesian vocation growth? 2.2 There are some often encountered obstacles we meet: Virus of clericalism does affect not only for clergy… but for all consecrated people (sisters and brothers as well): some consider themselves more important, not in need of the others (e.g. basic SF principle: Without you we are not us!)

2. What are the dynamics of Salesian vocation growth? 2.2 There are some often encountered obstacles we meet: Lack of human resources (formators) There is a strong need of formation of formators (lay included), leadership formation in each SF group (e.g. Don Bosco past pupils 2008-2014: Handbook & Formation resource book ed. 2016)

3. What is exactly our role as SDB or FMA regarding the Salesian Family groups? Delegate: Past Pupils; Salesians Cooperators; Assistant: VDB or CDB Spiritual director: ADMA; Confessor or spiritual guide: FMA or other sisters Main task – role: as a Salesian – apostolic – formative accompaniment

4. What are the main questions, convictions or main tools we can learn? How did change your life after making the Promise as Salesian Cooperator? What are the crucial points for understanding the ‘Lay Vocation’ in the Church? What kind of attitudes need I foster as ‘Salesian apostolic formator’?

4. What are the main questions, convictions or main tools we can learn? SDB article 5 (Constitutions) and chapter 4 (Regulations) What is the contribution of the Salesian Cooperators to the Salesian Family? Deepen the basic conviction that without ‘them’ my vocation is not fully lived

5. Reflecting on the Salesian Family SWOT (14 SDB provinces-delegations or ACS) One feels the SDB superiority complex: ‘one way’… ‘we own and distribute’ our charism or spirit conversion path: cooperators of SDB cooperators of God A huge ‘hidden’ potential need and might be waken up (ASC, Past Pupils)

5. Reflecting on the Salesian Family SWOT (14 SDB provinces-delegations or ACS) Need to build more open ‘religious community’ for our times, which counts on the daily contribution and participation of the SF members and Mission partners We (religious) are not ready or able to accompany – form the lay people in their own vocation – missionary (apostolic) journey

5. Reflecting on the Salesian Family SWOT (14 SDB provinces-delegations or ACS) We lack creativity and are hugely influenced by the ‘not-so-conducive’ past stories (e.g. only few old people, only pious ladies, only ‘our helpers’) Salesian charism or presence is not complete without ‘Lay Salesian vocation’ in any place: EAO – still 7 countries without Salesian Cooperators, many ‘old – established’ Salesian work without Salesian Cooperators. [= consider it not yet!]

5. Reflecting on the Salesian Family SWOT (14 SDB provinces-delegations or ACS) How to make our own the deep ‘pragmatic conviction’ of Don Bosco: advantage to join the ‘spiritual & apostolic’ Family, to follow Salesian vocation (e.g. What is the added value if we invite our school teacher to follow Salesian vocation?

5. Reflecting on the Salesian Family SWOT (14 SDB provinces-delegations or ACS) Need to foster new creative ways of communication within the distinct groups of the SF And also overcome in the geographically challenged provinces or delegations large distances with ‘smart ways of communication and formation’ (e.g. Salesian Bulletin >> FB, messages, sharing on more frequent basis)

5. Reflecting on the Salesian Family SWOT (14 SDB provinces-delegations or ACS) Generally the difficulty to rejuvenate the main groups: main motivations - Lack of younger SDB delegates? Complacency? Not able to work with the young? Weak network of the Youth Ministry beyond the teenager age? Salesian family get together: but need to go beyond celebration or formation!