Delegates of Salesian Cooperators; SDB & FMA Macau - China, May 25-27,2008

Salesian mission = carry on some educative-pastoral work for the young? Salesian mission = a youth ministry? Salesian mission carried by specific educative pastoral community (SDB-EPP), educative community (FMA)? Salesian mission carried on by the large Salesian Family?

SF traditional – hierarchical model? SF hierarchical – collegial model? SF celebration centered comunion model? SF distant observers model (SDB/FMA are not involved within)? SF group network – communion model? SF – spiritual and apostolic movement?

SDBFMALay groups

Salesian SDB/FMA commands the lay folk, which partecipates in celebrations moments, or are invited to help in some occassions Absence of Salesian Family Advisory Board or Commission of Salesian Family Relations among the groups are rather vertical, superficial – lack deeper of mutual knowledge (vocation – formation- mission) SDB are leaders, ‘taking care’ of other groups as their ‘another apostolate

Lay groups ‘follow’ ‘SF Council’ restricted to the religious groups ‘Commanding’ SDBFMAACSVDB/CDB CSM, SIHM, DQM, SAL Past Pupils

All the initiatives of the FS starting from SDB Religious groups (FMA, CSM, SIHM, SAL, DQM) are consulted Lay groups (ACS, VDB,CDB, Past pupils) are invited occasionaly to help, to celebrate Lack of some practical structures of effective comunion – collaboration (Advisory Board) or just formally run (safe the face…)

SDB FMA Past Pupils VDB ASC

The SF is meeting just for Liturgical Feasts or Spirituality days, that’s it. Lack of deeper mutual knowledge of other groups, just acknowledged their presence Lack of process to make the life of the SF more operative (liturgy, meetings don’t bring just few practical synergy fruits…)

SDB ACS Past Pupils FMA VDB

SDB/FMA don’t’ feel really a part of the SF, they find themselves above or outside of it Don Bosco is acknowledged as common Father, but with no common action of the SF Other groups are not perceived as necessary to carry on the Salesian mission Salesian Family Day without ‘Salesians of DB’ Animation of other groups is felt as another burden or one-more-apostolate

SDB CC SS VDB CDB FMA SDB FMA EX.DB SMI HH SS CC SOSC ASF CSM HSMHC HDS SIHM EX-FMA IJA ADS ADMA 5. SF – model of charismatic communion

Characteristics of the charismatic communion model SF Advisory Body at the provincial/local level is regular to coordinate, celebrate and work together Mutual deeper knowledge of other SF groups present Each group recieves from the others and gives its own specific contribution within the Salesian Charism Collaboration is starting from initial formation houses, where the other charisms are known/shared Mutual relations between the groups, not only trough the respective individual Delegates, Assistants SDB/FMA

Characteristics of the SF as one apostolic – spiritual movement One dynamic family, which does grow in order to answer to the immense needs of the youth and the folk Growth in numbers (23 different groups) Growth in the Salesian spirit (deepen the common Salesian roots) Growth in the apostolic synergy with the other groups for the sake of one Salesian mission 1888: 800 SDB, 400 FMA, Salesian Cooperators (!) 2008: SDB, FMA, Salesian Cooperators(?)

Questions for reflection 1: What models of the Salesian Family are present in your Province/ locality? #2 : What are the most pressing challenges for the growth of the Salesian Family (synergy, spirituality, vocations)? #3: What challenges for your service as the Delegate to the Salesian Cooperators are coming from the different models of the Salesian Family? #4: Do you have any success stories (initiative, experience, process) regarding the growth of the Salesian Family in your place, in your Province? [SF Spirituality Days, Common study of the Charter of Communion or Common Mission Card, Regular meeting of the Salesian Family Advisory Body or Salesian Family Commission, Common apostolic project of different groups of SF?] #5: How are you involved as the Delegate into the dynamics of the Salesian Family? (SF Advisory Body – local, provincial; Relations between the SDB/FMA community and the Center of Salesian Cooperators etc) #6: Do you any points to clarify or deepen regarding the Salesian Family topic? #