For World Youth Day
For all the young people of the Salesian environment who participate in the WYD meeting
We pray the World Youth Day in Lisbon will help young people to live and witness the Gospel in their own lives.
[Prayer intention of Pope Francis]
Dear brothers and sisters,
What a joy it is to be able to live union with God in daily life, allowing the Risen Christ to act, live and work in us and through us, thus enhancing our baptismal consecration, in the spirit of Don Bosco, in the Salesian style! This is the vocation of the contemplative Fraternity of Mary of Nazareth, a charismatic intuition of
our Founder, Mgr. Nicolás Cotugno, SDB.
And what a joy it is to be able to live it in the comple-mentarity of different states of life: spouses, families, children, adolescents, consecrated wo-men, priests and our preferred recipients, young people. And how wonderful to be able to do this in communion with the great Salesian Family.
May the Holy Spirit continue to encourage our journey in the Church.
▀ Mrs Silvia Ourthe-Cabalé
Moderator of the Mary of Nazareth Contemplative Fraternity
Money is an essential element of ordinary daily life. As in any human endeavour, missionary activities need financial resources. Money has value and as such is a significant resource for the proclamation of the gospel to those who do not know Christ, even in urban centres and in countries with a long Christian tradition. Money is like the wheel of a vehicle. Without money, the work of evangelisation cannot move on and develop. Money is needed to build structures and run programmes. To reach out to the peripheries and open new frontiers, missionaries need resources for their sustenance and new initiatives.
Benefactors help because they believe in our missionary work. At times benefactors or donors insist more on projects that interest them than the actual needs of evangelisation and of the local missionary context. Also, when the missionary espouses paternalistic dependence, the locals passively await handouts rather than actively contribute to meet their own needs. Similarly, when a major reason for missionaries being considered highly is that they are perceived as a source of material advantage, a social gulf is created between themselves and those to whom they are bringing the Gospel.
It could happen that from the locals’ viewpoint, missionaries are perceived as wealthy because they can seek funds for their projects, own vehicles, and enjoy amenities that locals cannot even dream of. This leads to a distorted image of the missionary and proclaiming the gospel becomes challenging. Therefore, it is clear that one of the most significant challenges in missionary activities is the manner of handling money because money-related issues can either foster or hinder the very proclamation of the person of Jesus Christ.
The way forward is to promote stewardship among all stakeholders: benefactors, donors, missionaries, and local people. Stewardship implies maintaining accepted standards of accountability and transparency, keeping paper trails so that auditors, accountants, and bookkeepers could verify the use of money, abiding by government financial regulations and upholding ethical and moral integrity.
Don Bosco himself received a lot of money from benefactors. Yet his life was marked by austerity, hard work, and generous service of others. He insisted on a sense of stewardship: “Remember well, that what we have is not ours; it belongs to the poor; woe to us if we do not use it well” (BM V, 450). Indeed, money is important, but it is not everything. It is a resource to be used morally and ethically to proclaim the Gospel more effectively.
▀ Fr. Alfred Maravilla, SDB
General Councillor for the Missions
Dear Sílvio, together with Pope Francis we are praying this month for all the young people participating in the WYD meeting in Lisbon. You have been involved in the preparations and now have a lot to do with the organisation of it. What exactly is your role?
All the Salesians of the Province have been called to contribute to the preparation of WYD 2023. At the local level, I am part of the team that prepares the reception of young people in my Salesian Work. This means letting lay collaborators, parents of the School and members of the Salesian Parish know what WYD consisted of and how they could contribute to its realisation. Throughout the year, I have animated our group of young people who will participate in WYD. Finally, I am part of the team preparing the Vigil that will culminate on 2 August, dedicated to the Salesian Youth Movement, where almost 7000 young people will be present, and in which the Rector Major and the Mother General of the FMA will participate.
Where do you see the greatest contribution of the Salesian style to this great event?
First of all, the witness of the holiness of Don Bosco, who is one of the patrons of WYD 2023, and so many other young Portuguese people have had the opportunity to get to know him better. Next, the Salesians have been called to collaborate in the Welcoming Ceremony of Pope Francis, thus playing a very active role in what will be the first moment of a close encounter between the Holy Father and young people from all over the world. Finally, the Salesian Family and the MGS will leave their mark at the Vocations Fair, with a stand dedicated to the Salesian mission and spirituality. There is also their participation, with various initiatives, in the Youth Festival, including a musical about Don Bosco.
Do you perceive any impact of WYD preparations on missionary awareness and animation in your province?
WYD is the biggest youth event in the world. For this reason alone, it is already having an impact. Our young people have committed themselves to preparing for this great meeting of faith and youth, which has reawakened a sense of ecclesial and charismatic belonging, a greater creativity in the way they go out to meet other young people. They look to those furthest away, not leaving anyone on the margins of the invitation issued by Pope Francis. We can say that the preparation for WYD 2023 has been an authentic missionary experience.
