January 2011
The Magnet that is Don Bosco January is for us the month of don Bosco. We cannot but not return to him at all times. As the Rector Major had urged us, this is what we did before General Chapter 26 in preparation for the Bicentenary of his birth. And this is what we will do again, for he is for us the origin of all that we are and wish to be, of all that we do and dream to carry out in future as AFW Province, as local community and as each confrere. It is only by being faithful to his charism that we would be able to achieve what God is calling us to be and do in West Africa.
But even those who are not part of the Catholic circle like to call on don Bosco. I often have seen this at police check points: when they stop the car most often they do not take much notice of ‘catholic mission’ written on the on the car-door. Many a time it is the name don Bosco that strikes their attention and often it is read out in a loud and livelily voice: “Don Bosco!”. Those who have a chance to familiarize themselves with his life are conquered by a sense of friendliness and admiration for who he is and what he has done.
But to love him so dearly does not mean that we have to keep him to ourselves, guarding him jealously within our communities only, as if he could only be at home in our premises. Don Bosco belongs to the whole Church and he has conquered the hearts of so many people far beyond Salesian settings. He has done it all over the world, as is quiet evident from the enthusiasm and welcome which the casket of Don Bosco is getting as it makes its way around the world. He is already doing the same in West Africa and his name is already familiar to many Catholic institutions oriented to the service of the youth, many choosing him as their patron saint.
This is a gift that we have from God our Father which we should welcome with gratitude. Don Bosco is a formidable passport and password in the history of our missions and presence. So many times it is clearly visible that he went before us to prepare the way; those who eventually called on the members of the society of saint Francis of Sales did not know much about the Salesians. But they knew enough about don Bosco and the trust they had in him prompted them to enquire and open doors. If we have this beautiful talent from God’s Providence we should be able to invest it to the full, like the parable in the Gospel. Let us help to make don Bosco known far and wide beyond our compounds. Let us write about him, not only in our magazines… there are many who will be willing to host us on the column of their publications or in the hours of their broadcasting if we have something meaningful to communicate about don Bosco, his identity in history and at present, his way of education, his youthful holiness…