Salesian newslink 2015 no 32 by ZMB, Salesian Newslink

ZAMBIA - ZIMBABWE - MALAWI - NAMIBIA

9 | No.32 Issue No. Jan - 2015 May 2015 Year 9 |Year Issue Jan32- May

49TH WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY

MY VISION OF THE PRESENT TIME ROAD TO EMMAUS

Fr. Peter Malec SDB RIP

Consecrated Life, Today

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In this Issue: • • • •

YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE

ZMB Vice province of Mary Help of Christians

Cover Story: Consecrated Life, Today | 16 Reflecting Pope’s Letter in the context of DB 200 | 9 Mary as a Model of Consecrated Life | 34 Consecrated Life = Sacred Life | 37 Feature Article

• Vocation of a Christian Mother | 25 • My Vision of the Present Time - Rector Major | 4 • From the Provincial’s Pen | 7 • Communicating the Family: A Privileged Place of Encounter with the Gift of Love - Pope Francis | 12 Message

Spirituality & Wellbeing

• Spirituality of the Heart | 14 Reflection & Inspiration • Accompaniment: Young People Need Us | 24 • A Prayer of an “Abased Servant-Preacher’ | 23 • The Empty Tomb | 28 Series

• Diaconate Ordination | 22 • Priestly Ordination | 38 • Tribute: Fr. Peter Malec sdb | -Salesian NewslinkZMB Quarterly Publication Year 9/N032 Jan - May 2015

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Editor: Fr.Diravya Rupen SDB Photos: Br.Boniface SDB, Br.Joseph SDB, Fr.Andrew Reut SDB Fr.Rupen SDB, David Advisory Council: Fr.George Chalissery SDB, Sr.Chanda FMA Fr. Tresphord Chisanga SDB, Lewis Malama SDB Financial Advisor: Fr. Lewis Malama SDB Editorial Team: Mr. Loius Mwewa, Deacon John Musonda Design & Layout: Fr.Diravya Rupen SDB, Fr. Javier A. Barrientos SDB Printed: Printing Press - ZMB Provincial House E-Mail: communication@salesianszmb.org munirupenmission@gmail.com ___________________________ PUBLICATION OF NEXT ISSUE - 24 AUGUST 2015 The Text and Photos (News) & Articles should reach us before 10 August

he Consumeristic world sells hope by promoting different beauty and luxurious products. Looking absorbedly our happiness into them makes us misplace our own genuine face. The natural, beautiful, blissful and real face is hidden deep inside many masks. Rejoice! This is the invitation for the religious. Our task is to wake up the whole world. The Year of Consecrated Life calls us to swing open the true face to the whole world in making a “wakeup call.” The face embedded in JOY is the true face for the religious and priests. The face propagating the happiness is the real face of consecration. The face promoting Cheerfulness is not mere embellishment; but, the tangible sign of being called by the Lord and rooted in strong spiritual base. “This is the beauty of consecration: it is joy, joy…” The joy of bringing God’s consolation to all. These are the words spoken by Pope Francis during his meeting with seminarians and novices. “There is no holiness in sadness,” mentioned the Holy Father. Joy is the foundation of the human life. To remain in joy, we need to do two things: Listening the Word of God in faith and perseverance to the Word of God. “Rejoice, full of Grace” (Luke 1, 28). This is an invitation of joy, a deep joy from the angel to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since Mary was carrying the God of joy in her womb, she goes in great haste to serve Elizabeth. She hurries to bring the happy news to the world. Mary, the Lord’s servant runs in great haste to become the servant of all the people. In Mary each of us, driven by the Spirit, should go out to the marginalized, vulnerable and most fragile. That is the mission of the church. Let us contribute our might with Holy Joy. Our Holy

Editorial Fr. P. Diravya Rupen SDB

Be glad, rejoice, radiate joy.

WAKE UP THE WORLD! Father has proclaimed this Year of Consecrated Life on the occasion of the 5oth anniversary of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, which speaks of religious in its sixth chapter, and of the Decree Perfectae Caritatis on the renewal of religious life. The Year has begun on 30 November 2014, the First Sunday of Advent, and will conclude with the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple on 2 February 2016. Though this year is dedicated for the consecrated women and men, the role of the Laity should be note-worthy too. The Lord’s call to be religious is received only in the context of the family, which is the extended womb for the children. The Pope’s Message for the World day of communication keeps Family as the center, which is the privileged place of encounter. It is heartening to see that the “Year of Consecrated Life” has been made an occasion for a serious scrutiny of call and mission of the religious from various angles, including the standpoint of lay people (the cover story of this issue ‘The Consecrated life, today’). I wish to take this opportunity to thank all the contributors of the articles for this issue. Some columns are wished-for a continuous series; the generosity of the authors is going to enrich us, the readers. I would definitely be failing in my duty if I do not recognize all the work that Fr. Javier Antonio Barrientos SDB had put in who earlier headed this noble and painstaking job of publishing this Magazine, SALESIAN NEWSLINK. The facelift for the magazine is given only by him. Under his footsteps, and by the guidance of the Provincial, the other Salesians, well-wishers and supporters, this work will be carried out well. Special thanks go to Mr. Louis Mwewa, a Salesian cooperator from Bauleni Parish and Deacon John Musonda for their help in proof reading and editing. Let us journey together in propagating the JOY to

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Rector Major

FRATERNITY & SPIRITUALITY OF COMMUNION AS A NEW PARADIGM FOR THE LIFE

he Chapter members wanted to elect me - against my expectation - as the Rector Major and tenth successor of Don Bosco. I hired immediately, together with the newly elected General Council, the Chapter document as “ navigation chart “for the next six years. At the same time I started to know the Congregation in the various continents and meet many brothers. I’m developing a vision (certainly still partial), but I wish to share with you briefly. Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime SDB R E C T O R M A J O R

MY VISION OF THE PRESENT TIME The Rector Major’s Message During The Fifth Historical Meeting Of The Salesian Bishops In Turin, 21-25 May 2015 4 | ZMB Salesian Newslink

I am more and more aware that we Salesians have a wealth and this wealth is Don Bosco, the family spirit that he taught us and left a legacy, our mission among young people, especially among those most neglected and abandoned. Until now we are jealous custodians of these assets, and we look to the future with confidence and hope. In my work in the provinces, taking the 27th General Chapter, I have always said that we must continue to grow in interiority , in union with God, in the mystic dimension of our lives. From Don Albera to date, all the Rector Majors have reported this priority. This emphasis is not accidental; It is indicative of a shortage to which remedy. “It would be really worrying if someone came to think that the weakness that we see in living the primacy of God in our lives, is one element of our Salesian DNA. It is not! Not so in Don Bosco.” The community dimension of our lives and of our mission is the another point which calls our attention. Fraternity within communities must become a strength, not weakness. This requirement, proper to every form of religious life, takes on a special connotation for us Salesians. We are called to fraternity because young people need us to live as brothers and that our communities are real homes, especially today, when many of theirs are less than unity and the stability of their families. Don Bosco’s intention of the community is not the residence of individual pastoral workers, but the place to create a real family spirit that also becomes an element of attraction for vocations to Salesian life, together

with the apostolic generosity and the centrality and dignity of the prayer in common. “With a certain frequency in every conceivable direction, as congregation, we run a danger of sacrificing community, fraternity and sometimes even the communion, for the job, activity or simply activism”. Visiting for the first time several provinces and regions of the Congregation, I note a clear and undisputed choice for the young, especially the poorest. This gives me a great consolation. I usually say to the brothers to guard this well, because young people save us and this guarantees our fidelity. The physical presence of each other makes us work for their resources, their needs, their sufferings. As Don Chavez repeatedly stated, the physical distance from them can lead to the distance of the mind and the heart, depriving our lives as a fundamental dimension which is that of spiritual fatherhood. In the fifth reminder for the missionaries, Don Bosco noted the “special care of the sick, the children, the old and the poor” as the source of the blessing of God and the goodwill of men towards our Congregation. That ‘s right. This is the true treasure that no one can take away ever. Closely related to this, it is my personal belief that what saves us and that will save the congregation will not be power or strength, but the simplicity, humility, the full donation to the Lord, to the mission, to young people. The delivery date to our Founder in programmatic dream of his life (“Make yourself humble, steadfast and strong”) is the permanent program for the whole Congregation and each Salesian. If we recognize humbly that everything we have received from the Lord and that we will be at the service of one another; if in difficulties and hardships we will draw strength from the Holy Spirit; if our response will be generous, strong, resourceful, then we will have future. The teaching of Pope Francis and the testimony of his person show us this evangelical road. Individualism, pseudoapostolic, intellectual pride, the adoption of

a style in personal and community life are the temptations which are always looming and sometimes, unfortunately, these are the painful realities that are sapping the strength and vitality of the Salesian charism. The celebration of the twohundredth anniversary of the birth of Don Bosco, witnesses the fecundity of that little seed planted in the holy humanity of simple peasant families of the hills of Asti, really humble, strong and robust. Now that seed became a tree so great “that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches” ( Mt 13:32). The poor orphan without means has become the Father of a large family. By this I mean to refer not only to so-called “branches” of the Salesian Family, but in that vast movement of people who look with sympathy to Don Bosco and work in his spirit and in his mission, or will experience the charm and efficiency. We become increasingly aware that the mission is not only an expression of the genius and generosity of an individual or group, but persists and grows stronger as the fruit of communion. This is not an organizational requirement, but constitutive dimension of the mission. If there is communion, there is the mission which the Church, by divine mandate, intends to implement, because the source of the mission is the Trinity. In his wonderful speech at the opening of the General Chapter, the Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, His Eminence Cardinal João Braz de Avis recalled how Pope St. John Paul II, introducing the Church in new millennium, has indicated the promotion of a spirituality of communion as a new paradigm for the life of the Church. In turn, visiting the communities and the provinces, I remind everyone that sharing the spirit and mission of Don Bosco, with the laity and members of the Salesian Family, is not optional, but a strong charismatic duty. Don Ángel Fernández Artime Rector Major Turin, May 22, 2015 Bicentennial of the birth of Don Bosco ZMB Salesian Newslink | 5

ANS

MEETING OF THE SALESIAN BISHOPS: “LIKE DON BOSCO WITH YOUNG AND FOR THE YOUNG!” 21-25 MAY 2015 (ANS – Rome) The fifth historical meeting of the Salesian bishops, as one of the highlights of the Bicentenary of Don Bosco’s Birthday, took place at Valdocco. The Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, spoke of these “days of spiritual grace,” “days of light and reflection”, and important moments of sharing “as Salesians gathered around our Father Don Bosco, in this place where we are all born to Salesian life.” In his presentation of the 27th General Chapter the Rector Major spoke about fraternity. Here it was lived and experienced by the bishops in the official celebrations and times of sharing and listening, and also in the spontaneous exchanges that occurred during their free time. This harmony of spirit came about naturally thanks to the common Salesian root and the festive atmosphere for the Feast of Mary Help of Christians and the Bicentenary of Don Bosco. 6 | ZMB Salesian Newslink

News World N W n i a s SSale

The event was also an opportunity to study the needs of the particular Churches and the universal Church, and the challenges facing Consecrated Life and evangelization. It allowed all those present, especially those who had come from far away, to renew their commitment to the Salesian charism, their devotion to Mary Help of Christians and the link with Don Bosco and the places associated with his life and work. Although this was not the first, a gathering of Salesian Bishops is always something special. One of the cardinals present confided that he had met Pope Francis a few days previously. When he explained to the Pope that he had to be in Turin for a meeting with the other Salesian Cardinals and Bishops, the Holy Father smiled and said, “Only the Salesians could do something like this!” At present there are 124 Salesian Bishops in the world. Some ninety of them reached Valdocco for this gathering.

SDB.ORG-SALESIAN WEBSITE UPDATED (ANS – Roma) –In the context of the Bicentenary of the Birth of Don Bosco, the Department of Social Communications launched on 24 May 2015 the reconstructed webiste of the Salesian Congregation(www. sdb.org). Fr. Fliberto González sdb, General Councillor for Social Communications and the Members of the Department presented the official website of the Salesian Congregation, with renewed internal structure and graphics. Since the Church and the Congregation are laying on the “digital continent,” this updated website becomes the need. The new site, in fact, is totally constructed with open source software. The earlier version of www.sdb.org which was launched over five years back needed renewal in order to pair with current technology. The new graphical dimensions fit the digital screens such as tablet, telephone devices of the third and fourth generation.

Message

y Dear Friends,

Affectionate greetings to all of you from Don Bosco Lilongwe. I am very happy to let you know that another issue of Newslink has been got ready after a gap of a few months. Thanks to Fr Antonio Barrientos who had taken pains to see that the issues of Newslink came out regularly in the past. I thank Fr Rupen Diravya for taking up the responsibility for publishing Newslink from now onwards. We celebrate the feast of Mary Help of Christians on 24th May every year. But this year the date fell on Pentecost Sunday. We had a memorable event on this day at our community here in Lilongwe. We had the consecration of the Parish Church. Though the patron of the Church is St John Bosco, we hope eventually it would be a Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in our Vice-Province spreading devotion to Our Lady. There was a sea of people for this memorable event. The Church was packed with about 2,500 faithful. But there were more than that number outside. The function of the consecration of this Church went on smoothly as everything was very well planned and arranged. Hearty congratulations to our confreres of Lilongwe and the faithful of the parish who worked very hard to make this a meaningful and faith-filled celebration. Don Bosco wanted everyone of his sons to have devotion to Our Lady. We know well that his mother Mamma Margaret instilled in little John the devotion to Mary. She taught him the Hail Mary, the Angelus and the Rosary. Before performing acrobatic tricks for his friends, he would make them recite the Rosary. At the age of 9 when he had the dream that would indicate to him his vocation in life, he was given Mary as the teacher who would help him to acquire knowledge. This year is also the 150th anniversary of the blessing of the Foundation stone of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. Don Bosco would say that every brick in the basilica represents a grace from Our Lady. Though initially he had only a few coins to pay the builder, Our Lady was at his side and he was confident that all the expenses for this Church would be paid for with her help. He could say that Mary has built herself a house. At the end of his life he would say that in everything he was guided by Mary. We keep in mind his famous words: “Have devotion to Mary Help of Christians and you will see what miracles are.” I am sure we too want to follow the example of Don Bosco and give Mary an important place in our life so that She would be our secure guide in life. Earlier this month, we were shocked and deeply saddened by the untimely death of Fr Peter Malec who was the rector at our community in Lufubu, Zambia. He was full of enthusiasm when he was asked to be the rector of this community. He spared no effort to see that the Agricultural school reopened with a short course for the time being. He had plans for the school and for the farm we have there. But all these plans were cut short by his sudden demise on 6th May. Fr Peter was a very hard working priest and he showed that he loved the people by learning well the local language. He has touched the lives of many people here in our Province for the past 27 years that he worked here. I am sure he will be our intercessor in heaven now. On 30th of this month we have the priestly ordination of 2 of our deacons – Alphoncious Hamweete and Peter Nguyen Khanh at the Infant Jesus Cathedral in Lusaka. We congratulate them and pray that they will be good shepherds of the young just like our father Don Bosco. Yours affly, With best wishes and prayers,

Fr George Chalissery SDB, 24 May 2015.

from the Provincial’s pen...

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TRIBUTE

Fr. Peter Malec SDB

Fr Peter Malec was born on 18th August 1965 at Legnica, Poland, the son of Edward and Malgorzata Baron. His Religious Journey After completing his Secondary School studies, he joined the Salesian Novitiate on 3rd August 1985 at Kopiec, which is very near the Shrine of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa. He made his First Profession as a Son of Don Bosco on 22nd August 1986. He went on to do the Post-Novitiate Studies at Krakow. His Missionary Journey He opted to come as a missionary to Zambia, with 8 other companions on 17th September 1988. After 2 years of Practical Training, he studied Theology in Nairobi and was ordained a priest at Lufubu on 17th April 1994, by the Bishop of Mansa, Rt. Rev. Aaron Chisha. After his ordination, he worked in Luwingu, Hwange and Harare. In 2011, he was appointed Rector and Principal at Kazembe. In July 2014, he was appointed Rector at Lufubu and contributed his might to restart the agricultural College. Prior to His Heavenly journey Fr Peter was not feeling well on 3rd May, 2015. But he did not mention it to anyone and continued his ordinary work. On5th May 2015, since he was feeling worse, he was taken to St Paul’s hospital, Kashikishi. It was decided to take Fr Peter to the hospital in Mansa. In the morning of 6th May, he was brought to Lufubu and had taken some clothes and belongings from his room and was lying down in the car and breathed his last. Thus he surrendered his life to Jesus close to the place where he was ordained a priest 21 years ago. From the X-Ray done at Kashikishi, the doctors are of the opinion that Fr Peter passed away due to ‘pulmonary embolism.’ Zeal for Soul During the 27 years he spent in the missions, he tried his best to be close to the people by learning the local language, especially Bemba, and thus endeared himself to the people. Bishop Patrick Chisanga of Mansa testified that he found in Fr Peter a zealous, enthusiastic and hard-working missionary. He always had a soft heart for the young and the poor. Hardworking and Systematic in approach When he was appointed rector in Lufubu, he accepted willingly and did his best to restart the Agricultural school. On 1st April 2015, a group of 25 students arrived to begin the new programme planned for them. He had many plans and projects for Lufubu. He was also the administrator of the community and the accounts were sent regularly and punctually to the Provincial Office. On 4th May, a day before he went to the hospital, he had already sent the accounts of April 2015, to the Provincial Economer. Spiritual Man He was deeply spiritual. The previous day of his demise he had a premonition that

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his time on earth was drawing to a close, and so called for the Parish Priest at Kashikishi and received the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Anointing and the Eucharist. Such was his spirituality. Thus he embraced a beautiful ending. Farewell On 8th May, at 18.00 hours, Bishop Clement Mulenga SDB celebrated the Eucharist with several Salesians at Bauleni Parish. After the Eucharist the coffin was left in the parish church at Bauleni for an all night vigil. Many people passed by to pay their respects to Fr Peter and to pray for him. The choir was there the whole night. On Saturday, 9th May, we had the funeral Mass for Fr Peter presided over by Bishop Patrick Chisanga the bishop of Mansa. After Mass the body was taken for burial to Kasisi Cemetery. The elderly parents of Fr Peter allowed their son to be buried in the mission land and even though they could not travel to Lusaka, they were united with us in the Eucharist which was celebrated in Poland at the same time we were having the funeral Mass in Lusaka. We will all miss him very much. But we have the certainty that Fr Peter is with Jesus and will be our intercessor now.

Fr George Chalissery SDB

Consecrated life & DB 200 Sr.Chanda Nsofwa FMA

Reflecting on the Letter of Pope Francis to the Consecrated in the Year of the Bicentenary of Don Bosco’s Birth

t is not by chance that the year dedicated to the Consecrated should coincide with the celebration of the Bicentenary of the Birth of Don Bosco, Father and teacher of the youth. What message does God want us to hear, in a particular way as individual consecrated people? The following themes are highlighted in the letter: the Aims, Expectations and Horizons of the Year of the Consecrated. For now we shall look at the aims, the other two elements will be reflected upon in the next Bulletin. AIMS OF THE YEAR OF THE CONSECRATED Aims enable us to act with meaning, they give direction to the activity. Absence of aims in an activity makes it to be a blind venture. The following are the aims of the year of Consecrated life: • To look to the past with gratitude • To live the present with passion • To embrace the future with Hope 1. TO LOOK TO THE PAST WITH GRATITUDE Our Institutes as heirs to a history rich in charisms All our Institutes are heirs to a history rich in charisms. At their origins we see the hand of God who, in his Spirit, calls certain individuals to follow Christ more closely, to translate the Gospel into a particular way of life, to read the signs of the times with the eyes of faith and to respond creatively to the needs of the Church. This initial experience then matured and developed, engaging new members in new geographic and cultural contexts, and giving rise to new ways of exercising the charism, new initiatives and expressions of apostolic charity. Like the seed which becomes a tree, each Institute grew and stretched out its branches.

Heirs of the Salesian Charism One educates in the measure that one loves. Pedagogists know this. Don Bosco used to say, “Education is a thing of the heart.” And he added that the Preventive System was based completely on the words of St. Paul: “Love is patient, love is kind; it suffers all things, hopes for all things, and bears all things.” Don Bosco was convinced that only God can teach us how to love as He does, and how to educate in the way He educates. Hence the importance of religion in the Preventive System of Don Bosco. How has the Salesian Charism matured and developed in our personal lives. We can further question ourselves about our commitment to vocation promotion in whatever ministry we may be involved, because every form of youth ministry is supposed to be vocational. The Pope is aware that we may encounter cases of inconsistency, in the way we have lived our (Salesian) charism, this is a result of human weakness and even at times a neglect of some essential aspects of the charism. Yet everything proves instructive and, taken as a whole, acts as a summons to conversion. May this Year of Consecrated Life be an occasion for confessing humbly, with immense confidence in the God who is Love (cf. 1 Jn 4:8), our own weakness and, in it, to experience the Lord’s merciful love.

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2. TO LIVE THE PRESENT WITH PASSION Grateful remembrance of the past leads us, as we listen attentively to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church today, to implement ever more fully the essential aspects of our consecrated life. The Gospel as the absolute rule From the beginnings of monasticism to the “new communities” of our own time, every form of consecrated life has been born of the Spirit’s call to follow Jesus as the Gospel teaches (cf.Perfectae Caritatis, 2). For the various founders and foundresses, the Gospel was the absolute rule, whereas every other rule was meant merely to be an expression of the Gospel and a means of living the Gospel to the full. For them, the ideal was Christ; they sought to be interiorly united to him and thus to be able to say with Saint Paul: “For to me to live is Christ” (Phil 1:21). Their vows were intended as a concrete expression of this passionate love. Allowing ourselves to be challenged by the Gospel Do we allow ourselves to be challenged by the Gospel? Is the Gospel truly the “manual” for our daily living and the decisions we are called to make? The Pope affirms that the Gospel is demanding: it demands to be lived radically and sincerely. It is not enough to read it (even though the reading and study of Scripture is essential), nor is it enough to meditate on it (which we do joyfully each day). Jesus asks us to practice it, to put his words into effect in our lives. Jesus is really supposed to be our first and only love, as we

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promised he would be when we professed our vows. Only if he is, will we be empowered to love, in truth and mercy, every person who crosses our path. For we will have learned from Jesus the meaning and practice of love. We will be able to love because we have his own heart. Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello shared in Jesus’ Compassion Don Bosco and Maria Domenica Mazzarello shared in Jesus’ own compassion when he saw the crowds who were like sheep without a shepherd. Like Jesus, who compassionately spoke his gracious word, healed the sick, gave bread to the hungry and offered his own life in sacrifice, so our founders and foundresses

...the Gospel is demanding: it demands to be lived radically and sincerely. sought in different ways to be the service of all those to whom the Spirit sent them. They did so by their prayers of intercession, their preaching of the Gospel, their works of catechesis, education, their service to the poor and the infirm. The creativity of charity is boundless; it is able to find countless new ways of bringing the newness of the Gospel to every culture and every corner of society. Challenge to examine our Fidelity One idea was foremost in Don Bosco’s mind when he educated the young: that ‘education can change the course of history.’ And so he spent all his life educating. Don Bosco describes an educator as a person consecrated to the good of his pupils; one

who is ready to undergo every inconvenience and make every sacrifice for the civic, moral, and scientific well-being of his pupils. The Year of Consecrated Life challenges us to examine our fidelity to the mission entrusted to us by our founder. Are our ministries, our works and our presence consonant with what the Spirit asked of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello? Are they suitable for carrying out today, in society and the Church, those same ministries and works? Do we have the same passion for our people, are we close to them to the point of sharing in their joys and sorrows, thus truly understanding their needs and helping to respond to them? “The same generosity and self-sacrifice which guided Don Bosco and Mother Maria Domenica Mazzarello must now inspire us, who are their spiritual sons and daughters, to keep alive the charism which, by the power of the same Spirit who awakened them, are constantly being enriched and adapted, while losing none of their unique character. It is up to us to place those charisms at the service of the Church and to work for the coming of Christ’s Kingdom in its fullness among his people especially the poorest youth”. Living the present with passion means becoming “experts in communion” Living the present with passion means becoming “experts in communion”, “witnesses and architects of the ‘plan for unity’ which is the crowning point of human history in God’s design”. In a polarized society, where different cultures experience difficulty in living alongside one another, where the powerless encounter oppression, where inequality abounds, we are called to offer a concrete model of community which, by acknowledging the dignity of each person and sharing

our respective gifts, makes it possible to live as brothers and sisters.

Consecrated Life & DB 200

Pope Francis is exhorting us to be men and women of communion. We are being called to have the courage to be present in the midst of conflict and tension, as a credible sign of the presence of the Spirit who inspires in human hearts a passion for all to be one (cf. Jn 17:21). Live the mysticism of encounter, which entails “the ability to hear, to listen to other people; the ability to seek together ways and means”. We are invited to live in the light of the loving relationship of the three divine Persons (cf. 1 Jn 4:8), the model for all interpersonal relationships. 3. TO EMBRACE THE FUTURE WITH HOPE This is the third aim of this Year. Here the Pope is bringing to our attention the difficulties which the various forms of consecrated life are currently “Be not afraid… for I am with you” experiencing: decreasing vocations and aging Our Educative mission can be frightening and members, particularly in the Western world; economic tiresome, at times leaving us without knowing what problems stemming from the global financial crisis; steps to take next. In these moments lets us hear issues of internationalization and globalization; the God’s encouraging words “Be not afraid… for I threats posed by relativism and a sense of isolation am with you”. Don Bosco’s words are also a source and social irrelevance. Pope Francis says, it is precisely “I have never come across a of encouragement: “I have amid these uncertainties, which we share with so many young person, however tough he may never come across a young person, however tough of our contemporaries, that seem to be, who doesn’t have a point of he may seem to be, who we are called to practice the doesn’t have a point of entry entry accessible to kindness”. virtue of hope, the fruit of our accessible to kindness”. Don Bosco always treated the faith in the Lord of history, who continues to tell us: young person with utmost sympathy. He’d say, it is “Be not afraid… for I am with you”(Jer 1:8). enough for me to know that you are young, for me to love you. A channel of communication would be Hope is not supposed to be based on statistics established between pupil and educator in this way. or accomplishments There would be an exchange of values and ideas as This hope is not supposed to be based on statistics or time progressed. This optimism, which realistically accomplishments, but on the One in whom we have takes into account every positive endowment that is put our trust ( 2 Tim 1:2), the One for whom “nothing in the young person, strives to create an integrated is impossible” (Lk 1:37). This is the hope which person by harmoniously cultivating values both does not disappoint; it is the hope which enables mundane and religious. In fact, this optimism takes consecrated life to keep writing its great history well under its care even the not-so good elements that into the future. It is to that future that we must always obsess the youth, and the effects of evil influences, look, conscious that the Holy Spirit spurs us on so that which they might have previously suffered. Reason, he can still do great things with us. So do not yield which is an important part of the Preventive System, to the temptation to see things in terms of numbers is the basis for this optimism. The good, present in and efficiency, and even less to trust in your own the young person, will eventually triumph and help strength. In scanning the horizons of your lives and them grow to maturity. the present moment, be watchful and alert. Together with Benedict XVI, Pope Francis urged us not to “join How can we look to the Past of our Salesian Charism the ranks of the prophets of doom who proclaim the with Gratitude? end or meaninglessness of the consecrated life in the How can we live our Salesian Charism with passion Church in our day; but rather, to clothe ourselves in today? Jesus Christ and put on the armour of light – as Saint How can we embrace the future of our Salesian Paul urged us (Rom. 13:11-14) – keeping awake and Charism with Hope? watchful”. Let us constantly set out anew, with trust in the Lord.

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POPE FRANCIS

49th World Communications Day

Communicating the Family:

A Privileged Place of Encounter with the Gift of Love Holy Father brings out various points regarding communication in the family

Dear Brothers and Sisters, ...it is in the context of the family that we first learn how to communicate. Focusing on this context can help to make our communication more authentic and humane, while helping us to view the family in a new perspective. We can draw inspiration from the Gospel passage which relates the visit of Mary to Elizabeth (Lk 1:39-56). “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit cried out in a loud voice and said, ‘Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb’.” This episode first shows us how communication is a dialogue intertwined with the language of the body. The first response to Mary’s greeting is given by the child, who leaps for joy in the womb of Elizabeth. Joy at meeting others, which is something we learn even before being born, is, in one sense, the archetype and symbol of every other form of communication. The womb which hosts us is the first “school” of communication, a place of listening and physical contact where we begin to familiarize ourselves with the outside world within a protected environment, with the reassuring sound of the mother’s heartbeat. This encounter between two persons, so intimately related while still distinct from each other, an encounter so full of promise, is our first experience of communication. It is an experience which we all share, since each of us was born of a mother. Even after we have come into the world, in some sense we are still in a “womb”, which is the family. A womb made up of various interrelated persons: the family is “where we learn to live with others despite our differences” (Evangelii Gaudium, 66)...It is this bond which is at the root of language, which in turn strengthens 12 | ZMB Salesian Newslink

the bond. We do not create our language; we can use it because we have received it. It is in the family that we learn to speak our “mother tongue”, the language of those who have gone before us... the family’s ability to communicate among its members and with others. More generally, it is the model for all communication.

Communication has a religious dimension as parents teach children how to pray The experience of this relationship which “precedes” us enables the family to become the setting in which the most basic form of communication, which is prayer, is handed down. When parents put their newborn children to sleep, they frequently entrust them to God... When the children are a little older, parents help them to recite some simple prayers..It was in our families that the majority of us learned the religious dimension of communication...

Communication creates closeness not only inside the family, but also outside with other families, thus, creating the Church as a family of families

In the family, we learn to embrace and support one another, to discern the meaning of facial expressions and moments of silence, to laugh and cry together with people who did not choose one other yet are so important to each other. This greatly helps us to understand the meaning of communication as recognizing and creating closeness. When we lessen distances by growing closer and accepting one another, we experience gratitude and joy...To “visit” is to open doors, not remaining closed in our little world, but rather going out to others. So too the family comes alive as it reaches beyond itself; families who do so communicate their message of life and communion, giving comfort and hope to more fragile families, and thus build up the Church herself, which is the family of families.

Communication promotes forgiveness and puts an end to hatred and violence & makes the family a school of forgiveness. More than anywhere else, the family is where we daily experience our own limits and those of others...A perfect family does not exist. We should not be fearful of imperfections, weakness

Church Today or even conflict, but rather learn how to deal with them constructively. The family, where we keep loving one another despite our limits and sins, thus becomes a school of forgiveness. Forgiveness is itself a process of communication. When contrition is expressed and accepted, it becomes possible to restore and rebuild the communication which broke down. A child who has learned in the family to listen to others, to speak respectfully and to express his or her view without negating that of others, will be a force for dialogue and reconciliation in society. When it comes to the challenges of communication, families who have children with one or more disabilities have much to teach us. A motor, sensory or mental limitation can be a reason for closing in on ourselves, but it can also become, thanks to the love of parents, siblings, and friends, an incentive to openness, sharing and ready communication with all...

Communication is a blessing when it creates fellowship In a world where people often curse, use foul language, speak badly of others, sow discord and poison our human environment by gossip, the family can teach us to understand communication as a blessing. In situations apparently dominated by hatred and violence, where families are separated by stone walls or the no less impenetrable walls of prejudice and resentment, ...it is only by blessing rather than cursing, by visiting rather than repelling, and by accepting rather than fighting, that we can break the spiral of evil, show that goodness is always possible, and educate our children to fellowship.

Media can help communication in the family. Use technology wisely; not to be dominated by it. Today the modern media, which are an essential part of life for young people in particular, can be both a help and a hindrance to communication in and between families. The media can be a hindrance if they become a way to avoid listening to others, to evade physical contact, to fill up every moment of silence and rest... The media can help communication when they enable people to ZMB Salesian Newslink | 13

share their stories, to stay in contact with distant friends, to thank others or to seek their forgiveness, and to open the door to new encounters. ...we will employ technology wisely, rather than letting ourselves be dominated by it. Here too, parents are the primary educators... The Christian community is called to help them in teaching children how to live in a media environment in a way consonant with the dignity of the human person and service of the common good.

SPIRITUALITY of the HEART Fr. Tresphord Chisanga SDB

The great challenge facing us today is to learn once again how to talk to one another, not simply how to generate and consume information... The family, in conclusion, ...is an environment in which we learn to communicate in an experience of closeness, a setting where communication takes place, a â&#x20AC;&#x153;communicating communityâ&#x20AC;?. The family is a community which provides help, which celebrates life and is fruitful. Once we realize this, we will once more be able to see how the family continues to be a rich human resource, as opposed to a problem or an institution in crisis...Families should be seen as a resource rather than as a problem for society. Families at their best actively communicate by theirwitness the beauty and the richness of the relationship between man and woman, and between parents and children. We are not fighting to defend the past. Rather, with patience and trust, we are working to build a better future for the world in which we live. 14 | ZMB Salesian Newslink

alesian spirituality as we know it today was shaped at different times by four great saints, two men and two women. The men were St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) and Don Bosco (18151888) and the women were St Jane de Chantal (1572-1641) and St Mary Mazzarello (1837-1881). It has also been deeply influenced by the courageous and joyful inputs of an increasing number of young people including St Dominic Savio (1842-1857) and Laura Vicuna (1891-1904). The Salesian tradition has produced many saints over the years since then. It is a spirituality that wants to let Jesus live in every aspect of life, relationships and work, and to do so in ways that are gentle, kind, compassionate, cheerful and reasonable. There is nothing complicated about Salesian spirituality; it is as simple as it is profound. From the start it was intended for everyone regardless of their walk in life. The first book St Francis de Sales wrote on spirituality, what in his day was called devotion, and was written for a young married woman with a young family. And Don Bosco wrote books on spirituality for the young. Ours is a way for anyone looking for a spiritual path rooted in the

Salesian Spirituality

intentional practice of love, gentleness of heart, a God of love, a loving Creator God who created a poverty of spirit, simplicity of life, kindness and cosmos that is itself a breath-taking icon of infinite peace, qualities that lead to freedom and are love. We see ourselves as part of that loving act of expressed in cheerful good humour regardless of creation and we praise and honour God because we how a day or a situation may be. Why? Because see ourselves as the work of God’s hands and grace. God is lovingly present even in the dark, the Each one of us has been wonderfully restored in cold and the rain. Such qualities are gifts of the Christ. More: we are awesomely and wonderfully Holy Spirit but they are also the roots of Salesian made (Psalm 139:14) and so is everyone we meet self-discipline and ethical practice. Those on along the way regardless of their condition or state the Salesian path come to know that everything in life. Because we know that we are part of God’s in creation reveals God; creation our love for God everything is God directed; Each moment is an opportunity finds practical expression everything bears a trace of to express our intimacy with in our active care for the God. That was one reason environment in which we why St Dominic Savio, God in prayer and in service live and for all the living himself a young teenager, beings that share it with us. was able to tell a new boy to Don Bosco’s outreach, “Here we make holiness consist in being cheerful.” Salesians try to live fully in the moment knowing Salesian spirituality is above all a spirituality of the heart that reaches out to people in practical lifesupporting and life-enhancing ways, especially to the young, and among them those most at risk. It is at once contemplative and active. Salesian spirituality always seeks to recognise and uphold the dignity and respect due to all living beings. Anything less is considered a failure of understanding, a failure of spirit and heart. Tendencies to blame and exclude are recognised for what they are and are put aside in favour of attitudes of welcome and hospitality. Joy, like compassion and a gentle spirit, is intentional. There is no place here for the regressive ways of repression and violence, no place for toxic harshness or the arrogant selfishness of power. Salesians believe that true spirituality plants seeds of integrity, care, compassion, kindness and happiness in the world and for the world. Ours is

that every moment is full of opportunities to let Jesus live, to serve divine love and bring its touch to the world. This is our call, the call of the heart. The challenge is to engage with the ordinary things of everyday with joyful attention because the traces of God are there. Each moment is an opportunity to express our intimacy with God in prayer and in service. Wherever you are, no matter how busy you are, no matter the situation or the mood, God is there and prayer can be made flesh. Because we are realists we know we meet God in the messiness of life: there is no other place. It is in the messiness we experience the felt presence of the risen Christ. Isn’t that wonderful!

That is why Salesian prayer and meditation tends to be simple and straightforward. Salesian prayer is ever and always the expression of an open heart ready to build bridges of love to God, to honour and praise God in the moment. It is always a matter of heart and the intuitions of compassionate attention that surface in the deep stillness of moments given to God. Salesian prayer is ever ready to reflect on the challenges of life and discern God’s call to compassionate service. It is ever ready to open the scriptures and take them to heart. Salesian prayer loves the Eucharistic presence of Jesus in the world. It is open to Mary as the Help of Christians, open to the faith community and its liturgy, and open to contemplative action in and for the world. Most of all it is open to the young! Jesus says, Learn from me for I am gentle and humble of heart (Matthew 11:29-30). Let gentleness confound a violent world! Let Jesus live! ZMB Salesian Newslink | 15

Consecrated Life, Today

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Prof. Dr. A. Pushparajan

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oy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus”- the very opening words of the Evangelii Gaudium. This joy is much more applicable to consecrated life. These words are not meant to be taken simply as a ‘statement of fact’, but as a conclusion, drawn from two basic data of our faith: (a) ‘Jesus has died for our sins and forgiven our sins through his atonement’, and (b) With the risen Jesus the joy constantly is born anew. Hence “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus”. The Author analyzes both the premises, each in a separate section, from the standpoint of (a) its meaning, (b) impediment and (c) the way out of the danger. Thus there are two distinct parts corresponding to the two basic data of our faith. Then there is the third and final part devoted to practical tips, all culled from the same Apostolic Letter, Evangelii Gaudium.

PART 1. JESUS’ ATONEMENT GRANTING US ‘FREEDOM FROM SIN’

1.1 MEANING

One of the basic data of our faith is that Jesus, through his death, has ‘forgiven our sins’ and granted us ‘freedom from sin’. But how do we understand this datum of faith? The common understanding of the atonement theory is a sort of ‘substitution theory’ and it is based upon the following facts: Already during his earthly life Jesus went about forgiving sins of even the most despised people and showed his power and authority to forgive sins. Finally, by voluntary sufferings and sacrificial death on the cross, he has atoned for our sins reconciled the whole humanity: “Jesus Christ the first to be raised from the dead… loves us and by his sacrificial death freed us from sins” (Rev 1:5). “But now in union with Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the sacrificial death of Christ.” (Eph. 2: 13). We, the Christians in particular are privileged to enjoy the fruit of his atonement through the sacraments and particularly Reconciliation.

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However a great spiritual seeker like Mahatma Gandhi gives a different interpretation. When he was in South Africa, he used to take part in the prayer meetings with his fellow workers who were all Christians. On those occasions he used to make an examination of conscience very scrupulously. Looking at this, one of the Plymouth Brethren confronted him thus: “From what you say it appears that you must be brooding over your transgressions every moment of your life, always mending them and atoning for them. You can never have peace and be joyful in this way”. In contrast, “Look at the beauty of our religion. As we believe in the atonement of Jesus, our own sins do not bind us. Sin we must. It is impossible to live in this world sinless. And therefore Jesus suffered and atoned for all the sins of mankind. Only he who accepts his great redemption can have eternal peace and real joy”. But Gandhi’s reply was: “If that was the Christianity acknowledged by all Christians, then I cannot accept it. I do not seek redemption from the consequences of my sin. I seek to be redeemed from sin itself or from the very thought of sin. Until I have attained that end, I shall be content to be restless.” (Autobiography II: 11) In fact, Gandhi later commented that “asking for forgiveness means that we should not sin again and the grant of forgiveness means that we would have power to resist all temptation. It is only after a persistent, untiring effort that God comes to our rescue as a wall of protection and there is a growing conscience that we shall not sin.” (The Message, 48). It is not like the forgiveness that a criminal prays for and gets from and higher official in government office. Rather it is like the mercy petition of murderer who is convicted with life-sentence, implying that he would never commit that brutal act again. If at all his petition is considered by the

President of the country, he needs to be assured of the criminal’s power to resist all temptations. Only then the grant will be to change life sentence into life imprisonment. So it is only with ceaseless striving for purification that the grace of God is pledged to us to such an extent that we become incapable of sin. “So long as there is a single evil thought coming to our mind, we must conclude that there is not complete forgiveness or grace”. (The Message 4) 1.2 A TEMPTATION As against the ceaseless effort required for freedom from sin, there is ‘distorted idea of self ’ which is really danger to obtaining the joy of the Gospel. It is none other than the ‘covetous heart’ that is involved in ‘the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures and a blunted conscience’. “When our interior life is caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor and God’s voice is no longer heard. As a result then the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades. (EG 2) The root cause of this danger, I believe, is the influence of some concepts of the humanist ideology upon the Religious too. The present trend seems to clamour for human fulfilment: “Whatever is ‘natural’ needs to be fulfilled. The bodily instincts are not to be suppressed, much less repressed”. Gandhi’s rejoinder is this: “No word seems to be more abused today than the word ‘natural’. People think that as eating, drinking are natural to man, even so is anger and sex. But this was aberration of human reason. Indeed if we were to put man in the same category as the brute, many things could be proved to come under the description ‘natural’. But they belong to two different species, and therefore not

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everything that is natural to the brute is natural to man.” The main point of difference between the two species lies in this that the end or aim of humans is realization of God. Therefore even the functions of eating and drinking can be natural only within certain limits. One will not eat or drink for the sake of enjoyment, but solely for sustaining the body. The duty of the humans is not to develop all their functions to perfection, but only the God-ward faculties to perfection and to suppress completely those of a contrary tendency” (In Search I, pp.132-133). Man is made in the image of God. That some of us do not recognize that status of ours, makes no difference, except that then we do not get the benefit of the status. So, such functions as eating, drinking and sexual gratification cannot be considered as natural as brutes’ natural functions. Eating for pleasure, for the gratification of the palate is not natural to man. But eating to live is natural. And so is the sexual act. Here Gandhi’s definition of human nature is relevant. As against the western philosophers’ definition of human nature that it “is not composed merely of two components: ‘rationality and animality’, Gandhi defines it in terms of three components. There is the divine spark within, or the indwelling Spirit along with the ‘A’ and “R’ in human beings. It is this third principle which needs to be dominant in us, governing the other two. Only when both our animal appetites and rationality are functioning with limits, under the dictates of the Spirit within us, we attain the fullest truth of our being. We cannot allow ourselves to be guided merely by animal appetites or reason on the pretext of being ‘natural’. 1.3 THE REMEDY Gandhi insists that we have to go beyond the commonly accepted definition that human being is rational animal. For, (1) if the R is to be the distinguishing mark of human nature then the most rationalist or intelligent person would be the best of human

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persons. But the worst criminal is normally the most intelligent. (2) ‘R’ is the most precarious faculty. It can support either ‘A’ or the ‘S’. If you are keen on listening to the dictates of the Indwelling spirit, and thereby make your R subservient to your Spirit in you, then the ‘A’ becomes such a docile dog to you then the divine spark within you goes on shining more and more effulgent. That is precisely the meaning of being a man of God.

• But when R begins to support the animality in us say the sense of palate, you may find new ways of feeding like the vomitorium of the Romans, and you may increase only the unwanted weight of the body. Can you ask: looking at your tummy, “Are you my master or am I your master?” • If your R is allowed to support the ‘A’ in you beyond limits, then there is also the risk of making your S dormant and inactive. A time comes when you have allowed the A to be dominant in you to such an extent that your S is completely stifled and the dictates of the conscience are totally silenced. • By this one lowers oneself not merely to the animal level but from below the animal level, That is the stage of demon. • The soul that was destined to see God is made unable to see God any more. That is actually negation of your real self, and selfcondemnation, religiously called the “wrath of God”. • That is really the import of our Lord’s dictum: “All sins will be forgiven except the sin against the Spirit” (Mk.3.28).

In sum, What is required then is, you always try to keep the indwelling spirit so dominant that your R and A become automatically subservient to your higher goals of striving after perfection and serving the society. In this light we will understand better the pregnant words of the Pope: “We become fully human when we become more than human, when we let God bring us beyond ourselves in order to attain the fullest truth of our being.” (EG 8).

PART 2. WITH THE RISEN CHRIST THE “JOY IS BEING BORN ANEW CONSTANTLY” 2.1 UNDERSTANDING OF THE RISEN LORD The heart of evangelization is ever the same: crucified and risen Christ...is the “eternal Gospel” (Rev 14:6). He “is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb 13:8). “…By his coming, Christ brought with him all newness. With this newness he is always able to renew our lives and our communities, and even if the Christian message has known periods of darkness and ecclesial weakness, it will never grow old. (EG11).

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real peace is established we will not need demonstrations, but it will be echoed in our life, not only in individual life, but in corporate life. Then we shall say that Christ is born. That to me is the real meaning of the verse we have sung. Then we will not think of a particular day in the year as that of the birth of Christ, but as an ever-recurring event which can be enacted in every life” (In Search III, pp. 316-).

2.2. THE DANGER: THE CONSUMERISTIC TENDENCIES The temptation here is to act “as if we could only be happy if a thousand conditions were met,” especially “Resurrection” from the Isenheim Altarpiece (ca. 1515) But how do we understand the because we Resurrection? Commonly the are living in emphasis has been on historicity of the event. We “a technological society” (EG 7) would even boast of the fact of Jesus’ resurrection and “being carried away by the as unique to Christianity, compared with other numerous distractions offered by religious founders. contemporary society, its numerous forms of social organization and its • If historicity of Jesus and his resurrection limitless possibilities of production were to be the only concern of Christian preaching and consumption. For they all lead then it should be the job of University professors, to alienation at every level as they in the Department of History. What is needed, make it more difficult to offer the therefore, is to to the source, the gift of self and to establish solidarity original freshness of the Gospel and it now. between people” (EG 196). “Whenever we make the effort to return to the source and to recover the original freshness of the The consumerist culture is so Gospel, new avenues arise, new paths of creativity prevalent that the religious seem open up, … with new meaning for today’s world. to have fallen prey to it because of Every form of authentic evangelization is always the accessibility of a good amount “new”(EG11). of ‘easy money’ (not earned through sweat and labour). Personally they • This is precisely what Gandhi also said are too naive and goody goody to nearly a century ago: “It would be a poor comfort resist the media propaganda. Many to the world, if it had to depend upon a historical religious seem to have taken to using God who died 2,000 years ago. God did not bear of highly costly toilet soap, artificial the Cross only 1900 years ago, but he bears it today, scents, and body sprays, use of the and he dies and is resurrected from day to day. Do latest gadgets, smart phones with not then preach about the God of history, but show all sorts of internet facilities, costly him as he lives today through you” (The Message, brand of liquor, soft-shoes etc. 37-38). In such a context where do we see the value in simplicity of life style, or who is to practice the vow • On another occasion when he delivered of voluntary poverty? Christmas Message to some Missionaries Gandhi declared: “Though we sang ‘All glory to God on One may argue that after all these are all ‘nonhigh and on earth be peace’ there seems to be today religious. They are not irreligious and that they neither glory to God nor peace on earth.... When

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are not really sinful, why not allow us to indulge in these little pleasures of the world, given the fact that we have made a big sacrifice of the family life. First of all it is wrong to assume that family life is all rosy and pleasure ridden. Secondly the so called non-religious is not that neutral as it appears to be. In fact the ‘non-religious’ consumerism is more dangerous than the blatantly ‘irreligious’. At least in the case of the blatantly irreligious instances one knows that it is to be shunned and so one will automatically show a repulsive response to it, hope of safeguarding one’s soul is much greater. A frog in the lukewarm water will suffer a slow but definite death– as against frog fallen into a hot water basin, which will jump out spontaneously and be saved. By being consumeristic, you are gradually drawn away from higher values of life and a time comes, it is beyond your capacity to regain your status as man of God. You are too worldly to take a roundabout turn. You are dragged down to such depth of ungodly ways that it is very difficult for one to turn even. 2.3. THE WAY OUT AS SUGGESTED IN THE EVENGELII GAUDIUM • Distinguish the joy from pleasure: “technological society has succeeded in multiplying occasions of pleasure, yet has found it very difficult to engender joy” (EG 7) • Learn “the most beautiful and natural expressions of joy” from among the poor and the “real joy shown by the professionals who, even amidst pressing obligations, preserve a heart full of faith in detachment and simplicity (EG 7). • How come the so called consecrated people allow themselves to be lukewarm and unaccountable? If one “discovers the profound law of reality: that life is attained and matures in the measure that it is offered up in order to give life to others” and that this is precisely what mission means”, then, “an evangelizer must never look like someone who has just come back from a funeral!” (EG 10) •The Pope is realistic enough to “realize that joy is not expressed the same way at all times in life, especially at moments of great difficulty”. He sympathetically “understands the grief of people who have to endure great suffering” (EG 6). But he insists upon this point: It is solely the encounter – or renewed encounter – which blossoms into an enriching friendship that can liberate us from our narrowness and self-absorption and restore meaning to our life. (EG 8)

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In brief, What is needed is to “let the joy of faith slowly revive as a quiet yet firm trust, even amid the greatest distress” (EG 6) by sustaining a deep awareness that ‘Jesus walks with us, speaks to us, breathes with us and works with us and is alive with us (EG 266) and resisting the temptation that we can get joy only if thousands conditions are met. PART 3. PRACTICAL STEPS (1) Primacy be given to God “… the primacy always belongs to God, who has called us to cooperate with him and who leads us on by the power of his Spirit. The real newness is the newness which God himself mysteriously brings about and inspires, provokes, guides and accompanies in a thousand ways...God asks everything of us, yet at the same time he offers everything to us” (EG12). (2) Be Attuned to the Indwelling Spirit The God we believe is not a deistic God or too transcendent being. He is indwelling in us. So, “we need to be “Spirit-filled evangelizers”, meaning “evangelizers who are fearlessly open to the working of the Holy Spirit” (EG 259). Something is said to be “spirited” if it has some interior impulse which encourages, motivates, nourishes and gives meaning to our individual and communal activity. So also, a spirit-filled evangelization is there when the fire of the Holy Spirit burns in our hearts and we are guided by the Holy Spirit (EG 261). It implies listening to the dictates of the Spirit even in the minutest details of life and thereby keep your Spirit vibrant. (3) Encountering Jesus the supreme Model of Perfection This alone can take away our selfishness. For, Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction. It is not a onetime event. A renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, is needed. Or at least an openness to letting him encounter us unfailingly each day. (EG 3). (4) Rootedness in Prayer life It is only by being rooted in prayer that we could give primacy to God, be attuned to the Spirit, and encounter the Risen Jesus and sustain our relationship with him. “Without prayer all our activity risks being fruitless and our message empty”

(EG 259). Without prolonged moments of adoration, of prayerful encounter with the word, of sincere conversation with the Lord; we lose energy as a result of weariness and difficulties, and our fervour dies out (EG 262). We need to implore his grace daily, asking him to open our cold hearts and shake up our lukewarm and superficial existence. Standing before him with open hearts, letting him look at us, we see that gaze of love which Nathaniel glimpsed on the day when Jesus said to him: “I saw you under the fig tree” (Jn 1:48). How good it is to stand before a crucifix, or on our knees before the Blessed Sacrament, and simply to be in his presence! (EG 264). (5) ‘Contemplative spirit’ A contemplative spirit alone can give an enriching personal Friendship with the Risen Jesus. For this the Pope suggests that we need to read the Gospels with the contemplative spirit and sustain the savouring of Christ’s friendship and his message. “The best incentive for sharing the Gospel comes from contemplating it with love, lingering over its pages and reading it with the heart”. It help us to realize ever anew that we have been entrusted with a treasure which makes us more human and helps us to lead a new life. There is nothing more precious which we can give to others (EG 264). (6) Meaningful Participation in Liturgy “The Church evangelizes and is herself evangelized through the beauty of the liturgy, which is both a celebration of the task of evangelization and the source of her renewed self-giving” (EG 24). This is copiously made available to the religious. But the question is: is it purely as a matter of routine that we participate in the liturgical practices? We need to take the liturgical seasons seriously; so that re birthing ourselves and re-living the Christ event: birth, death and resurrection should be part of us. (7) Commitment to active life as well “There is always the risk of making some moments of prayer an excuse for not offering one’s life in mission”. So, quoting Pope John Paul II, EG: “we must reject the temptation to offer a privatized

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and individualistic spirituality which ill accords with the demands of charity, to say nothing of the implications of the incarnation” (EG 262). So be cautions against getting too involved merely in prayer life. “A privatized lifestyle can lead Christians to take refuge in some false forms of spirituality”. It is as an antidote to such a one-sided spirituality that the Pope urges evangelizers to “pray and work” and to cultivate an interior space which can give a Christian meaning to commitment and activity (EG262).

In brief, • Our “mission is at once a passion for Jesus and a passion for his people” (EG 268) • We “enter fully into the fabric of society, sharing the lives of all, listening to their concerns, helping them materially and spiritually in their needs, rejoicing with those who rejoice, weeping with those who weep; arm in arm with others, we are committed to building a new world (EG 269). TO CONCLUDE It is high time the Consecrated Religious got at the core of Christian message: the gospel of Joy. For this first they need to understand the two data of uniqueness of Christianity in its proper interpretation: true meaning of the atonement as well as the resurrection of our Lord Jesus and relive them today in our day to day life. Secondly they need to be careful about those factors that endanger their integrity of life namely distorted self, and consumeristic influences of contemporary society. Thirdly they ought to take the remedial steps so as not to fall into dangers. These three step striving is the only way for transform themselves and become effective witness so as to wake up the world around. As an aid to attain the desired goal, they may examine how far they have been practicing the practical tips mentioned above and make a firm resolve to revive the original freshness of the Gospel in their life so as to make their life meaningful both to themselves and the society.

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Deacon John Musonda Deacon Martin Nguyen Deacon Simbarashe Muza These three deacons belong to ZMB Province. They study theology in Don Bosco Theological College, Utume, Nairobi, Kenya. At the end of the third year of Theology, they are ordained Deacons by The Right Rev. Rotich, Rt. Bishop of Armed Forces, on 16 May 2015.

WHO IS A DEACON?

Deacon is a person who is ordained. He participates in the Sacrament of Holy Orders. He shares in the ministry of Priests and Bishops, in terms of preserving the communion of the church in the faith of the Apostles. So Deacon serves in many capacities to assist in the formation of the lay faithful, so that they can partake in their role in the life and the mission of the Church. 22 22 ||ZMB ZMBSalesian SalesianNewslink Newslink

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In the Catholic Church, the diaconate is the first of three ranks in ordained ministry. Deacons preparing for the priesthood are transitional deacons. Those not planning to be ordained priests are called permanent deacons. The fundamental nature of the deacon is that of a servant, especially to those whom the bishop or priest does not have the time to serve. Deacons have a different function in the Church, working from within the world to bring the gospel to the

Inspiration

Bro. David Yamikani Njolo SDB

ord, grant me the zeal and the desire to preach You and You alone. Lord, uproot from me the desire to preach myself at the cost of preaching You. Lord, uproot from me the desire to seek to be remembered after preaching You. Instead, Lord, grant me the serenity and the consolation of being remembered by You, after preaching You who is the “Perfect Preacher Par Excellence” Grant me, the serenity and consolation of not being remembered, nor liked and hardly even persecuted because of preaching You who is the “Ultimate Truth” Grant me, the gift of grace to preach You always by leading, drawing and pointing others to You and not to myself Lord grant that, in this Vocation of preaching You, may I always decrease and may you always increase more and more each day so that people may see more and more of the “Increased” You in the more and more “decreased” me who is but, a mere Servant- Preacher with a great task of pointing others to You. Above all grant me the grace to preach You more with the witness of my life than merely by my lips. Amen.

Based on the inspiration from John 3, 30.

A PRAYER OF AN “ABASED SERVANT-PREACHER”

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Salesian Wellbeing

difficult situation, we need to accompany them in their teenage, in their personal quest, their challenges, their questions about life and their choices in life.

Bro. Brian Mukuka SDB

“O

h, I need a companion, a friend, a teacher and a father, to be my guide so that I can make right choices or decisions.” This is the cry of many young people today. Article 26, (Salesian Constitution) states, that, “young people are at the age when they must make basic life choices which affect the future of the society and the church.” I believe, the need to be accompanied is natural for all humanity because we are all contingent rational beings. The need for the other is so inevitable in our journey. That is why Jesus sent the disciples two by two, while commissioning them to preach the good news. (Luke 10:1-3). It is so evident, as we witness, that most young people seem to live without a specific goal, a dream or a direction 24 | ZMB Salesian Newslink

in life. Some do things just for the sake of doing it; aimlessly going through the routine of studying; working for the sake of getting meagre money for drinking bear; participating in liturgy without getting the crux of in-depth spirituality. We may even find many young ones roaming in the streets saying “ndelombako ulupiya” (am asking for money). This makes the elders to perceive the youths with a very bitter negativity. Such blatant actions of the youth of today is for us Salesians, a clarion call to embrace them in accompaniment. All that they need is someone to be at their side as a father, a teacher and a friend. As our father Don Bosco who gave himself totally for the welfare of young people stated, “for you I study, for you I work, for you I live, for you I am ready even to give my life,” (Art 14) we should acquire a pastoral zeal. We should always long to be with the young people, with Don Bosco’s own mentality in expressing a true feeling, “you are young, that is enough for me to love you.” Fr. Artime, our Rector Major, at the closing of GC27 emphasized that as evangelizers our aim is to accompany the young people so that in freedom they can encounter the Lord Jesus. In this formidably

As individual Salesians, we need to respond to the young people`s cry. To be with them side by side in every field of their life to tell them that they still can forge ahead despite their shortcomings and sinfulness, their life challenges and struggles, is the pastoral need today. Only this will mark a confirmation that God still loves the young more and more. It is our mission to lead the young people to Christ by making them good Christians and honest citizens. This is the only way for us to be the witnesses of the love of God. The glory of God is in human fully alive, and the glory of Don Bosco is in young people fully happy. “…For you I am ready even to give up my life”- Don Bosco.

Feature Article

Vocation of Christian Mother Fr. Lazar Arasu SDB

Salesian Missionary in Uganda

“When you were born I consecrated you to our Blessed Mother Mary, when you began your studies I asked you to be devoted to her and now as you enter the seminary I recommend you to be friendly with those who are devoted to her.” These are the pious words of Margaret Occhiena, the mother of St. John Bosco, the Patron of youth. She was declared a Venerable by Pope St. John Paul II. It is the first step in the process of sainthood recognizing the person’s heroic practice of Christian virtues. God willing she would be canonised a Saint in the future and inspire Christian mothers. Once I happened to meet a mother of few children who was separated from her husband largely out of her neglect. With a bit of resentment I burst out, “If you cannot be a good wife at least try to be a good mother.” Her children underwent all sorts of problems due to her separation with her husband. Later on calmly I reflected and it occurred to me that it is not possible to be a “good” mother when

Becoming and being a mother has to be a conscious choice and the decision has to be constantly renewed daily one has failed to be a good spouse. Children are the fruit of love and care couple enjoy as spouses. The love and care we pass on to our children are only the extension of the love we have had with our spouses. This makes our motherhood and fatherhood worth living and satisfies our family life. We can confidently say that the biological conceiving and birthing of a child doesn’t automatically make a woman a mother in the true sense of the word. We have seen many instances where mothers have abandoned their breast feeding children. Babies’ homes and orphanages are forced to care for them. Becoming and being a mother has to be a conscious choice and the decision has to be constantly ZMB Salesian Newslink | 25

Feature Article

renewed daily. It has to be a happy choice and the way the children are brought up will manifest the happy life of a mother. Like our Blessed Mother Mary, a mother is someone who says yes to the call to raise children with love. The vocation and the primary role of a mother is to nurture and protect her children. She helps to form their values and is a major influence on their emotional and spiritual development. The instruction in the Rite of Baptism in the Catholic Church tells parents that they are the first and primary educators of their children in the faith. Being a parent — a mother — is an enormous gift and responsibility.

Later on having witnessed the good works that the son was doing for the poor youth, Mama Margaret opted to come and help him in his mission. She was not only a mother to her son Bosco, but she was a mother and guide to numerous young people. St. John Bosco would later in life recognize that his mother was an instrument in founding the congregation and laid a good foundation for his educational methods. It was quite clear that she didn’t restrict herself to being just the cook and washing lady; the young people and the first missionaries had complete trust in her and cherished her affection. In the words of Fr. Pascual Chávez the former Superior General of the Salesians, ‘Such a motherly and feminine presence is a unique fact in the history of founders and teaching motherhood Congregations’.

We all know the importance The vocation of of mothers’ examples and lessons in life, be it in is a call to sanctity just as a Often our mothers serve mundane things of daily life or intellectual or spiritual vocation to the priesthood or as good conscience to us. The words and deeds of matters. A mother teaches religious life is mothers constantly ring a her children more through bell in our mind on what is her example than words and lectures. As children good and what is bad. Examples of our mothers are good imitators they learn from mothers’ come handy when we are looking for models deeds right from their infancy. A good mother to follow and come as guide in our moments of knows how to combine lessons of life with the decision making. My mother’s words, “It needs tender loving care that she offers. Not a few saints many years to get a good name, but it needs only attribute the great contribution their mothers a few moments to get a bad name.” This little played in the progress of their virtuous life. We saying has gone deep into my mind and heart. can cite as examples St. Monica with her son St. As a writer, St. John Bosco often Augustine, mother of St. Aloysius consulted and sought her approval. Gonzaga, mother (and father) He said, “How often, to make of St. Theresa of Child Jesus, and sure what I had written would be others. understood by people, I read it to my mother before getting it printed!” Mama Margaret personally

prepared her son St. John Bosco The vocation of motherhood is a to receive Holy Communion. The call to sanctity just as a vocation to day of First Holy Communion was the priesthood or religious life is. As a great feast for both of them. After ministers of the Church are involved making confession herself, she in the pastoral care of the flock, asked her son to go for confession. mothers are involved in the “pastoral Later every month she reminded care” of their children round the her son if he made his confession. clock. It is a 24/7 job. While it is true Blessed Mama Margaret On the day of his ordination the as St. Paul says, the married person does not have saintly mother said to him, “Remember John, to a heart reserved for singular devotion to God, begin to say Mass is to begin to suffer! Son, take caring for husband and children is in itself a care of the poor and be poor yourself. If ever you path to holiness. The number of saints who were become a rich priest I will never visit you. I prefer mothers is too many to enumerate. However, to have a son who is a poor farmer than a son who the fact that the Blessed Mother Mary lived and is a rich priest.” 26 | ZMB Salesian Newslink

sanctified this vocation is enough to demonstrate its greatness. Motherhood is neither a right nor a decision. Rather it is a gift bestowed by the Author of Life on those whom He chooses to bless. We often forget this great truth amidst the challenges of modern times. Motherhood is certainly not a vocation without trials, tribulation or suffering. The act of delivering a child could be a rebirth of a mother herself. Mothers often undergo agonizing pain giving new life; she too gains a new life—new perspective in life, meaning to her existence, more so a new life to care for and a new time-table to be followed in the family. In a like manner, the vocation of motherhood offers a uniquely designed road to sanctification beset with roses and thorns along the way. However the glory and happiness offered at the end of the journey far outweighs the difficulties of the path. Basing on the scriptures, Mary, the mother of Jesus is the best example of a woman who sanctified herself upon becoming a mother. The moment Mary consented to God’s choice of her becoming the mother of His Son she underwent trails after trails for the YES she said to God. Every trail of hers was only another opportunity to renew her commitment to God.

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Mansa-ZAMBIA PTA Executives for the year 2015. At the end of the meeting, Fr Javier Barrientos, the acting School Manager gave the final blessing and thus concluded the first general meeting.

10/04/2015 | FIRST GENERAL PTA MEETING The Management of Don Bosco Secondary School conducted the First General PTA Meeting for the year 2015. Some 300 parents turned up for this meeting; The Acting School Manager, Fr Javier Barrientos, and the School Deputy Head, Mrs. Daka and the Head of Departments were present. The construction of the two science labs which enabled the school to be categorised as Examination Centre was reported as the achievement of 2014, by the Chairperson of PTA. Mrs. Daka presented the school report. The purchase of the school bus and the construction of boarding facilities are the challenges for the coming year. The Guest of Honor, Mr Mwamba conducted the election of the new

21-22/03/2015 | MANSA DISTRICT INTER SCHOOL SPORTS COMPETITION. 40 Pupils have represented Don Bosco Secondary School in the Inter-School Sports Competition organised at the District Level. The event took place at Mansa Secondary School in Mansa. The pupils were trained and guided by teachers Mumba, Muluka, Chileba and Br Francois Rakotomalala SDB. The sports competition lasted for two days and the school came out in the 6th position. 10 pupils from Don Bosco Secondary School were selected to represent Mansa District at the Provincial level at the Games organised in Samfya. Appreciation for pupils for their participation in the sports event.

The evangelist Luke summarizes her prayerful resignation to God as ‘Mary treasured all these things in her heart and pondered over them’, and he further summarized the upbringing of Jesus as, ‘Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favour with God and man’ (Luke 2: 51-52). ZMB Salesian Newslink | 27 ZMB Salesian Newslink | 27

Reflection

Bro. Moses Chilambe SDB

mpty tomb - always disturbs me. This brings me the very fact that Jesus has risen. When people searched for him in his tomb, they found it empty. Where do I search Jesus from? If I search in the tomb, I am afraid, will it stand still empty. The consolation is that he rose once and for all. He died for me and consequently, resurrected on the third day; this is an act of love. When Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to many (1 Cor. 15,6) and those who witnessed his resurrection did not merely stay in Jerusalem, but they went out to different places to share their experience with the others. Here, I question myself. Have I ever truly encountered the risen Lord? I doubt. If so, what am I going to share? For one cannot give what he/she doesn’t possess. Nonetheless, God reveals Himself to me in different walks of my life and at different situations. Am I ready to encounter that risen Lord in my Life? The EMPTY TOMB gives me a very specific answer.

Pondering over EMPTY TOMB brings a lot of wisdom and enlightenment. With my subjective interpretation, I try to see the importance of the Empty Tomb. The tomb became empty because of the ressurection of Jesus; He came away from the stillness of being dead inside that tomb. It is a passage from death to everlasting life; a passage from bondage to freedom; a movement from darkness to light. This movement is also seen in my life. What I am now is not what I was in the past. My future will not be what I am now. A state of flux is seen and I am in the process of becoming. My choices of today contributes to my better ‘becoming.’ If I choose, for example, to embrace the values of Christ, for sure, I will become something new. In that bargain of making better choices, I shed something of my old self; that is nothing but creating an empty tomb in my life. This self-emptying must be carried out moment to moment. Leaving the empty tomb behind should become a regular process. Jesus continues to rise with us in our effort to make the tomb empty. I take part in Jesus’ own ressurection, even during my life time. Let us always try to leave our empty tombs behind and become new creations every now and then.

THE EMPTY TOMB

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Complementarity

THANKS for the

Sr.Chanda Nsofwa FMA

M YS T E RY O F T H E WOM A N A T

s St. John Paul II wrote in his apostolic letter on the Dignity and Vocation of Women “Mulieris Dignitatem,” This “dialogue” really needs to begin with a word of thanks.

he church “desires to give thanks to the most holy Trinity for the `mystery of woman’ and for every woman —for all that constitutes the eternal measure of her feminine dignity, for the `great works of God,’ which throughout human history have been accomplished in and through her” (No. 31).

his word of thanks to the Lord for his mysterious plan regarding the vocation and mission of women in the world is at the same time a concrete and direct word of thanks to women, to every woman, for all that they represent in the life of humanity.

hank you, women who are mothers! You have sheltered human beings within yourselves in a unique experience of joy and travail. This experience makes you become God’s own smile upon the newborn child, the one who guides your child’s first steps, who helps it to grow and who is the anchor as the child makes its way along the journey of life.

T T T

hank you, women who are wives! You irrevocably join your future to that of your husbands in a relationship of mutual giving at the service of love and life. hank you, women who are daughters and women who are sisters! Into the heart of the family, and then of all society, you bring the richness of your sensitivity, your intuitiveness, your generosity and fidelity.

hank you, women who work!You are present and active in every area of life —social, economic, cultural, artistic and political. In this way you make an indispensable contribution to the growth of a culture which unites reason and feeling, to a model of life ever open to the sense of “mystery,” to the establishment of economic and political structures ever more worthy of humanity. ZMB Salesian Newslink | 29

hank you, consecrated women! Following the example of the greatest of women, the mother of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word, you open yourselves with obedience and fidelity to the gift of God’s love. You help the church and all mankind to experience a “spousal” relationship to God, one which magnificently expresses the fellowship which God wishes to establish with his creatures.

hank you, every woman, for the simple fact of being a woman! Through the insight which is so much a part of your womanhood you enrich the world’s understanding and help to make human relations more honest and authentic. (Extract from the Letter of St. John Paul II to women, dated June 29 and released July 10, 1995 at the Vatican).

“Teenage pregnancy”

Days, weeks, month and years passed by I wonder every second, minute, hour Why we experience drastic change All with teenage pregnancy What we see are school drop out Baby without daddies Life in dark streets A child giving birth to a baby This is madness Oh beloved teenagers Why do you settle for a baby machine? Oh children of mama Africa Why do you throw your pride away? The pride of greatness is responsibility Education is the key to success Have bigger dream and go for it Education is the most powerful weapon Which you will use anytime -Nicky (Daniel K), Rundu, Namibia 30 | ZMB Salesian Newslink

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Rundu -NAMIBIA

22/11/2014 | TALENT SHOW The Youth Talent Show held at Don Bosco Youth Centre was under the theme “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Mostly 200 youths from different parishes in Rundu participated. Water of Life choir opened the day with their song. Fr. Marius, the youth chaplain gave a gospel reflection and welcomed the gathering. Different talents which were showcased by youth included Dance, Cracking Joke, Drama, Poem Recitals, Bible Quiz, Clash of the Choirs, Drawing or Artistic Work and Solo Singing. The guardian parent, Uncle John Bosco Katjiua, Mrs Munkanda and Mr. Kapla formed the panel of Judges.

The generosity parents and elders for the success of this day should be noted. We express our gratitude to Mrs Jericho, Mrs Shikongo, Mrs Thikusho, and Mrs Mutango. The dedication of Fr. Marius, the Youth Coordinator is greatly appreciated. We also thank Mr. Shivale, Ms Kanyetu, and Mr. Mbathera who were in the steering committee and Mrs Mbathera Euphemia for her support. -by Thimothy Mbathera 31/ 01/2015 | DON BOSCO FEAST The Bicentenary of Don Bosco’s Birth marked the Feast of Don Bosco a very outstanding and special event in Rundu. The youths from Rundu Vicariate were invited for the spiritual gathering and for the camp. More than 170 young people from 20 different outstations were present. The Reflection was centered on Don Bosco’s life motto “Give me

Soul…” Mrs. Hilde Hausiku made the youth aware of the problems which can destroy the soul and how the grace of God could bring out healing. A counselling session was held in the afternoon to help out and guide the youths. The drama on the Johnny Bosco’s dream of nine, the skit “Chisel”, dancing and singing revealed the skills and talents of our youth. The march from the Youth Center to the Church, the solemn mass which was celebrated there after brought us grace and happiness. This event made the youth, Salesian Cooperators and Don Bosco Choir to come together to celebrate the feast with one heart and soul. On the whole this event helped the youth to grow in spirituality and in union with God. The atmosphere of Joy and holiness proclaimed the success of this event. -by Bros Sylvester and Frans Sintango

Socio-political

ANIMALITY:

Is it real in Mother Africa?

Bro. Flavius Chikadzu Ambuye SDB

he winds of destructions have come and nobody on the African soil is spared. Disrupted intellectual waves have knocked us against the moral shore, whereby the sand of morality seems to be meaningless as far as the mentality of the contemporary African which becomes so absurd without a rhyme or reason. Indeed we have lost the heritage of the moral values left by our forefathers and moreover our own Christian values, hence becoming egoistic. ‘I, Me and Myself ’ comes to the forefront than collectivity ‘We, Us and Ourselves”. One may wonder, where does this greatest commandment of LOVE dwell? The Compassionate heart of human beings has been engulfed by the virus called “animality” and many manifest themselves as sociopaths. The loss of ethical values is so prevalent. The consciousness of the other is overpowered by the deep drainage of hatred, selfishness, greedy, exploitation. This leads humanity towards sociological death. By animality, we mean the animal side of humans opposed to the spiritual and intellectual dimension; the predominance of animal instincts which makes a person exhibit the characteristics of an animal.

Though the animality is exhibited always in the human history, the challenge today is that it is exposed beyond any control at the scenario of religions consciousness, the growth of civilization, and the boom of human rights. So many killings, murders, and terrorist attacks make our heart bleed. Many precious lives are being lost in South African xenophobia violence. The terror attack which claimed 147 lives in Kenyan university by Al-Shabab gunmen. The raiding of Boko Haram militants into Nigerian villages leaving hundreds of bodies scattered and as many as 2,000 people feared dead. Albinos are hunted like wildlife/ games for their body parts for the luck charms (juju) in Tanzania and Malawi. On April 21, 2015 four prostitutes were convicted for sexual assault of a 13 year old boy and they infected him STD (Malawi Nyasa Times online news). The victims of sexual assaults, human trafficking and child abuses grow more in number. One might drown indeed in the ocean of wonder about human dignity. These cannot be attributed to atheistic approaches to life as others might argue. The integrity of human person is lost. Where has the reflective ZMB Salesian Newslink | 31

conscience in human beings gone? Are we merely tormented by the instincts? Animality really poses more questions than answers. All these affirm strongly to the words of Thomas Hobbes, the philosopher that ‘’man is a wolf to man’’. Human person with all the great faculties of life ends up being the most dangerous animal in the cosmos. Human beings should not be treated as mere objects. We are not means, but end in itself. We, the God personified beings, should get back to the source. Instead of lamenting at the situation let us start promoting compassion and love. Let us start with ourselves. I make up my mind to bring out positive change. This conscious endeavor of mine will become the norm everywhere. The positive change which buds open locally will bring a great impact globally.

I am somebody elings I am somistrebeaodt,y,cownfithusefeand misguide me They m the end they blame me And at mebody just like him I am so in I tried blenmdiisng me ed us ey th nd A myself be am I n And whey, I am no inbogdy They sa yself d will be wmho I have tobebeinan I am is f el Becausey, theyg mshysall see One da ey were and always be wrong That th mebody I am so

-Hellen Angula Rundu, Namibia

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Event-a-Month | Bicentenary Preparatory Celebrations In view of solemnizing the Year dedicated for Bicentenary of Don Bosco’s birth, Bauleni is fully geared in organizing an event every month. September 2014, we inaugurated this special year by DB March. Hundreds of youth participated in this walk. October 2014: Combining the jubilee celebrations of Zambia’s independence we had arranged a residential workshop. On 23rd Tembo animated the group on DON Bosco. On 24th Sr.Chanda guided the youth on Don Bosco’s spirituality. ‘Play and Win,’ variety games attracted many; the Mime by Don Bosco Media club thrilled everyone. November 2014 (29 -30): ‘Leadership workshop’ was organised for all the youth leaders of the parish. December 2014: ‘End of Year’ Recollection was organised on 30th December. Fr. Eustace preached and made the youths to feel filled with grace. The party and celebration on the eve of New Year was memorable for everyone. On 31st January 2015 we had Don Bosco Youth rally. Two days of animation by Fr. Mark, Fr. Lupupa and Mrs. Chitundu enriched the youth. The social gathering made youth to rejuvenate. February 2015: ‘Miss and Mr Mulumba,’

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Province News

Bauleni -Zambia Fashion and Modelling show on 15th attracted the youth of Bauleni. On March 12th 2015, we celebrated the Youth day and debate which was conducted, proved that youth have serious mindset too. Varity show became a great feast for everyone. On April 6th 2015, Singing Festival was conducted. The competition was tough and the youth enjoyed that day praising God through songs. On May 1st 2015, Tradition day was organised in State Lodge (outstation). The youth groups showcased their talents and best one got the prises. Through various events youth are gathered, renewed and made to grow in the spirituality of Don Bosco and in holiness.

Tradition Day

Youth Day Winners

Winners of Singing Competition

The Journey of Life

Fr. Eustace Siame SDB

Wellbeing

he Road to Emmaus passage in the Gospel of Luke 24:13-35 has so much for our life such that with keen interest one can come up with volumes for the benefit of humanity. I will journey with you in the coming issues on this column reflecting together on what can enhance our human living, make life more meaningful and purposeful. We shall device topics based on the same passage that will definitely impact on us in the way we have not known. The first topic based on the passage is entitled THE JOURNEY OF LIFE Cleopas and his companion set on a journey away from Jerusalem. They did not find their journey boring because they occupied themselves with Jesus-Talk and it was for this reason that Jesus himself drew near and walked with them. However, we keep in mind that the journey of the two disciples was a journey of disappointment, frustrations and death of dreams they thought would be realised. Our life is a journey. But the big delusion we face is to presume that it will be smooth safari, when we all know the path we have to tread has its own arrangement. Remember Cleopas in his talk as he shared on the Road to Emmaus used words like, “We thought…” ”We hoped…” Robin Sharma states that life has ZMB Salesian Newslink | 33

its own logic and it goes on with disregard to our own logic. We frustrate ourselves when we start thinking that life can obey our logic. Since we are metaphorically reflecting on life as a journey, think of those moments that you have been travelling yourself. You are driving your own car and you plan to reach a particular destination at a certain moment. Then you meet with the traffic jam you never planned for… Most of us get irritated and start thinking that others are just slow to drive for the sake of it and others are just careless to allow such traffic. We even go to an extent of blaming the government for not constructing more roads to allow traffic to flow. We forget that all this could have been avoided had we started our trip earlier than the time we did, making us calmer and more patient as the traffic flows. Knowing that life is a journey and is filled with traffic – all the hindrances we can think of to achieve our end, we need to learn coping with such slowdowns. One of the ways I have discovered to deal with the traffic of life is to become an enemy of procrastination. I am learning not to put off for

Procrastination is the

thief of time

-Edward Young

tomorrow what I can do today. And I suppose this is a lesson for you too, dear friend as you read this. Panic causes a lot of emotional stress even leading to physiological imbalances in our system. Wherever possible learn to wake up earlier than before so that you catch up with things that need to be handled. We are living in a world that will never wait for us. The speed at which the world is moving requires people who can prepare things before hand, sweat it out and yet keep the calmness. Remember, even if the traffic jam might be overwhelming, you can still do something while you wait for the traffic to clear. As long as you know you are not travelling alone you can keep your journey short by entertaining constructive thoughts and sharing. It won’t pay if we spend our lives blaming situations when we ourselves have not done our part. So, my friend if you are to succeed on this journey of life as did Cleopas and his friend occupy yourself with constructive criticism, positive talk to keep yourself healthy and strong. [More in the next issue] 34 | ZMB Salesian Newslink

MARYas a Fr John Hardon SJ the servant of God once wrote, the word “model” has been cheapened in the English language. Among other definitions in the latest third International Dictionary, a model is defined as “one who is employed to display clothes or merchandise, as in a fashion show, in a photograph or on television.” Yet we know that a model is much more, and for our purpose is far more sublime reasons. For us a model is a person worthy of imitation. A model is someone who is perfect and therefore serves as a pattern or standard for others to follow. Our subject is “Mary, as a Model of Consecrated Life.” WHAT IS CONSECRATED LIFE? In the language of the Church, “Consecrated life, is a life lied by the profession of the evangelical counsels, and is a stable form of living by which the faithful, following Christ more closely, under the action of the Holy Spirit, and people are totally dedicated to God, who is loved most of all”. Therefore a consecrated person is one who, •Professes the evangelical counsels •Follow Christ more closely under the action of the Holy Spirit, •Is totally dedicated to God, whom he or she love most of all. WHY DOES CONSECRATED LIFE DESPERATELY NEED A STANDARD IN OUR DAY?

What consecrated persons need today is no mere model in the worldly sense of some romantic ideal. Consecrated persons today need an objective standard by why they are to know what consecrated life is in the first place. They need an objective norm for their minds by which they can measure whether they are living a consecrated life or not. It is therefore not difficult to see how the Blessed Virgin is the standard and model of living consecrated life. The first element which makes Mary a model of consecrated life is her faith in the divinity of Jesus

MODEL

Consecrated Life Fr. Vincent Tembo SDB

CONSECRATED LIFE Christ and this is the foundation of authentic consecrated life. This was manifested in Mary’s life during Annunciation and visitation as consecration and service (Lk 1:26-56). This faith is the absolute basis of consecrated life, and Mary had this faith. At the Annunciation, the angel told her, “Mary, you have won God’s favor. You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High.” (Luke 1:31-32) Mary heard this message about Jesus that He was to be the Son of the Most High God. And she believed it. At Mary’s visitation to her kinswoman, Elizabeth, she was greeted by Elizabeth with the words, “Of all the women, you are the most blessed and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Then Elizabeth’s exclamation, “Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord?” And finally, Elizabeth concluded by telling Mary, “The moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy. Yes, blessed is she who has believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:42-45) What was the promise? The promise was that Mary would conceive the natural Son of God and that she was to become the Mother of the Lord. Mary believed this promise and for nine months she believed that she was carrying her Creator in her womb. She believed that on Christmas morning, she held the living God-become-man in her arms. She believed that for thirty years she was in the intimate company word that became flesh, who dwelt in her home. (God made man) How those who profess to live a consecrated life need this faith of Mary in the Divinity of her Son! With this faith, everything in a consecrated life makes sense; without this faith in Christ’s Divinity, everything in so called consecrated life is nonsense.

The second aspect which makes Mary a model of consecrated life is her humble submission to the will of God. This is also made clear during Annunciation when she said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). If faith in Christ’s divinity is the core of consecrated life, submission to the will of God is the language of consecrated life. Mary spoke this language during her entire life on earth. At the Annunciation, after the angel had explained to Mary how what is impossible to men becomes possible with God, she told the angel, “Be it done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) When the time for her delivery was approaching and she was to go to Bethlehem to give birth to ZMB ZMBSalesian SalesianNewslink Newslink| |3535

her Son in a place where animals are stalled, because there was no room for her at the inn, she submitted humbly to the will of God.

to stand by what we profess, for fear of what they will say.’ The pleasures of the world seems better, and with the eyes of flesh we fail to see the goals God has set before When she had to flee with and we pretend to feel Sacrificing worldly pleasure us, Jesus and Joseph to Egypt, she good by following the values is the air that consecrated of the modern world. True humbly accepted the will of God. At every stage in her life, persons are to breathe, and consecrated life, is a life she lived out what she said at that knows the difference outside of this atmosphere, the Annunciation, “Behold the between pleasure and joy. they suffocate and die. handmaid of the Lord” (Luke Pleasure is what the world 1:38). Humble resignation has to offer its followers. Joy to the will of God, humble resignation to the is what Christ promises His followers. Providence of God, humble obedience to the mysterious designs of God, humble acceptance When Mary sang the Magnificat, she did not of everything from the hands of God this was the say, “My body takes satisfaction in the pleasures pattern of Mary’s consecrated life. of this world.” But she said, “My soul rejoices in God my Savior.” Consecrated life is meant to The third aspect is Mary’s life of sacrifice, and be a life of joy, true joy, deep joy, joy in spirit, this was part of her life. True consecrated life but joy in the Lord. The price of experiencing is painted with various moments of sacrifices. this joy is the sacrificing of worldly pleasures, If Faith in Christ’s divinity is the foundation even as Mary sacrificed worldly pleasures to of authentic consecrated life and humble conform to the life of her Son, and to cooperate submission to the will of God, is the language of with Him in the redemption of the world. consecrated life then sacrifice of worldly pleasure is the atmosphere of consecrated life. This is the air that consecrated persons are to breathe, and outside of this atmosphere, they suffocate and die. Mary’s whole life was a life of sacrifice. She did not only submit to the will of God, she endured to do the will of God by her loving sacrifice. Her Son, we are told, having joy set before Him, chose the Cross. Mary, His Mother, like Him, also chose the Cross. This mystery of choosing the Cross instead of worldly pleasure is brought home to us during the prophecy made by Simeon when Christ was presented in the Temple. “You see this Child,” he told Mary. “He is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel. He is destined to be a sign that is rejected. And a sword will pierce your soul too so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.” (Lk 2:22-40) REFLECTION Let us be as clear as possible. True consecrated life is not respected by the world. It is rejected by the world. As in the Catholic hymn, ‘the values of life we are living are challenged everyday; we are weak, and often go astray; we are scared 36 36 || ZMB ZMB Salesian Salesian Newslink Newslink

THINKTRIBUTE Contribute Your Thinking for Clarity Is Our God Selfish? The first three of the Ten Commandments is demanding focus only to Godself. Loving God is projected as the greatest commandment in the Holy Bible. The Human Beings are created to love Him and serve Him alone. Is this not a height of selfishness. This question is posed by a youngster. What is your response? It is YOUR PAGE, from next Issue Send your analysis either by e-mail or whatsapp. Denote your name, place & qualification with your answer. Best analysis will be published. E-mail ID: munirupenmission@gmail.com Whatsapp: +260 972831224

Consecrated Life

Wilson Musonda jr.

Consecrated Life = Sacred Life

our own Zambians. These brothers truly touched the lives of so many young people. I do remember one of the Salesians from Malawi who was nicknamed ‘achimwene,’ meaning brother. Chisomo was his name, he did a lot to me in mentoring me to be a better person. I was so inquisitive and he tried to address not only in providing answers but also in helping me to become more spiritual. Though I am not a catholic I started appreciating it. The first book he gave me was the life story of Don Bosco, who became an inspiration to me. Don Bosco was born in Italy, on 16th August 1815. As a catholic priest he worked in Turin for the young people who suffered industrialization and urbanization. His decision to make the young people’s welfare better through education touched

YOUNG PERSON’S P E R S P E C T I V E TOWARDS THE CONSECRATED LIFE

ecessity is the mother of innovations. The world is in need of sanctity and purity and that is the reason that some chosen few are consecrated by God. Men and women brimming with great desire to serve God and not to defile their allegiance to the almighty are raised to the level of priests and religious. This is my simple understanding of consecrated life. Desire for pleasure, the craving for sin and the selfish nature are overcome by commitment and sacrifice of consecrated people. Growing up in the community of Bauleni where priests from the parish are quite known to all, I have seen them and related to them from my tender age onwards. Here in this community, a priest is commonly referred to as, ABAMBO meaning ‘father’. Bauleni as a population of close to 30,000 people and almost 95% of them are Christians while from this same population the Catholics appears to be in the majority. Between 2006 and 2008, St. Matthias Mulumba parish in Bauleni housed many social activities for the young people. Young people came from all corners of the community to participate in football, netball, volleyball, indoor games and many other outdoor games. As an individual I frequented the premises on daily basis to play volleyball, other indoor games and to learn aerobics. Those were indeed memorable days. At that time this parish was a place that had so many brothers who came from various countries including

me a lot. Don Bosco’s childhood experiences made him to be a priest and to become a father for so many orphans. Our childhood experiences contribute to molding us into better persons later. My childhood encounter with those Salesian brothers brought new light inside me. These consecrated people in serving God they render service to humanity. As a Christian who belongs to another denomination, I still believe that call to be a religious is Sacred. I would replenish the word consecrated life with the sacred life! Because being consecrated persons, they fulfill the duty to God first, and then render service to others. Finally they keep themselves last. This selflessness matters a lot and I wish to absorb that from such great consecrated people. ZMB Salesian Newslink | 37

Highlight Deacon John Musonda The Salesian province of Zmb is blessed with two new priests: Fr. Peter Nguyen SDB (Vietnam) and Fr. Alphoncious Hamweete SDB (Zambia) both belong to Zmb Province (Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Namibia). The Archbishop of Lusaka, Telesphore George Mpundu ordained11 priests (including the two Salesians) at Lusaka Holy Cross Cathedral on Saturday, May 30th, 2015. In Persona Christi: In his homily, the Archbishop implored the ordinands to meditate on the responsibility that lies ahead, as the priestly ministry demands to act in the name of Christ. This responsibility primarily entails acting in the name of Christ. The 6 thousand seating capacity of the cathedral was swamped with hundreds of priests, religious women and men together with thousands of the Christian lay faithful to witness the ordination of 11 priests. We wish our two new priests (Frs. Peter and Alphoncious) a happy priestly ministry and Salesian vocation. Many thanks to the family, formators and friends of our priests for their accompaniment leading to ordination.

38 | ZMB Salesian Newslink

On 31 May 2015, Fr. Peter Nguyen celebrated his first Mass at Bauleni Parish Lusaka (St. Mathias Mulumba). Fr. George, the provincial was at hand to give support to the new priest. Additionally, Fr. Mbandama, principal of Don Bosco Technical College in Lilogwe Malawi preached at the celebration. During these days a couple from Bauleni, Mrs/ Mr. Mwewa gave Fr. Peter the support he needed as parents both for the ordination day and the thanksgiving mass.

Fr. Alphoncious Hamweete celebrated the first thanks giving Eucharist at his home parish in Mazabuka. Intertwined with the tradition the celebration brought great joy not only for the family, but for the whole parish. Fr. Malama, Fr.Vincent and other salesians were present. Let this joy continue in their priestly ministry till the end.

ZMB Salesian Newslink | 39

ZMB

Social Communication Department Box 31148 - Lusaka | Zambia communication@salesianzmb.org Mansa | District Level Inter School Sports Competition

Rundu | Youth of Rundu during Talent Show

Mansa | District Level Inter School Sports Competition

Moshi | Fr. George Chalissery’s visit; with the young during Bosco Meet, 21.02.2015

Moshi | Fr. Sellam, the Rector & Brothers with Young ones during SAVIO MEET

Bauleni | Miss/Mr. Mulumba-Fashion Show, Fr. Like OMI awarding Martha & Gift

Bauleni | Chief Guests - Youth Day: Frs. Eustace Siame,Patrick Makina, Br. Peter (Missio. of Africa) & Fr. Lewis Malama

Bauleni | Divine Mercy - State Lodge, the Most Rev. Julio Murat, Apostolic Nuncio

Lusaka | 6.5.2015:ADL Youth Dept., The Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu duringYouth Pilgrimage

Lusaka | ADL Youth Dept., Annual Youth Pilgrimage, Banner Competition, Morris won the First Prize (no relation to the above)

Lusaka | 6.5.2015:ADL Youth Dept., Annual Youth Pilgrimage, 3500 youth from 42 Parishes

RIP: Fr. Peter Malec sdb, Bp. Clement Mulenga SDB during Vigil Mass

RIP: Malec sdb, Body Viewing 40 Fr.| Peter ZMB Salesian Newslink

Bauleni | Thanks Giving Eucharist of Fr. Peter SDB

Mazabuka | Thanks Giving Eucharist of Fr. Alpnoncious Hamweete SDB

Rundu | Fr. Mariuz with Salesian Cooperators during Don Bosco’s Feast

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