Canção Nova: The Joy of Being in Don Bosco’s Family

By Margarida Costa, Canção Nova Community

Joy: this is the feeling of being part of Don Bosco’s Family!

We are the Canção Nova community, the 25th group of the Salesian Family. Canção Nova are the Portuguese words for “New Song: ‘Sing to the Lord a new song’” (cf. Psalm 96:1). We are an international association of the faithful founded in the countryside of São Paulo, Brazil, in 1978, now present in several countries. But why are we related to Don Bosco’s spirituality? Let’s start from the beginning.

In 1961, a young Brazilian man did his perpetual vows in the Salesians: Jonas Abib. In 1964 he became a priest, and his dedication to youth was outstanding. Many boys and girls had encountered Jesus Christ at Salesian retreats led by Fr. Jonas. There, they learned to shape their lives according to the Gospel using a simple and effective method created by the Salesian priest: “the Bible was written for you.” They started to long for the sacraments, which included having deep Reconciliations and tender adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Many let Jesus enter their hearts by the efforts of this relentless young priest. Fr. Abib always carried his guitar, sang with his hoarse voice, and expressed God’s love through his blue eyes. Several Salesians joined these youth retreats as time went by, as they were a success through means of evangelization.

Fr. Jonas Abib increased his ministry throughout the years as he became a well known preacher, teacher, and even a singer. In the 1970s he recorded several albums with different popular rhythms so people could have Christian faith at home. It became more serious when Bishop Antônio Afonso de Miranda from the small diocese of Lorena in São Paulo state called Fr. Jonas to his office. He was amazed by Pope Paul VI's document on evangelization, Evangellii Nuntiandi, number 44.

“Do something about it,” Bishop de Miranda said, referring to catechetical instruction that youths and adults should have. It was the beginning of the Canção Nova community in Fr. Jonas’s heart. “Lead people to a deep encounter with Jesus Christ! Let them have a life-giving experience with God!”

God led Fr. Abib to found Canção Nova. It was formed by priests, families, celibates, and single people living together fully dedicated to evangelize. They began first through spiritual retreats, then branched over to 100% Catholic media (radio, TV and internet). Salesian spirituality was present, as all states of life were called to a life of sanctity. It was not without a lot of pain that Fr. Jonas left the Salesian Congregation, but God’s call was clear and strong. Naturally, he instilled Salesian spirituality in Canção Nova’s community, which has lasted to this day. It was very clear to him that they were living a practical way of life. As they immersed themselves in their relationships with Jesus, their lives were transformed into new behaviors, words, feelings, and actions. They seek to live more according to the Gospel. Members of Canção Nova live active lives, full of work with Mass, the Rosary, time with Jesus in the Eucharist, and Bible studies daily. But, most important, they live to be contemplatives in action. This is because, as we work, our hearts must be united to God in joys and sufferings.

Fr. Jonas Abib saw the Canção Nova charism as a gift of God to form youths and shape new men and women for the new world. Here we can see the Don Bosco heritage of the Salesian Preventive System: a new lifestyle, a “new song.” All of Canção Nova’s retreats and updated mass media content form the people in a preventive way, so they don’t fall into danger and ignorance of faith. And it all started with youths to youths.

Many years after the community was created, Fr. Jonas realized the community was also living the Salesian Constitution no. 45: use mass media to spread the Gospel. He was amazed by God’s Providence. This was because, as time went on, the community saw the need to do something to help the poor and homeless in their local cities. To this day, the community works hard to lead all youths to a better future, not only in society but also in the Church, by being “good Christians and honest citizens."

Fr. Jonas taught the community in its internal rules that we refer to as “Nossos Documentos” (our documents) for the Salesian charism and Don Bosco’s stories. He even affirmed, “Our habit is our smile” since we don’t have any other specific sign of identification as Canção Nova consecrated lay people. Of course, we cannot forget Mary, our Lady Help of Christians, our patroness. She is our mother and teacher.

Every January 21, we happily celebrate our admission to the Salesian Family (2009). Together, we pray, “ Don Bosco, teach us to be saints!”