Montréal Salesian Family Spring Spirituality Day

By Fr. John Puntino, SDB, SDB Delegate, Salesian Cooperators (Canada)

(Etobicoke, ON – April 22) – Following the tradition of gathering on the Saturday after Easter, SDBs, FMAs, Salesian Cooperators, ADMA members, and past pupils from Montréal and Sherbrooke came together at Don Bosco Youth Leadership Centre in Montréal, QC.

Each year’s event focuses on the Rector Major’s strenna. This year, four presenters spoke on the four-step process presented by Fr. Attard in the strenna, “Do Whatever He Tells You, Believers Free to Serve.”

1.) Look: Fr. Richard Authier, SDB, pointed out that at Cana, Mary was not a neutral guest; she recognized and addressed the need at hand.

2.) Listen: Fr. George Harkins, SDB, stressed that disciples must interpret events in the light of Christ. “The primary emphasis is not on what must be done, but on the One who says what must be done.”

3.) Choose: Sr. Lise Gitard, FMA, spoke on the importance of freedom to listen and trust, as the servants did with Mary, in order to have the freedom to choose to do what the Lord commands.

4.) Act: Salesian Cooperator Jean Brodeur emphasized the need to serve with total generosity.

Small group discussions in French, Spanish and English followed the presentations.

A highlight of the day was the attention given to the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Salesian Cooperators. Pierre Laroque, member of the Salesian Cooperators Interamerica Regional Council and member of Centre Ste Claire, Montréal, and Rosa D’Addario, member of Maria Ausiliatrice Centre, Montréal, developed the theme of making current Don Bosco’s prophetic vision of living an evangelizing and civilizing faith in daily life and his mission of personal holiness and doing good for others.

Sr. Alphonsine Roy, FMA, Salesian Cooperators Provincial Delegate, acted as MC for the day.

The day concluded with the Vigil Mass of Divine Mercy Sunday.