"The Mystery of God's Call"

Dear Confreres,

I pray that our Novena and Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception has renewed us in our Salesian vocation and moved us to accompany young adults in discovering God’s call in their lives. Following Mary’s example, we can reflect more deeply on the mystery of God’s call and our response. During this blessed season of Advent, may the Immaculate Virgin Mother inspire us to surrender to God’s plan for each one of us, a loving plan that always leads to joy and peace.

On Sunday, November 28, the Salesian Family Provincial Council had its mid- year meeting. Provincial level leaders from the different groups of the Salesian Family came together virtually to assess our implementation of the annual action plan we had agreed upon in August. The four points for review were:

1. Animating our members to participate in this Year of Amoris Laetitia Family and to have evident Salesian family spirit in all our presences or centers, along with the involvement and formation of families;
2. Encouraging participation in the Salesian Family Spirituality Days (January 13-16, 2022), and use of the Strenna throughout the year;
3. Strengthening the sense of belonging to the Salesian Family; using social media to connect the groups; developing common calendars; attending the special events of each group; and
4. Accompanying the local leaders in a personal way.

The meeting included some announcements and a review of the common Salesian Family calendar.

During the provincial visitations, I have the privilege of meeting with the different groups of the Salesian Family. I usually dialogue with them about this action plan for the Salesian Family Provincial Council and invite them to consider how they also can put these priorities into action at the local level. Since the SDBs are the first group of the Salesian Family with unique responsibilities toward the other groups, I ask the confreres, especially the directors and SDB delegates, to continue the discussions in the local groups. This holiday season is a perfect time to give attention to point three—Strengthening the sense of belonging to the Salesian Family—by sharing some prayer time and a festive meal together.

I would like to give special attention to point two: Participation in the Salesian Family Spirituality Days in January. Of course, the theme is the Strenna, "Do all through love, nothing through constraint." The days are being organized at four levels: world, region (all of America), province, and local/individual. Although some representatives of the groups of the Salesian Family will attend events in person, most of us will participate virtually. The world events will be Thursday, January 13 - Sunday, January 16, 7:00 - 9:30 am ET; the regional events will be the same days, 2:00 - 3:30 pm; and the province event will focus on an online gathering on Sunday, January 16 in the afternoon. Local groups and individuals are encouraged to join the world and regional events live if their schedules allow or watch them later at a more convenient time. Some groups may even organize watch parties on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday to view some of the recordings together and then have some more personal discussion on the topics.

With more than one month to prepare, I encourage the leaders of the groups of the Salesian Family, especially SDB directors and delegates, to check with the various groups and see how they will participate in the Salesian Family Spirituality Days. They will want to verify that they have reliable technology for the online sessions. They can also agree on how to follow up on these important days, for example by sharing the recorded and printed resources with all the members, organizing local study days on the Strenna, and welcoming initiatives that the young people may offer to live the 2022 Strenna.

I began this letter recalling the importance of Mary Immaculate in the life of the Salesian Family. I return to Our Lady, the Virgin of Guadalupe, Patroness of all the Americas, asking her to help us share the gift of the Salesian charism in this vast hemisphere.

Fr. Tim Zak