The Preventive System, in a gist

Here's a reflection shared by Fr Julian Fox in his latest news on austraLasia #3387. It shares the views of a senior Salesian Priest attending the ongoing General Chapter. The reflection is about the way we employ the three words, Reason, Religion and Loving Kindness in our understanding and how and where could Don Bosco have learnt the REAL and practical meaning of these words.

I heard these three terms as a kid in the village, from my grandfather and grandmother, but not in Italian (we spoke Piedmontese at home always). When things needed to be worked out amongst people, maybe something had gone wrong, grandpa used say 'Rasunuma 'n poc' = 'Let's have a chat about this'. It was very practical reasoning, nothing cerebral about it. On the other hand, grandma's comment on things was 'Un poc 'd religiön 'l rangia tüt' = 'a bit of religion (a sense of God) will fix things up', and 'Vorumsi ben' = 'Let's get on together'. Here 'religiön' has little to do with cult, rules and regulations and a lot to do with the primacy of God. And where 'amorevolezza' in Italian (loving kindness in English) seems to suggest me showing this to them (so one way, in a sense), note the communal aspect of 'vorumsi ben'.

Now that's the most comprehensive and still deeply meaningful explanation I've ever come across in my whole Salesian reading. 

Three temptations

Again another insight from the book Jesus' Plan for a New World, especially in the light of what is happening back in my own community (with respect to my own role - or absence of it) and my own reflection on the Preventive System of Don Bosco, which was the theme of the retreat I attended last week...

These three demons are in all of our lives: the need to be effective, the need to be right and the need to be powerful or in control.  Until those demons have been faced and exorcised you will very likely not preach the Gospel; you will preach your own self.  (118)

E-ducating Don Bosco's way!

The latest e-letter of the Communication department from Rome has (among the many other useful and informative messages) this short write-up on DON BOSCO'S WAY... a marvellous online resource on Salesian educative system. Fr Peter Gonsalves from Mumbai Province (presently teaching in Rome) is the mastermind behind it. The site is really amazing and the possibilities it offer are numerous. Especially in a context where "teaching" Don Bosco's pedagogy is an integral element of our apostolate so that all those working with us Salesians gain from the rich heritage of Don Bosco's method, this resource is very handy. It is with this cosmoplitan perspective that don bosco's way has been designed. It presents text, diagrams, illustrations and audiovisuals the richness of Salesian pedagogy.

Hat's off to Fr Peter Gonsalves!