by Cleric Ian Pinto
PUNE, MARCH 24, 2019: “This is a once in a lifetime experience,” said one of the young Salesians upon hearing of the visit of the Salesian Rector Major to the Province of Mumbai. There was intense excitement exuding from the campus of Koregaon Park, Pune as it prepared itself to welcome the 10th Successor of Don Bosco, Don Angel Fernandez Artime.
For a good number of young Salesians this was the first time they had seen and personally encountered the Rector Major. Father Artime was welcomed by the young brothers on March 24 in Pune, who showered him with flower petals and serenaded him with a band piece.
The Rector Major upon reaching Pune – on day two of his trip in India - eagerly met each of the young Salesians personally, getting to know their name and place of origin.
He posed for numerous photographs with the various communities of Salesians as well as with individuals. The Rector Major also posed for pictures with the support staff, collaborators of the Don Bosco Social Work Centre, and a few houses of the neighbouring region.Don Artime addressed all the Salesians who had gathered and shared with them his personal reflections about the state of the Congregation in the world as well as in the Mumbai province. He warned the confreres to beware of the major temptations of clericalism and thirst for power. He expressed his desire that the Congregation always remain faithful to the charism of Don Bosco and to the Constitutions.
After speaking for the better part of the morning, he invited questions from the audience. Father Godfrey D’Souza, Provincial of the Mumbai province, asked him to say a few words about the Gerini case which he did briefly.
Another question raised was with regards to poverty and how we ought to understand poverty today. Father Artime made it clear that one of the most fundamental forms of poverty is the lack of human dignity that exists in many societies. He pointed out that our educational interventions must address this pressing issue before moving on to helping young people equip themselves for a better future.
A final question that arose was with regards to the missionary dimension. The Rector Major made it very clear that the missions are a fundamental dimension of the Salesian vocation. He encouraged the young Salesians to seriously consider the call to the missions and to opt generously should they feel called.
Father D’Souza thanked the Rector Major on behalf of all who had gathered and assured him of prayers and continued support. He also mentioned that one of the young Salesians present, Cleric Felix Almeida, has applied for the missions. Cleric Almeida is currently completing his Master's degree in Philosophy at Nashik. Thereafter, he will go to Rome to be a part of the 150th Missionary expedition.
The Rector Major expressed his pleasure at having this opportunity to meet and speak to the Salesian confreres and spend quality time with them. One of the brothers said that he was impressed with the way the Rector Major went about, his informal style of dealing with the confreres as well as the hard-hitting message he shared.