Wenceslaus Anthony –
The visit of Father Angel Fernandez Artime, Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation to Auckland last month was one of the most significant moments for the Catholic Church and the Don Bosco Movement.
Named as the Tenth Successor of St John Bosco on March 25, 2014 in Rome, the Spain-born Priest had served earlier as Provincial of Leon in Spain and of Buenos Aires in Argentina, where he came into contact with Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who was later to become Pope Francis.
He was the first Salesian Rector Major to visit New Zealand (May 12 to 14, 2015) and his sermons and prayers were a source of joy and encouragement to the Salesians who minister in Massey (Ranui) and Avondale.
Pious Delegation
His delegation included Father Vaclav Klement, Regional Councillor for East Asia-Oceania, Father Horacio Lopez, Rector Major’s Secretary and Father Jacob Iruppakkaattu, Member of the Social Communications Department and Father Greg Chambers, Provincial-Australia Pacific.
During his stay here, the Rector Major visited the Parish and the Schools at St. Mary’s Avondale, and St. Paul’s Massey.
Useful Presence
Father Artime said that Salesians are present in 132 countries and that visits to each of these was incumbent during his six-year term. His visit to New Zealand came as a part of a regional tour that included Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Australia.
“The visits give me an opportunity to see the grass-root reality of the presence and work of Salesian,” he said and added that Don Bosco may be jealous of him since Bosco could not visit New Zealand.
“Don Bosco loved young people all over the world and expected us that we should be joyful and smiling,” he said.
Father Artime was so deeply touched by the love of the children that he sat on the floor at Saint Mary’s School in Avondale and posed for photographs with them.
Special Mass
Bishop Patrick Dunn of Auckland said that the Salesian presence in West Auckland at Massey and Avondale brought the charisma of Saint John Bosco to New Zealand.
“They are literally at ‘the ends of the earth.’ Don Bosco’s first concern was the youth and he believed that the youth should know that they are loved,” he said.
Auckland Salesian leader Father Mathew Vadakkevettuvazhiyil said that the visit of the Father Rector Major to Auckland was a sign of the commitment of the Salesian Congregation to New Zealand that the community worked with the Church and served the community.
As an alumni of Don Bosco, I appreciate the fact that education and development do not end when young people complete their study. Education is a stepping stone to reach increased moral strength and love of God to become a valuable asset to society.
About John Bosco
John Bosco was born in 1815 and grew up in a small farming area called Il Becchi in Northern Italy.
Ordained to the priesthood in 1841 in Turin, Italy, he began his ministry to youth and invited young visitors to the Oratory (Youth Centre) to join him in his work.
From those humble beginnings came the religious community of men dedicated to youth ministry and education globally.
Today the Salesians serve in more than 132 countries with 17,000 members, accounting for the second largest community of men in the Catholic Church.
Solemn Promise
The Salesians live for Jesus Christ and His Gospel. They make a solemn promise to live within the Salesian community. They take a vow of poverty, chastity and obedience. By these, they share their lives in chaste celibacy making themselves available for the Ministry to youth and for all faithful people.
They are known to run very well reputed schools for youth of all walks of life throughout the world with a thrust for the poorest of the poor.
Meeting a group of past pupils of Don Bosco in Turin on June 24, 1870, Don Bosco said, “One of my greatest joys is to hear people praising my past pupils. As I loved you when you were young pupils, now that you are grown up men, I love you much more.”
All of us are thankful to everyone who celebrated the Mass with the Most Reverend Patrick Dunn, the Bishop of Auckland.
The visit of Father Rector Major to Auckland will encourage many more to answer the call of God to be of service, especially the youth, those who have been marginalised and the poor to work with the Salesians in Auckland.
Bishop Patrick Dunn celebrating Mass with the Rector Major and the Rector Major on his right and other priests celebrating the Holy Mass.
