FATIMA AWAITS YOU

My dear friends,

A fraternal greeting to each and every one of you at the conclusion of this pastoral year and the formative journey towards the upcoming International Congress of Mary Help of Christians 2024 at Fatima.

It is precisely at Fatima that we will find ourselves, reflecting on ‘The Dream’- The origin of Don Bosco's mission; which is our mission today as Salesian Family and on the mediation of Mary; The Mother and teacher, who precedes and leads us to Jesus and to the young.

We have prepared ourselves this year reflecting on important themes: Vocation and Oratorian Mission, Call to the Impossible, Mystery of the Name, Strength of meekness and loving kindness that distinguish the Salesian style.

And in these very days as we write this editorial, the word of God invites us to return to the theme of mission with an image as strong and meaningful as that of the ‘Sower.’ An image that helps us to re-read our lives, our services, the activities in which we are involved by putting everything back into the hands of the Father: "Thus is the kingdom of God: like a man who sows seed on the ground; sleep or wake, night or day, the seed sprouts and grows. How, he himself does not know. The soil spontaneously produces first the stalk, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear; and when the fruit is ripe, immediately he sends forth the sickle, for the harvest has come" (Mark 4:26-34)

God certainly uses us; He makes us participants in his plan of love for man. He calls us by name and in the name, He entrusts us with a mission, as happened to John in the dream: "No one gives himself a name but receives it. I do not call myself. In the name is written the vocation and in it is included the method (not with blows but with meekness and charity), the mission/end (to gain these friends of yours), the content (instruction on sin and virtue)."

But God does not leave us alone! Whatever the mission, He only asks us to ‘be’ seeds and scatter seeds of His love, confident that He will be the one to make His Kingdom sprout and grow. It is good to place trust in God the Father, it is liberating to feel that we are collaborators and not absolute protagonists, it is comforting to know that it is the soil that spontaneously produces its fruit.

As a member of ADMA, we can read the previous pastoral year and plan, the new year in the light of this word. Our commitment to the weakest and to the young, has not been and will never be in vain. Our educational and formative commitment, has not been and will never be lost. Our desire to make Mary known, will be fulfilled, if we recognize ourselves as simple farmers and humbly defer our every action to the Father's will. If we accept the mission we are given, along with the soil in which to work and if we do not try to hastily evaluate the harvest but wait patiently for the right times, for everything to mature, above all the maturing of the heart of each young person we meet. Though today a small seed, it will sprout and grow powerful tomorrow.

Best wishes to all for a peaceful summer.

Fr. Gabriel Cruz Trejo,SDB, Spiritual Animator, ADMA Valdocco.

Renato Valera, ADMA Valdocco President.