Great! Every time i listen to some young salesians, especially salesian missionaries, its a time of grace. Also today i had a chance to share with one 20+ young missionary from Asia, who is heading to some Muslim mission place.

Follow up:

It was quite deep sharing, finished just few minutes before leaving with the whole general council for the annual visit to our Vatican community, which celebrates just 75 years of our presence due to the call of Pope Pius XI to work in the Vatican printing press (Osservatore Romano and Libreria Editrice Vaticana). Thanks to the hard work of many Salesian brothers until now we are present just few meters from the apartment of the Pope and serving the global Church.

Being already one year in Europe, means to face the tough european youth, with the clearly secularized, materialistic and highly sophisticated background.

But i was surprised that this young Salesian did share NOT about securalized salesians in Europe, but still looking back on his homeland. Indeed its about many provinces in Africa and Asia, that the young SDB priest are told to be of 'diocesan outlook, far from the youth, not assisting....'.

During our talk i realized again, that the main critical point of the RADICAL WITNESS to JESUS is not the problem of celibacy, of poverty, of low commitment to the youth service - but the main challenge is about lack of faith. Or better - the challenge is about making idols and not relating personally to the living God, to Jesus Christ.

We know the story.

Many talks about Don Bosco in the Oratory, but no word about Mary or Jesus!
Why? Probably the real Don Bosco who invited everybody to open his heart completely to Jesus
is not known properly.

Indeed even Don Bosco might become an 'idol' without a reference to the living God.
And my young, deeply thinking brother, would add - its shocking to see the Salesian community which is not praying together the Rosary, not sharing the Gospel...

The Vatican community evening was magnificent, sharing and giving thanks to some long serving
senior Salesians. But the good night talk of the Rector Major about the radical Gospel witness as the main theme of the next General Chapter 27 (2014, February) hit the same point as the young issionary!

According the Rector Major 'radicality means first of all obedience!'
To look for the will of God in my life, in the community life, is the center!

Indeed i repeat again with Don Bosco for myself:

Please, open your heart completely to Jesus!