Austria – Study day on Rector Major’s Strenna for 2023
(ANS – Vienna) – This year the Don Bosco Educational Forum in Austria organized the annual study day on the Rector Major’s Strenna in a mixed format, both on line, both in presence. After a break due to the two years marked by the pandemic, about 100 people from the various groups of the Salesian Family were happy to meet in person on 21 January at the Salesianum in Vienna; while about 30 other interested parties who could not reach the meeting place took advantage of the opportunity to be present through digital connections. Everyone was able to listen with interest to the interventions of the various speakers, including the guest of honour, the General Treasurer of the Salesian Congregation, Mr. Jean Paul Müller.
In her words of welcome, the Provincial of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) of Austria, Sr. Petra Egeling, recounted Don Bosco’s tradition at the beginning of a new year of whispering a few good words in the ear of young people. This, you said, was the beginning of what is now the Strenna for the Salesian Family.
Subsequently, the General Treasurer of the Salesians of Don Bosco held the central conference of the event, deepening the theme of Strenna 2023: “LIKE YEAST IN THE HUMAN FAMILY TODAY. The lay dimension of Don Bosco’s Family”.
“This theme speaks of our vocation. The deep dimension in us works like yeast. Sometimes it makes us wider, sometimes it pushes us up and sometimes it’s really good for us,” explained Mr. Muller, underlining that “Don Bosco’s mission has always been built on the fundamental principle of the Salesian Family”.
“Being leaven for the world means giving an answer to the question about the youth of the Church and its future: keeping alive the influence that the experience of grace and miracles is possible as history, as a future”, continued the General Treasurer of the Salesians.
In the afternoon, these reflections were deepened and carried forward in various working groups. In the workshop held by the main speaker, Mr. Muller, the participants explored the theme of “being present among today’s youth”.
In the kitchen of the Salesianum, on the other hand, yeast was practically experimented with for making bread.
And yet another workshop presented diversity in children’s books and the importance of portraying various people in different life situations in children’s stories.
The day concluded with the celebration of the Eucharist for all those present, presided over by the Superior of the “Holy Guardian Angels” Province of Austria (AUS), Fr Siegfried M. Kettner, who in his homily recalled the meaning of that appointment to strengthen the sense of belonging and community in the Don Bosco family: “Today is the Feast of the Salesian Family, this is the Study Day on the Strenna” he declared.