Religious can face modern challenges only by following Jesus in a radical way, says Salesian superior Father Pascual Chavez.

Crises of identity, credibility and visibility are the major challenges facing the Catholic religious in modern era, Father Chavez, rector major, or superior general, of the Salesians told a gathering in c on Nov. 4.

He presented Jesus Christ as the center of consecrated life. “A Salesian loves Christ. At the same time loves young people. A religious is expected to know Christ profoundly, and follow Him more radically,” said the superior.

The meeting was attended by some 115 of his confreres in the province, including priests, Salesian Brothers and clerics. Sisters from the Salesian family and well wishers were also present.

Father Chavez said Eucharist is “the source and summit of every Religious. It has three dimensions – memorial, sacrifice and banquet, which interlinked with religious vows of obedience, chastity and poverty.”

Religious are “signs of the presence of God. We become Salesians not to do things but because we are loved by Jesus. Jesus should be made the project of life, the centre of life is to know him more profoundly,” he said.

The rector major termed the Dimapur region as the “most promising area” of the congregation. However, the Salesians need to strengthen “our communities, look after young confreres and give quality to our consecrated life,” he added.

He wants the Salesians in the region to become “shepherds of the people,” and said their founder Don Bosco’s pastoral charity had forced him to “look out for the lost.”

Stressing the congregation’s traditional mission among young people, he said.

Salesians have the responsibility to prepare the youth to face life by offering them the best. “Salesians are called to offer the young the Gospel of joy, gentleness, kindness.”

He said education is all about values and “we are expected to give the best to those who have received the least in life. What the young people need today is a positive attitude toward themselves, environment and the world,” he added.

Source:  Cathnews India

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