Dear Salesian Family and Salesian Young People:

I hope and pray that you are all safe in God’s tender loving care. I said in my message to you at the beginning of September that we will have a theme for each month moving forward. The theme for the month of October is this year’s 2020 Salesian Family strenna/theme “Good Christians and honest citizens.” Don Bosco always understood the importance of forming others, especially young people, to be protagonists in the Church community and in the world stage. It is in this context that young people can make a difference in their cultural context on a daily basis.

October is the month of the Holy Rosary and it is our Gospel call to follow the example of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Having just found out from the angel Gabriel that she is with child, Mary focused, not on herself but on her cousin Elizabeth. She had the courage to do her familial duty of service, travelling the distance to be present and to assist another person in need. May we too reflect on how we can focus on the need of others. May I suggest one way for us to do this…

October is also the month of preparation for Elections on November 3^rd. I believe it is imperative that we, first of all, do our civic duty to vote. If you have not yet registered to vote I encourage you to do so. It is equally imperative that we as Salesians, individually and communally, deeply study, reflect and pray on issues facing our country and our world. Don Bosco’s words “For you I study, for you I work, for you I am willing to give my life” echo our founder’s passion to do everything in his power for the good and the salvation of the young. As Salesians we too have the duty and the responsibility to do everything in our power for the good of the young, and this includes their future.

Finally, our Salesian Community Quarterly Day this month, will focus on our 2020 Strenna. I have invited Fr. Tom Brennan, SDB, to assist and guide us, through presentation and reflection, to a deeper understanding of “Good Christians and honest citizens.” His presentation will be available to us SDB’s and to you, the Salesian Family, on the 12^th of October.

Again, I want to thank you for continued support and prayers for me. May God bless you all.

Sincerely in Christ,