{"id":6993,"date":"2023-06-30T12:56:06","date_gmt":"2023-06-30T19:56:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/?p=6993"},"modified":"2025-04-25T18:50:47","modified_gmt":"2025-04-26T01:50:47","slug":"feast-of-gratitude","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/2023\/06\/30\/feast-of-gratitude\/","title":{"rendered":"Feast of Gratitude 2023 Around Fr. \u00c1.F. Artime"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(ANS \u2013 Turin) \u2013 The Salesian Family recalls St. John Bosco\u2019s name day and the origins of the Feast of Gratitude at Valdocco Oratory on June 24th, the feast of St. John the Baptist  \u2013 since, as it is narrated in the Biographical Memoirs, for the boys \u201cthe feast of St. John the Baptist was a special occasion to demonstrate their feelings.\u201d This year\u2019s celebration was inevitably affected by the news of the death of the Rector Major\u2019s mother, Isabel Artime Garcia, but it was nevertheless celebrated modestly, to express the gratitude of the entire Salesian Family (SF) towards its Centre of unity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In introducing the day, which saw the involvement of Salesians from various communities in Turin \u2013 led by the Superior of the Piedmont and Valle d \u2018Aosta Circumscription, Fr. Leonardo Mancini \u2013 as well as the various Salesians at Salesian Headquarters, the Vicar of the Rector Major, Fr. Stefano Martoglio, stressed the value of the celebration: both as an element of continuity and bond of tradition that takes us back to the origins of the charism, and as an occasion of gratitude which reinforces the unity of the entire SF around the Successor of Don Bosco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The high point of the day, as usual, was the Mass celebrated by the Rector Major. In his homily he intertwined three guidelines: the figure of St John the Baptist, the tradition of the feast of thanksgiving, and Salesian circumstances today. Regarding John the Baptist, the Rector Major left aside any secondary aspect linked to his traditional image to get to the core of his mission: \u201cThe proclamation of the Lord Jesus. He lived to prepare others for the encounter with the Messiah.\u201d A model, that of the Precursor of Jesus, which \u2013 he observed \u2013 \u201cis valid as an excellent program of youth ministry, diocesan pastoral care, parish pastoral care\u2026 of pastoral care in general.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regarding Don Bosco and his feast, the Rector Major stressed the tenderness of the image of those first boys, students and past pupils of the Oratory at Valdocco, who felt the need to thank the one who was \u201ca father\u201d for them. From this relationship of real and continuous closeness between the hearts of Don Bosco and those of the young, he drew the shared responsibility of the young people themselves in the birth and then the development of the Congregation, first, and then of the Salesian Family. \u201cPeople will never remember how good we were at running this school, or college, or home\u2026 they will remember the heart, if they felt loved.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, he thanked everyone for the affection and prayers in his regard, especially on this occasion of celebration, but extended thanks to all his confreres, to the members of the SF and the lay colleagues who carry out Don Bosco\u2019s mission with him. Then, he concluded by reminding everyone of the secret of Salesian life: \u201cAt the center there is God and the Lord Jesus, at the center there is service and life as a gift.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only at the end of the Mass did Fr. \u00c1.F. Artime pass on to all those present the news of the death of his mother, which he had learned about during the morning. With great dignity, and at the same time opening his heart to his confreres and friends, he confided that from that moment he felt he was an orphan, and then thanked people already in advance for all the manifestations of attention and affection, and even more for the prayers offered on her behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The previously prepared fraternal programme then continued in a measured and balanced way due to the circumstances. Fr. Guido Errico, from the Formation Sector, presented the programme of activities in the Sangalli hall at Valdocco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fr. Martoglio, for his part, spoke to Fr. \u00c1.F. Artime in brotherly tones, assuring him of his personal closeness and that of all the confreres around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The video of homage to the Successor of Don Bosco, \u201cCaro Rettor Maggiore\u201d, was then screened, followed by the delivery of some tributes to him: from the community of Valdocco, from Salesian Headquarters, as well as from the Past Pupils of Don Bosco \u2013 the first initiators of this beautiful tradition of June 24th. On this occasion Bryan Magro, President of the World Confederation of the Past Pupils of Don Bosco, gave the Rector Major a painting of the Pakistani Past Pupil and Servant of God Akash Bashir, promising at the same time the enduring loyalty of all Past Pupils around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After this, several Salesians from Salesian Headquarters were honored by the Rector Major for their proven Salesian fidelity:<\/p>\n\n\n\n