Salesian Rector Major calls for listening to youth during Madrid visit

Salesian Rector Major Fabio Attard visited Madrid from October 22 to 25 to mark the 150th anniversary of the Salesian Cooperators and the 125th anniversary of Salesianos Atocha. During the visit, he met with Salesian communities, students, educators, youth center animators, and the Salesian Family.

Attard encouraged the Salesian Family to practice the sacrament of presence by creating a family environment and speaking of God through communion. He noted that a lack of communion results in a loss of energy for their mission.

He urged members to deepen the Salesian pastoral charism to help young people find meaning in a time of changing religious understanding. Attard stated that pastoral work should encourage youth to take an active role in service and to look at the poor with the compassion of the good Samaritan. He also suggested that educators should help young people ask questions about their lives and vocations rather than simply providing prepared answers.