Hajja Salesjana November December 2017

1 7 difference. Both VDBs and CDBs dedicate their lives to their Salesian mission in a radical way. In fact, they profess the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, so that they can live and work among the people with an undivided heart, loving each person in a particular way. Whilst they earn their own money and have ordinary possessions, they manage them such that they are always open to be shared with other people. These secret agents of Don Bosco get their sense of belonging from their local VDB/CDB groups and being in communion with the Salesian Family, rather than from having their own romantic relationships, so they can dedicate more time and energy to helping people experience the love of God. They also discern major life decisions in accordance with their Salesian mission and always in obedience to the gospel. But why does this have to be undercover? We all agree that SDBs and FMAs already carry out sterling work with numerous youngsters and other categories in society. Imagine, however, this scenario: a youngster in a non-ecclesiastic environment who, perhaps, even feels hostile towards the church institution, for whichever reason. In this case, they might respond better to the witness of a seemingly ordinary person trying to live well. In a world that is becoming increasingly more secular, working undercover can render our mission to witness God's love more effective. In this sense, VDBs and CDBs complement the crucial work that SDBs and FMAs carry out in oratories, schools, and other environments. In fact, you could say that we are the extended arm of the work done by SDBs and FMAs. As you can imagine with any gift that is freely given, our lives can sometimes be misunderstood or underappreciated. This is rarely a problem. Imagine the life of Jesus when he was still living in Nazareth. Nobody knew he was the son of God, but did that ever prevent him from doing his Father's work? Through our lives, we seek to be salt that disappears in the food, but gives it taste. Or leaven that disappears in the mass of dough, making it rise. Of course, it does sometimes hurt when people around us think that we are wasting our lives, or when our call is considered to be a ‘lower class vocation’ by a select few. However, aren’t misunderstandings part and parcel of any innovative mission? Don Bosco would have had several things to say about this experience! Finally, and most importantly, we could not carry out our mission without being in constant communion with God, our lover and friend, father and guide. His love is what inspired Don Bosco and thousands of others to keep striving to seek the good that already exists in the world, and multiply it so that more people experience what it is like to be loved by God. May all of us, members of the great Salesian Family, continue to work together for the benefit of the young! Should you like to have more information about the Volunteers of Don Bosco, please do not hesitate to speak to Fr Sandro Camilleri sdb our Salesian VDB Delegate.