【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2009年11月23日葡萄牙里斯本訊】 ─ 11月20日，慈幼會西歐地區省議會成員退省結束前，總會長查偉思神父專程向他們講論了有關歐洲的問題。
「一個嶄新的歐洲正在展現，作為鮑思高的神子，不能作單純的旁觀者。」因此總會長鼓勵歐洲的慈幼會士，在這新的境況下，「要作出特有的貢獻」，他認為這包括「懷著對青少年永不休止的信賴，對教育作出更新的努力，並不斷推廣預防教育法」——鮑思高所倡議的教育風格。
查偉思神父在分析歐洲當前的情況時，指出歐洲在政治和社會上，不斷建構的局面——「人最所希望的」——可以看到宗教逐漸被邊緣化，並退縮到只屬私人的領域。
總會長論及失落基督宗教根源的意識時說：「拒絕天主在十字架上彰顯自己，就是拒絕天主的愛」，他指出「這幾乎是內在地拒絕十字架，在現今如此的普遍流行，是今天最顯然易見的主流外教主義的表達。」他在總結時又表示：「誰試圖建造沒有天主的城，就是返回巴貝爾，建造一座向世界散播紛亂的塔。」
慈幼會士最近開展「歐洲方案」，致力於重振神恩、更新團體生活、「為回應青少年重大的問題」而作福傳，和面對著貧窮的新形式，慈幼會士現正準備「為克服青少年不同形式的邊緣化」而工作。
為能在歐洲地區實現這個目標，他們在會士培育、青少年牧民、社會傳意及慈幼大家庭各方面，加強不同形式的合作。鮑思高神子致力於整合不同領域的慈幼式的臨在，訂立優先目標，為能鼓勵會士及教育工作者，從歐洲的思維中擺脫出來，並訂立策略性計劃，去回應一些地區有關移民方面的實際需要，以及開展特殊的福傳方案。
其他修會亦表示有興趣的歐洲方案，為整個慈幼會所關注的計劃。
今天，超過六千名慈幼會士在歐洲不同國家的青少年中心、教育機構、職業訓練學校、堂區、邊緣人士援助中心、師範學院、大學、兒童之家、社會傳意中心及其他青少年服務機構，實踐他們的使命。
查偉思神父說：「我們致力在歐洲展現慈幼會士嶄新的臨在，使歐洲成為慈幼會士的傳教地區，因為這裡的青少年，尤其是在重大困苦中的青少年，需要天主。」
Europe and the Salesians
(ANS – Portugal–Lisbon, 23 November 2009 ) – Coming to the end of the Retreat for the members of the Provincial Councils of the West Europe Region, on 20 November the Rector Major of the Salesians spoke about Europe.
“A new Europe is emerging and the Sons of Don Bosco cannot be simple spectators.” He therefore encouraged the Salesian of the continent of Europe “to make a specific contribution” in this new situation which, in his opinion, includes “an unfailing trust in youth, a renewed commitment to education and the constant promotion of the Preventive System”, the style of education proposed by Don Bosco.
Fr Chávez analysed the current situation of Europe pointing out how in the face of the ongoing construction of Europe on the political and social level – “the focus for human hopes” – there is to be observed a progressive marginalisation of the religious aspect, which is being relegated to the private domain.
The Rector Major spoke of the loss of the sense of Christian roots: “refusing to allow God to show Himself on the Cross is to reject the God of Love,” and he pointed out that “this almost visceral rejection of the Cross, so relevant and wide-spread nowadays, is the most obvious expression of today’s dominant paganism.” He added in conclusion “whoever tries to build the city without God will return to Babel and build a tower to spread confusion on the earth.”
The Salesians, who recently launched their “Project for Europe”, are working to re-vitalise the charism, to renew community life, to evangelise “as a response to the great questions of the young,” and in the face of the new forms of poverty, are preparing to work “to overcome the various forms of the marginalisation of youth.”
To this end at European level they are strengthening various forms of collaboration in the areas of formation, youth ministry, social communications and the Salesian Family. The Sons of Don Bosco are engaged in a process of re-organising the various Salesian presences, establishing priorities so as to encourage Salesians and educators to emerge from a European mentality, and in addition are drawing up a strategic plan to respond to the practical needs in some areas regarding immigration and launching specific projects of evangelisation.
The Project for Europe, in which other religious Institutes are also taking an interest is a programme which is of concern to the whole Congregation.
Today over 6000 Salesians are carrying out their mission in European countries working in youth centres, educational institutes, vocational training schools, parishes, assistance centres for the marginalised, teachers’ training colleges, universities, childrens’ homes, centres for social communication and other institutions at the service of youth.
“We are engaged in giving a new face to the Salesian presence in Europe”, Fr Chávez said, so that “Europe is mission territory for the Salesians, because it is there that the young, especially those who are in greater difficulty, need God.”