【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2012 年 4 月 24 日羅馬慈幼總部訊】 ─ 鮑思高同學聯合會最近慶祝創會百週年紀念。凡曾接受過慈幼會教育的人士，都可稱為「鮑思高舊同學」，因此人數無法估計。他們當中很多是傑出人士，但卻以簡樸的日常生活，實踐鮑思高格言：「做個良好的基督徒和正直的公民」。

聯合會的會章第一條為：「舊同學是那些曾參與慶禮院、慈幼會學校或其他任何形式的慈幼會教育，並曾依據鮑思高預防教育法的原則接受培育準備將來的人。」

聯合會的「歷史性記憶」，要說到1870年6月24日，鮑思高神父本名主保瞻禮日，一群舊同學本著孝愛之情，向他送上一些咖啡杯。鮑思高神父希望延續這個傳統，為他們獻出一整天，並邀請他們共進晚餐，為答謝他們的禮物。首次「兄弟的慶節」於1874年7月19日舉行，成為鮑思高舊生週年聚會的傳統，並在慈幼會會院延續下去，直到今天。

1884年，這群舊同學──人數多於三百──成立首個組織。他們致力保存所接受的教育，繼續為貧苦無告青少年工作，並在彼此間培育友誼與共融。首個會章於1911年12月8日都靈首屆國際大會中，在鮑思高神父第三位繼承人真福李納德神父鼓勵下制定完成。

一眾舊同學深願在都靈進教之佑大殿前竪立鮑思高神父紀念碑，1920年5月23日，正式揭幕。他們在這個場合，訂定組織的基本架構（至今仍適用）：地方校會、會省聯會、國際聯會（自1954年起稱為世界鮑思高同學聯合會）。他們在會議中，決定把非基督宗教的舊生，也一併納入聯合會內，消除歧視與隔離，建立會中兄弟友誼與共融意識的對會的優勢。

六零年代大公會議期間把舊同學會帶進一個嶄新的、與慈幼會更緊密合作的具體模式中。聯會成了O.M.A.A.E.E.C，一個涉及不同修會的舊生的團體，得到教會認可，成為國際公教組織（O.I.C.）中的的一員。

世界鮑思高舊同學聯合會，集合各大洲的舊生，不分種族及宗教信仰；推動會員的持續培育及遵照鮑思高教育法支援青少年教育，尤其貧苦無告者。舊同學也被召叫，把他們從慈幼教育所得到的的價值觀，予以宣揚及保護，並在生活中實踐出來。

近年，聯會注重未來領袖的培訓，在各大洲舉辦專門課程。同時，他們亦彼此分享新的計劃，交流本地的議案，並籌辦國際大會（歐洲區、亞澳區、拉丁美洲區及非洲區），每四年舉行一次，以及每六年舉行一次的世界大會。

Past Pupils of Don Bosco: who are they?

 (ANS - RMG – Rome, 24 April 2012) – Their association has recently celebrated the first centenary of their foundation. The number of those who, after attending some educative Salesian work,  are entitled to be called “past pupils of Don Bosco” is incalculable. Very many of them are illustrious people, but far more are those who in their simple daily lives exemplify the motto of Don Bosco: “good Christian and honest citizen”.

The first article of the Confederal Statutes of the Association reads: “Past Pupils are those who, having attended an oratory, school or any other Salesian work, have received a preparation for life according to the principles of Don Bosco’s preventive system”

The “historic memory” of the association goes back to June 24th, 1870, Don Bosco’s name day celebration, when a group of past pupils, out of filial gratitude, brought him a gift of some coffee cups. Don Bosco wanted this tradition to continue, devoting an entire day to it and offering an invitation to dinner in appreciation of the gifts. The first “fraternal feast” took place on July 19 1874, so beginning the custom of an annual gathering of past pupils , which has continued in Salesian houses right down the  present day.

In 1884 this group of past pupils – more than 300 of them – set up their first organizational structure. They committed themselves to preserving the education they had received, to continue the work for needy youngsters and to cultivate friendship and solidarity amongst the members. The first statutes were drawn up in Turin on December 8th, 1911, on the occasion of the first international congress, with the encouragement of  Blessed Philip Rinaldi, who later became Don Bosco’s third successor.

 May 23rd 1920 saw the inauguration of the monument to Don Bosco,  erected in front of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin at the wish of the past pupils. On this occasion they defined the basic structure of the organization, which is still in place: Local Union, Provincial Federation, International Federation (known as World Confederation since 1954). In that meeting it was decided to accept into the association also past pupiIs of non-Christian religions, eliminating distinctions and separations and taking the fraternal link and sense of unity to be an advantage for the association.

The period of the Council brought the Association to look to new and more concrete forma of collaboration with the Salesians.  The Confederation forms part of the O.M.A.A.E.E.C, a body which involves past pupils from various Congregations and which is recognized by the Church among international Catholic Organizations (O.I.C.).

The World Confederation groups together the past pupil of all continents without ethnic or religious distinction; it promotes the ongoing formation of its members and supports the education of youth, especially of the poor, in accordance with the educational method of Don Bosco. The past pupils are called upon to  promote, defend and to put into practice the values inculcated during their Salesian education.

In recent years, the Association is seeing to the training of its future leaders, by means of specific courses set up in different continents. Meanwhile, to share new projects and to exchange local initiatives between the members, International Congresses have been  arranged (Eurobosco, Asia-Australia, Congrelat, Afrobosco), which take place every four years, and the World Assembly, which takes place every six years.