【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2014 年 08 月 16 日鮑思高新堡訊】 ─ 「我們在碧基山崗上，宣佈鮑思高神父誕生二百周年正式展開。」這就是范達民神父，於8月18日二百周年開幕演說的結尾辭。他的演說提醒整個慈幼大家庭，要時刻臨在於青年及其中的貧苦無告者中，他並感謝各人英豪地獻身於由鮑思高神父所發動的神恩方案中。

總會長一開始，便重申慈幼神恩是賜予給整個教會，為青年謀福祉，這神恩隨著時間而形成，從麗達媽媽的膝下、從與生命良師一起的友誼中，尤其透過每日與青年一起的生活。

范達民神父也評論說：「今天，作為鮑思高神父的家庭，作為慈幼修道的家庭，我們與很多政府和教會官方人員、鮑思高之友和青年一起，在他出生的同一座山崗上，宣佈他誕生二百周年慶祝年的開始。經過三年的準備期以及一年的慶祝期後，將會到達終點 ─ 2015年8月16日，標誌著他為青年的福祉臨在於教會及世界二百周年。」

以一份對上主深切的感恩心，為了鮑思高神父以及他所締造的屬神運動，總會長提醒所有受這位青年聖人所策勵的慈幼家庭所有組別說：「我們相信二百周年在我們慈幼家庭將成為真正神修與牧民更新的契機，以及活化這神恩的契機，並使鮑思高神父對青年的適時關注重新活現出來。我們相信這將是一個機緣，我們以更新的信念與動力，為普世的青年，尤其是那些最需要我們的、最貧苦無告的、最脆弱的青年，貫徹交託在我們手中的使命。」

在結尾時，他表示這二百周年將成為「一個機會，我們以極度的謙遜貢獻出我們神恩核心的東西：我們坐言起行詮釋社會的實況，尤其那些與青年相關、在今天影響我們的事情。」他亦解釋我們在面對青年時，必須持守「我們的信仰和我們全然對他們的信任，對每一位青年，無論他們的可能性及能力如何；我們必須堅信，無論他們的生活背景怎樣，他們的心地是良善的，並要讓他們有機會成為他們自己命運的主角，好好扮演他們的角色，如果他們接納我們，我們存留在他們身邊，幫助他們充分發展他們的天賦，圓滿地發展他們作為基督徒及人類一份子的使命。」

演說全文已刊載於慈幼會網頁 sdb.org 中。

 “This Bicentenary will be an opportunity for genuine spiritual and pastoral renewal in our Family”

 (ANS - RMG –Castelnuovo Don Bosco, 16 August 2014) – “From the Becchi  hills we declare the year of celebration of the Bicentenary of Don Bosco's birth open”.These were the words with which Fr Ángel Fernández Artime  concluded his opening address for the Bicentenary event on August 18. It was an address reminding the entire Salesian Family that it has been called to remain amongst the young and the poorest of them, and in which he also thanked the men and women who had heroically given their lives to this charismatic project initiated by Don Bosco.

From the outset the Rector Major recalled that the Salesian charism is a gift for the whole Church on behalf of the young and that it “was formed over time, from Mama Margaret's knees, by friendship with good teachers of life and especially by living with the young on a daily basis.”

Fr Fernández Artime also commented: “Today as Don Bosco's Family, as the Salesian religious family, here we are with many civic and Church authorities, friends of Don Bosco and young people on the same hill where he was born, to declare the beginning of a year of celebration for this Bicentenary of his birth. Its point of arrival – after three years of preparation and one of celebration – will be August 16, 2015,  which will mark the 200th anniversary of his presence in the Church and the world for the good of the young.”

With a deep sense of gratitude to the Lord for Don Bosco and the spiritual movement he created, the rector Major recalled all the groups who draw inspiration from the Saint of the young and added: “We believe that this Bicentenary will be an occasion of genuine spiritual and pastoral renewal in our Family, an opportunity to bring the charism to life and make Don Bosco truly as relevant as he always has been for the young. We believe it will be an opportunity to live carry out the mission entrusted to us with renewed conviction and energy, on behalf of young people throughout the world, especially those most in need of us, the poorest and the most vulnerable.”

and he finished by stating that the Bicentenary will be “a time for contributing what in all humility is at the core of our charism: our determination to interpret the social situations, especially those involving the young, which affect us today”. He also explained that faced with young people we must maintain “our faith and complete trust in them, in each young person, in their possibilities and capabilities; our certain belief that they are good of heart, whatever their story, and have the opportunity to become masters of and play a key role in their own destiny, our remaining by their side if they will accept us, to help them develop their talents to the full, fully develop their vocation as Christians and human beings.”.

The complete text of the address is available on sdb.org.