Reflections on the Rua Congress 1910-2010

John Itzaina will be giving a report to the Salesian Family in California on the Rua Congress, held here in Rome from 28 to 31 October. I've send some photos to Ralph Murphy, and I'll send more, but let me put down a couple of reflections now.

Don Rua nella Storia - 1910-2010: Congresso Internazionale

My first sense is that this is a historiographer's conference, but that the Rector Major wanted this extended to the whole congregation. He put this proposal to Francesco Motto (director of the Institute of Salesian History in Rome) as early as 2005, and since 2006 preparations for this congress have been underway. The historians were a bit miffed, but the majority of delegates were formation counselors or those working in Salesian spirituality and formation.

Over 20 of my students from Rome (from 2005 to 2008) were taking part in this congress, as well as two from the ISS (Yarat and Paul Felix Vernal).

Yarat from Thailand and I talked a lot about Berkeley and Arthur's great breakfasts

Actually, I knew a lot of people present for this congress, and it was good to see old friends and colleagues from past projects.

As I said, the Rector Major really wanted this congress. His concluding conference says it all. He wants Salesians to get away from the clichés about Don Rua that are more dismissive than helpful. Rua is the one who institutionalized the charism and therefore is the one who brought Don Bosco and the Salesians out of the confines of the back alleys of Valdocco and into the forefront of the world…

Well, not all the world… our world has barely heard of Salesian… but this may be the point. As Don Rua found ways to invoke Don Bosco's spirit in new situations and unexperimented venues, so we have the same task today as the world moves into a major culture shift unknown since the defeat of Napoleon. In that sense, we are not too late. If Don Bosco has been "on hold" in English-speaking countries until now, we have the chance to introduce him to a new world, much as Don Rua did as he grew the congregation of 700 Salesians to over 4000 during his two decades of service.

But the Rector Major says it better than I can.

Thesis defense - Salesian studies deepen

This afternoon, the Salesian priest Jose Vettath (India Guwahati) defended his doctoral dissertation in the presence of a large contingent of students, professors, and Salesian confreres from other centers in Rome.

The dissertation, called The Mode of Government of Blessed Michael Rua, Rector Major of the Salesian Society (1888-1910), is a most timely one. It comes on the vigil of the centenary of the death of Blessed Michael Rua, first successor of Don Bosco. This fact in itself places the thesis in the context of what will be, for the entire Salesian Congregation and the apostolic family of Don Bosco, a year of reflection and celebration. Without doubt Fr Vettath’s contribution will find immediate use, particularly in English-speaking areas of the Salesian World.

The dissertation begins with a presentation of the state of the craft: who has studied the figure and writings of Michael Rua; the primary and secondary sources; the relevance of continued study of one of Saint John Bosco’s first collaborators in his mission among at-risk youth and his first successor as father and charismatic center of the Salesian apostolic world. Chapters one and two, then, offers us a historical grounding, while chapters three and four give us insights into the Blessed’s works, concrete and literary. Chapter five, finally, looks at Michael Rua’s governance itself. This chapter is something of a synthesis of all that has gone before and gives us a picture of an original and defining moment in the Salesian experience: the impact of Don Rua’s person and mission on Salesian life.

In allowing us to see the many elements of Don Rua’s governance – both in style and content – the candidate offers us a foundation, a study and a compendium. His presentation is meticulous. This makes it easy for others to reconstruct the period and to understand the inner dimensions of the Salesian Society in the earliest years. A compendium, yes, and quite valuable indeed!

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Jose Vettath (center) successfully defended his doctoral thesis today. Also pictured L-R are Jarek Rochowiak (registrar UPS), Francesco Motto (2nd reader), Giorgio Zevini (dean, theology school), Aldo Giraudo (thesis director), Joseph Boenzi (3rd reader).

Aldo Giraudo directed the scholar in his research and the writing of his dissertation, and Francesco Motto was the second reader. At Christmastime I had been asked to be the third member of the committee for the doctoral examination. I am grateful for that opportunity, for it allowed me access to Jose Vetthath’s work. Three years ago he frequented my course on the spirituality of St Francis de Sales, and at the time we had a number of conversations on the importance of creating an international team of Salesian scholars to share the sources of Don Bosco’s charism with the rising generations. I am very pleased to see that Jose has continued along this line. It is a day of pride for Salesian India, and for us all.