The lay dimension of the Don Bosco family

1. Enter
A S L E A V E N I N T O D A Y ' S
A S L E A V E N I N T O D A Y ' S
H U M A N F A M I L Y
H U M A N F A M I L Y
The lay dimension of the Don Bosco Family
Strenna 2023
Strenna 2023
Graphics: Elena Cristino

2. 01 - Yeast... this stranger
01 - Yeast... this stranger
02 - Ingredients
02 - Ingredients
03 - The wonder of yeast
03 - The wonder of yeast
04 - Addressees of the Strenna
04 - Addressees of the Strenna
05 - Yeast and fertility
05 - Yeast and fertility
06 - Our FLOUR
06 - Our FLOUR
07 - Our SUGAR
07 - Our SUGAR
08 - To be YEAST
08 - To be YEAST
09 - A road mapped out
09 - A road mapped out
10 - The Kingdom of God
10 - The Kingdom of God
11 - The human family
11 - The human family
12 - A theological place of encounter
12 - A theological place of encounter
with God
with God
13 - Point of no return
13 - Point of no return
Index
14 - The road opens
14 - The road opens

3. 01
Yeast... who?
Yeasts are a group of fungi, formed from a
single cell type, which can be elliptical or
spherical in shape. More than a thousand
species of yeasts have been catalogued.
Some species are commonly used to leaven
bread and ferment alcoholic beverages. The
most commonly used yeast is a
saccharomyces, scientific term
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which has been
'tamed' for thousands of years for the
production of wine, bread and beer.
Index

4. Yeast... who?
While some yeasts use exclusively aerobic
respiration, others, in the absence of oxygen,
may use a different process called
fermentation. Fermenting yeasts produce
energy by converting sugars into carbon
dioxide and ethanol. In the fermentation of
alcoholic beverages, the production of ethanol
is useful, while in the leavening of bread, the
carbon dioxide swells the dough, and the
alcohol (ethanol) evaporates during baking.
Index

5. SUGAR
SUGAR
FLOUR
FLOUR
CARBON
CARBON
DIOXIDE
DIOXIDE
ALCOHOL
ALCOHOL
Index 02
02
C
C6
6H
H12
12O
O6
6 (Gluc se) → 2 CH
(Gluc se) → 2 CH3
3CH
CH2
2OH (E anol) + 2 CO
OH (E anol) + 2 CO2
2 (Carbon dioxide)
(Carbon dioxide)

6. How wonderful this yeast!!!
03
03
Index
Leavening takes place in SILENCE
Leavening takes place in SILENCE
and likewise God's way of doing
and likewise God's way of doing
in his inner workings
in his inner workings
The name 'yeast' comes from the
fact that these organisms allow
bread dough to 'transform'.
Yeasts generate the process called
fermentation.
Yeasts slowly transform glucose
(sugar) into carbon dioxide and
alcohol.
Yeasts induce the production of
carbon dioxide, which generates the
effervescence of beer and makes
the bread lighter, fluffier and
therefore less compact.

7. Addressees of the Strenna
Adolescents and young people
called to be leaven in today's
human family
All groups of the Salesian Family,
invited to rediscover the lay dimension
proper to our family and the
vocational complementarity that
exists and must always exist among us
04
04
Index

8. Addressees of the Strenna
Addressees of the Strenna
04
04 Index
Helping adolescents and young people in particular
to discover that each one of them is called to be like
the leaven of which Jesus speaks: the good leaven
that helps to make the 'bread' of the human family
grow and make it bigger and tastier.
yeast that
yeast that
generates
generates
yeast that
yeast that
makes
makes
lighter
lighter
yeast that
yeast that
transforms
transforms

9. Addressees of the Strenna
Addressees of the Strenna
04
04 Index
Being together as the people of God is fully in tune
with what the Church has been asking for so long,
and it is what our fragmented world needs
more and more.
yeast that
transforms
yeast that
generates
yeast that
makes
lighter

10. 0
05
5
Reciprocal
giving
Secularity
D. Bosco
FAMILY
DNA of
consecrated
persons
Index Yeast and fertility
Yeast and fertility
This year’s Strenna presents yeast as an
This year’s Strenna presents yeast as an
image and symbol of the fruitfulness and
image and symbol of the fruitfulness and
growth of the kingdom of God. It is a
growth of the kingdom of God. It is a
kingdom in the hearts of people, which
kingdom in the hearts of people, which
fertilises the richness of the gift of the
fertilises the richness of the gift of the
call to life, the vocation where God has
call to life, the vocation where God has
planted us, directing the mission of the
planted us, directing the mission of the
laity and of the entire Family of Don
laity and of the entire Family of Don
Bosco throughout the world
Bosco throughout the world

11. (Gal 5,9)
0
05
5
Index Yeast and fertility
Yeast and fertility
"A little yeast makes the whole dough ferment". (Gal 5,9)
"A little yeast makes the whole dough ferment". (Gal 5,9)
But what sets it apart is that it is the
But what sets it apart is that it is the only living ingredient
only living ingredient and, because it is
and, because it is
alive, it has the power to influence, condition and transform the whole dough.
alive, it has the power to influence, condition and transform the whole dough.

12. Our Flours...
Our Flours...
Index
06
The universal openness that characterises
The universal openness that characterises
us as Salesian Family is in full harmony
us as Salesian Family is in full harmony
with the Gospel of the Kingdom. The
with the Gospel of the Kingdom. The
proximity to so many different human
proximity to so many different human
communities in about 75% of the
communities in about 75% of the
countries of the world is in itself a
countries of the world is in itself a
formidable potential for unity
formidable potential for unity
and mission. The Church is more
and mission. The Church is more
than 99% lay people. Imagine
than 99% lay people. Imagine
how the proportion increases
how the proportion increases
if one considers and
if one considers and
embraces
embraces the
the
entire human
entire human family:
family:
the laity
the laity are the
are the
dough
dough as well
as well
as the
as the leaven
leaven
of the Kingdom.
of the Kingdom.
The universal openness that characterises
The universal openness that characterises
us as Salesian Family is in full harmony
us as Salesian Family is in full harmony
with the Gospel of the Kingdom. The
with the Gospel of the Kingdom. The
proximity to so many different human
proximity to so many different human
communities in about 75% of the
communities in about 75% of the
countries of the world is in itself a
countries of the world is in itself a
formidable potential for unity
formidable potential for unity
and mission. The Church is more
and mission. The Church is more
than 99% lay people. Imagine
than 99% lay people. Imagine
how the proportion increases
how the proportion increases
if one considers and
if one considers and
embraces the
embraces the
entire human
entire human family:
family:
the laity
the laity are the
are the
dough
dough as well
as well
as the
as the leaven
leaven
of the Kingdom.
of the Kingdom.

13. [GS 1]
The cry of the poor is growing,
The cry of the poor is growing,
the majority of whom are
the majority of whom are
children, adolescents and young
children, adolescents and young
people: we face challenges that
people: we face challenges that
are as extensive as they are
are as extensive as they are
close to those we find at the
close to those we find at the
origins of our mission. We are
origins of our mission. We are
made for this time no less than
made for this time no less than
Don Bosco was for his.
Don Bosco was for his.
"The joys and hopes,
"The joys and hopes,
the sorrows and
the sorrows and
anxieties of the
anxieties of the
people of today, of
people of today, of
the poor above all,
the poor above all,
and of all those who
and of all those who
suffer, are also the
suffer, are also the
joys and hopes, the
joys and hopes, the
sorrows and
sorrows and
anxieties of the
anxieties of the
disciples of Christ,
disciples of Christ,
and there is nothing
and there is nothing
genuinely human
genuinely human
that is not echoed in
that is not echoed in
their hearts..
their hearts..
06
Our grapes...
Index

14. Our sugar...
Our sugar...
Index
... action and prayer, in Don Bosco, were one and the same. The extraordinary work that kept
him busy from morning to night did not disturb his prayer, on the contrary it aroused it and
directed it; and the prayer cultivated in the depths of his heart nourished in him renewed
energies of charity to dedicate himself with all of himself to the good of his poor young
people. [Salesian Family Identity Card Art. 36]
Salesian prayer is an apostolic prayer; it is a movement that starts from action to
reach God, and it is a movement that, from God, leads back to action by bringing
Him, because mind and heart are filled with His love.
07

15. Our sugar...
Our sugar...
Index
Widespread prayer is, therefore, typical of those who live the spirituality of Don Bosco and
carry out his mission. Without neglecting those moments of explicit prayer, nourished by
listening to the Word of God and responding with love, which transform life into prayer
[Salesian Family Identity Card Art. 36]
Reason, religion and loving-kindness are today, more than yesterday,
indispensable elements for educational action and valuable leaven to give life to
a more human society, in response to the expectations of the new generations.
07

16. our being leaven...
our being leaven... Index
Moved by faith, hope and charity, the members of the Salesian Family
Moved by faith, hope and charity, the members of the Salesian Family
participate in the action of God who always works to communicate his
participate in the action of God who always works to communicate his
merciful love to each person, and they feel
merciful love to each person, and they feel deeply included in the
deeply included in the
communion and apostolate of the Church
communion and apostolate of the Church.
.
[Salesian Family Identity Card Art. 22]
08
For the Salesian Family and its members, "living in God's presence" means cultivating an
For the Salesian Family and its members, "living in God's presence" means cultivating an intense and continuous
intense and continuous
relationship of love with Him
relationship of love with Him ("union with God"); it means feeling filled with a love similar to His; it also means
("union with God"); it means feeling filled with a love similar to His; it also means
knowing how to grasp and welcome the signs of His mysterious presence in the expectations and demands of the
knowing how to grasp and welcome the signs of His mysterious presence in the expectations and demands of the
men and women of our time.
men and women of our time.
[Salesian Family Identity Card Art. 23]

17. our being leaven...
our being leaven... Index
Serenity and trust, in the certainty that we are always sustained by the
Serenity and trust, in the certainty that we are always sustained by the
power of the Spirit;
power of the Spirit; docility to his secret inspirations; wise discernment of
docility to his secret inspirations; wise discernment of
his presence in human affairs, both personal and communitarian; wise and
his presence in human affairs, both personal and communitarian; wise and
courageous collaboration in his work for the coming of the Kingdom of God
courageous collaboration in his work for the coming of the Kingdom of God
in the lives of individuals, in the Church and in society
in the lives of individuals, in the Church and in society;
;
[Salesian Family Identity Card Art. 25
08
We must practise a
We must practise a believing reading of reality that includes others
believing reading of reality that includes others, promoting dialogue with others, with
, promoting dialogue with others, with
culture, with the media, with intellectuals, with those who think differently and even in opposition to us. These
culture, with the media, with intellectuals, with those who think differently and even in opposition to us. These
are the virtuous habits that our way of being in the world requires, the
are the virtuous habits that our way of being in the world requires, the 'Christian and Salesian style'
'Christian and Salesian style' that we can
that we can
bring to our vision of the world and things.
bring to our vision of the world and things.

18. A road mapped out...
Like Don Bosco, with the young, for the young
With Jesus, let us go on the adventure of the
Spirit together!
We are family! Every home, school of
life and love
2015
2016
2017
09
Index

19. "That my joy may be in you" (Jn 15:11).
Holiness also for you
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven"
(Mt 6:10). "Good Christians and honest
citizens”
Moved by hope: "Behold, I make all
things new" (Rev 21:5)
2019
2020
2021
"Lord, give me of this water" (Jn 4:15). Let us
cultivate the art of listening and
accompanying
2018
Indice
09

20. Do everything out of love, nothing by
force (St Francis de Sales)
AS LEAVEN IN TODAY'S HUMAN
FAMILY.
The lay dimension of the Don Bosco
Family
2022
2023
where do we stand?
Index
09

21. The Kingdom of
God... To become part of it, one must be poor in
heart; not trusting in one's own abilities, but
in the power of God's love; not acting to be
important in the eyes of the world, but
precious in the eyes of God, who prefers the
simple and humble.
In spite of our limited capacity and action -
entrusted to God's care - we are not afraid
of difficulties.
The seed of goodness and peace
germinates and develops, because God's
merciful love makes it ripen".
It is by attuning ourselves to His way of
being and acting that we collaborate with
Him, as labourers in His vineyard.
Otherwise, it ceases to be 'of God' and
becomes only our work.
Index
10
10
Jesus fully lived the Kingdom,
Jesus fully lived the Kingdom,
and his way of life is assumed
and his way of life is assumed
by osmosis by the twelve and
by osmosis by the twelve and
continued in the early Church
continued in the early Church

22. The human family
The human family
Index
It is a drive to discover the meaning of one's own existence
It is a drive to discover the meaning of one's own existence
in the knowledge that my life is never isolated from that
in the knowledge that my life is never isolated from that
of everyone else.
of everyone else. The 'I' and the 'we' can only exist
The 'I' and the 'we' can only exist
and live well together
and live well together
11
11

23. The human family
The human family
11
11
Indice
As members of Don Bosco's Family, inspired by the Gospel
As members of Don Bosco's Family, inspired by the Gospel
dynamic of the yeast, we intend to deepen and recognise
dynamic of the yeast, we intend to deepen and recognise
the richness of
the richness of being made by so many lay men and women,
being made by so many lay men and women,
along with various groups of consecrated people.
along with various groups of consecrated people.

24. This is our daily...
This is our daily...
The secular character is proper and peculiar to
the laity [...] It is their vocation to seek the
kingdom of God by dealing with temporal things
and ordering them according to God. They live in
the world, that is, involved in various duties and
works of the world and in the ordinary conditions
of family and social life, with which their
existence is as it were interwoven. There they are
called by God to contribute, almost from within
like leaven, to the sanctification of the world by
exercising their office under the guidance of the
spirit of the gospel, and in this way to manifest
Christ to others principally by the witness of their
own lives and by the radiance of their faith, hope
and charity
11
11
LG, 31
Index

25. This is our daily...
This is our daily...
The apostolic exhortation Christifideles laici
(1988), summarises very well that it is the task
of all the baptised, even if in different ways, to
be leaven in the world: 'The evangelical images
of salt, light and leaven, while indiscriminately
referring to all the disciples of Jesus, have a
specific application to the lay faithful. They are
splendidly significant images, because they
speak not only of the profound insertion and
full participation of the lay faithful in the earth,
in the world, in the human community; but
also and above all of the novelty and originality
of an insertion and participation destined to
spread the Gospel that saves" (ChL 15).
11
11
Indice

26. ... to be lay believers in the Church and in the Don
Bosco Family as those men and women with a
threefold belonging: belonging to Christ, belonging to
the Church and belonging to the world.
Index
11
11

27. I intend to offer my
teachings to those who live
in the cities, in the family,
at court, and who, by virtue
of their status, are forced
by social conveniences to
live among others
S. Francis de Sales
Crossing the secular city, guarding interiority, combining the
desire for perfection with every state of life, finding a centre that
does not separate itself from the world, but teaches how to
inhabit it, how to appreciate it, while also learning how to
distance oneself from it: this was his intention and continues to
be a valuable lesson for every woman and man of our time.
Index
11
11

28. 12
Index
For all the lay members of the Salesian
Family today
place of encounter
place of encounter
with God
with God
the world, society,
the economy and politics,
social action in the service
of others
Christian life in everyday life are and
must always be a

29. only together, only by living in communion
can we do something meaningful today
Indice
12

30. for the good of those who decide and have
decided to enter into this style of mission,
formation, shared life that opens up new horizons
of future for the charism of Don Bosco in full
harmony with the path that the Church is taking
forward with the guidance of Pope Francis,
undoubtedly prophetic and exemplary
of those who, on the other hand, are unable or
unwilling to cross this threshold and close
themselves off in forms of self-referential
isolation: no longer in step with the times in the
way they live and interpret the Salesian presence,
and destined to become irrelevant and to die out
as the years go by.
...point of no return...
Index
13

31. The complementarity of vocations in Don Bosco's family, being
united as Salesian Family, and united with the large number of lay
men and women in the world, together in mission and formation,
becomes an inescapable requirement today and all the more so
in the future, if we do not want to remain irrelevant.
Index
14

32. Index
Walking together...
14

33. For Don Bosco it meant
valuing everything positive
rooted in people's lives, in
created realities, in the events
of history. This led him to
grasp the authentic values
present in the world; [...]
Index
...with Salesian
...with Salesian
humanism
humanism
14
to seek wisely the
cooperation of many,
convinced that everyone
has gifts that must be
discovered, recognised and
valued;

34. Believing in the power of
education which provides support
for the young person’s
development, and encouraging
him to become an upright citizen
and a good Christian;
Index
...with Salesian
...with Salesian
humanism
humanism
14
and always and everywhere
entrusting himself to the
Providence of God, perceived
and loved as a Father

35. Indice
May our Mother Help of Christians help us all to be disciple-
May our Mother Help of Christians help us all to be disciple-
missionaries, little stars that reflect her light. And we pray
missionaries, little stars that reflect her light. And we pray
that hearts will open to joyfully receive the proclamation
that hearts will open to joyfully receive the proclamation
of salvation
of salvation that is God himself in Jesus.
that is God himself in Jesus.