By Fr Joyston Machado for BIS Mumbai

The Salesian Province of Mumbai was privileged to host a series of deeply spiritual and inspiring retreats led by Fr Pascual Chávez SDB, former Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, from September 22 to October 12, 2024. The retreats, held at Don Bosco Lonavla and Prayer House Khandala, brought together rectors, leaders, confreres in the decennium, and those under general patronage. These retreats offered a unique opportunity for spiritual renewal and deeper reflection on Salesian life, leadership, and the mission entrusted by Don Bosco to his sons.

 In his opening talk, Fr Chávez set the spiritual tone for the retreats with the theme “Your Face, Lord, Do I Seek.” This call to seek God’s face served as the foundation for all his reflections, urging the participants to encounter Christ in a profound, personal way, and to allow this relationship to inspire their ministry.

 The first retreat, from September 22 to 28, focused on rectors and leaders of Salesian communities. Fr Chávez addressed the unique role of rectors, emphasizing their responsibility as spiritual leaders and animators of fraternity within their communities. His sessions on Rectors as Leaders stressed that Salesian leadership is rooted in service, humility, and wisdom. He encouraged rectors to lead by example, fostering environments of trust, love, and mutual support, where each confrere can grow in his vocation.

 From September 29 to October 5, the retreat at Khandala was aimed at Salesians in their decennium – those within their first ten years of priesthood or perpetual profession. For them, Fr Chávez’s reflections on the Experience of God and Religious Vocation were particularly relevant. He reminded the participants that their vocation is a gift from God and that their mission is to be lived out with joy and enthusiasm, particularly in their service to the young, especially the poor. Echoing his first letter as Rector Major, “My Dear Salesians, Be Saints!”, Fr Chávez called on the young Salesians to strive for holiness, emphasizing that a personal relationship with Christ should always be at the heart of their ministry.

 The final ongoing retreat, from October 6 to 12, is designed for those under general patronage, and here Fr Chávez takes a broader perspective, focusing on themes such as Christian Hope and Fraternal Life. He connected Don Bosco’s Dream at the Age of Nine to the contemporary Salesian mission, urging participants to be bearers of hope in a world that often feels overwhelmed by despair. “Christian hope,” he emphasized, “must be the driving force of our mission.” In these reflections, Fr Chávez offered practical guidance on how to live out the Salesian charism in today’s world, especially by cultivating love, which he described as “the fruit of the Spirit.”

 A recurring theme throughout the retreats was the need to be “the hope that overturns the world.” Fr Chávez urged the participants to live their Salesian vocation with courage, conviction, and an unwavering sense of mission, reminding them that their call is to transform the world by serving the young, especially those on the margins.

 Fr Chávez’s simplicity and holiness were evident in his approach. He began each session with a prayer to the Holy Spirit and a Hail Mary, grounding his reflections in prayer and inviting participants to do the same. His ability to weave together deep theological insights with practical examples from his time as Rector Major, and his ministry around the world, made his talks accessible and relatable.

 As the retreats concluded, there was a profound sense of gratitude among the participants. Fr Chávez’s presence had renewed their commitment to their Salesian vocation, inspiring them to live out their mission with greater zeal and joy. His words had rekindled their passion for serving the young, particularly the poor, and reminded them that holiness is at the heart of their Salesian calling.

 In the words of one participant, “These retreats have been a moment of grace, a time to come closer to God, and a powerful reminder of our Salesian mission to be saints in the service of the young.” The spiritual and charismatic renewal experienced during these retreats will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the province.