Rector Major, Fr Fabio Attard Presents the 2027 Strenna: “Charity Is Patient, Charity Is Kind”

Three significant anniversaries

Presented at a time of great significance for the Salesian world, the 2027 Strenna forms part of the journey marked by the years from 1875–1877, a three-year period rich in foundational events for Don Bosco, the Congregation and the Salesian Family, the 150th anniversary of which is being celebrated this year. Fr Attard recalls the journey already undertaken with the 2025 Strenna, “Anchored in hope, pilgrims with young people”, dedicated to the first Salesian missionary expedition of 1875 and marked by the Jubilee, and with the 2026 Strenna, “Do whatever he tells you – Believers, free to serve”, focused on the foundation of the Salesian Cooperators and on Mary’s words at the wedding at Cana (Jn 2:5). To these two anniversaries is now added the 150th anniversary of the First Missionary Expedition of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, as well as the 150th anniversary of the writing, in 1877, of one of Don Bosco’s most important works: The Preventive System in the Education of Youth.

 

The choice of theme

The title of the 2027 Strenna draws directly on the words with which Don Bosco himself described the foundation of his educational method, quoting Saint Paul: “The practice of this system is entirely based on the words of St Paul, who says: ‘Charity is patient and kind… Love bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things.’” The second part of the title – the call to be ‘dedicated’ to the integral good of young people – takes up an expression that Don Bosco himself used twice in his writings, emphasising how the rector and the educator must be ‘dedicated [the Italian is ‘consacrato’] entirely’ to their pupils , ready to face any hardship for the sake of their civic, moral and academic education.

 

The structure of the 2027 Strenna

In the light of these references, Fr Attard has structured the 2027 Strenna in two parts. The first part offers an in-depth reading of the context of St Paul’s hymn to charity, contained in chapter 13 of the First Letter to the Corinthians, presented as “the most excellent way” leading to conformity with Christ.

 

Originally written in response to the divisions and rivalries within the Corinthian community, St Paul’s eulogy of charity becomes, for the Salesian Family, a criterion for gauging the authenticity of Christian life and pastoral charity towards young people. “We may speak all languages, know the mysteries of God, possess extraordinary faith and perform heroic deeds; but without love we are merely noise, and everything we do loses its deepest value.”

 

The second part of the Strenna reinterprets the three pillars of the Preventive System – reason, religion and loving-kindness – in the light of current educational challenges.  In terms of reason, Fr Attard proposes rediscovering the Preventive System as a “pedagogy of encounter”, which places at its centre not programmes or structures, but each individual young person, with their own story and potential, drawing on the experience of Valdocco and the importance of educational networks built together with young people, not merely for them. In terms of religion, the Rector Major invites us to recognise the “spiritual thirst” that dwells in young people’s hearts, in an age marked by hyper-connectivity, loneliness and a lack of spaces for silence, emphasising the importance of accompanying them in recognising God’s voice in their own lives. Finally, in terms of loving-kindness, Fr Attard proposes Jesus the Good Shepherd and the pilgrim on the road to Emmaus as a model, capable of walking alongside his disciples, listening to them and shedding light on their experience – a style characterised by closeness, gentleness and kindness, already evident in Valdocco and directed with particular care towards the poorest young people.

 

The Preventive System: our treasure

“Charism and competence go hand in hand for the integral good of young people”, writes Fr Attard, recalling that the Preventive System is not merely a method, but the gift of a charism entrusted to the whole Salesian Family throughout the world, to be loved, understood and safeguarded with humility and intelligence, avoiding all superficiality.

 

With the presentation of the 2027 Strenna, Fr Attard invites all members of the Salesian Family to joyfully celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Preventive System in the education of young people, turning it into a precious and providential opportunity for a deeper understanding of the Salesian charism and for a renewed educational and pastoral commitment to young people.

 

Later on, the official poster for the 2027 Strenna will also be presented to the whole Salesian Family, whilst the full text will be available from the end of December 2026.

 

Fr Attard’s presentation is already available at the bottom of the page in the following languages: Italian, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Polish.

 

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