{"id":15222,"date":"2026-03-10T07:50:25","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T07:50:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/wordpress\/index.php\/2026\/03\/10\/fr-fabio-attard-offers-first-mass-as-rector-major-at-the-basilica-of-mary-help-of-christians\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T07:50:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T07:50:25","slug":"fr-fabio-attard-offers-first-mass-as-rector-major-at-the-basilica-of-mary-help-of-christians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/2026\/03\/10\/fr-fabio-attard-offers-first-mass-as-rector-major-at-the-basilica-of-mary-help-of-christians\/","title":{"rendered":"Fr. Fabio Attard Offers First Mass as Rector Major at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header pos-rel\">\n<div class=\"read-details\">\n<div class=\"entry-header-details af-cat-widget-carousel\">\n<div class=\"figure-categories read-categories figure-categories-bg categories-inside-image\">\n<ul class=\"cat-links\">\n<li class=\"meta-category\">\n                             <a class=\"morenews-categories category-color-1\" href=\"http:\/\/localhost\/ingoldsite\/index.php\/category\/gc29\/\" aria-label=\"GC29\"><br \/>\n                                 GC29<br \/>\n                             <\/a>\n                        <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<h1 class=\"entry-title\">Fr. Fabio Attard Offers First Mass as Rector Major at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians<\/h1>\n<div class=\"aft-post-excerpt-and-meta color-pad\">\n<div class=\"entry-meta author-links\">\n<p>                            <span class=\"item-metadata posts-author byline\"><br \/>\n                                            <i class=\"far fa-user-circle\"><\/i><br \/>\n                          <a href=\"http:\/\/localhost\/ingoldsite\/index.php\/author\/admin_gp\/\"><br \/>\n              Admin-ING      <\/a><br \/>\n                    <\/span><\/p>\n<p>                            <span class=\"item-metadata posts-date\"><br \/>\n                    <i class=\"far fa-clock\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><br \/>\n                    March 27, 2025                <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"aft-comment-view-share\">\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p><!-- .entry-header --><\/p>\n<p>        <!-- end slider-section --><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-img pos-rel\">\n<div class=\"post-thumbnail full-width-image\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"655\" height=\"438\" src=\"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2025-03-26-16-35-22-263620365794bd00c181d6bd1aa8062a-l.jpg\" class=\"attachment-morenews-featured size-morenews-featured wp-post-image\" alt=\"2025-03-26-16-35-22-263620365794bd00c181d6bd1aa8062a-l\" loading=\"lazy\">        <\/div>\n<p>                                                                                    <span class=\"aft-image-caption\"><\/p>\n<p>\n                                                    Fr. Fabio Attard, the new Rector Major and 11th Successor of Don Bosco, presided over his first Mass at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco, Turin.                                                <\/p>\n<p>                                            <\/span>\n                                                                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"color-pad\">\n<div class=\"entry-content read-details\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fr. Fabio Attard, the new Rector Major and 11th Successor of Don Bosco, presided over his first Mass at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco, Turin. It was a solemn and profoundly spiritual occasion marked by gratitude and reflection, during which the Salesian Family gathered to thank God for the Eucharist gift and meditate on the mission and vision of Don Bosco\u2019s successor.<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Eucharist: the Greatest Expression of God\u2019s Love<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In his homily, Fr. Fabio emphasized the profound meaning of the Eucharist, describing it as the greatest expression of God\u2019s love. He invited the assembly to live the celebration as a moment of thanksgiving, recalling the beauty and importance of this event for the Congregation.<\/p>\n<p>The readings proclaimed during the Mass highlighted the journey of God\u2019s people\u2014a journey of transformation and growth, leading from one condition to another, always toward something more significant and better.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Lord invites us to listen, follow, and choose freely,\u201d said the Rector Major, \u201cnot out of fear or obligation, but from an authentic and profound desire to walk with Him.\u201d He then stressed the importance of personal freedom and responsibility in responding to God\u2019s call.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Listening and the Maturation of Faith<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Fr. Fabio reflected on the importance of listening, describing it as the foundation of faith. He explained that authentic listening is not passive but active and transformative, capable of helping people grow in maturity and wisdom.<\/p>\n<p>He observed that \u201cListening to the Word of God \u201cmakes us authentic witnesses, capable of living and communicating the Gospel in every aspect of life.<\/p>\n<p>He then appealed to educators and pastors, urging them to examine their ability to listen and bear witness. \u201cOur task is not only to teach,\u201d he emphasized, \u201cbut to inspire through our lives. Our witness must go beyond words, communicating concrete signs of intelligence, prophecy, and love that speak to the hearts of young people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Don Bosco: A Model of Pastoral Charity<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The new Rector Major then drew attention to Don Bosco, who remains an inexhaustible source of inspiration for the Salesian Family. He described Don Bosco as a man of pastoral charity, characterized by wisdom, prudence, and a deep love for young people. \u201cDon Bosco\u2019s project was not propagandistic, but evangelical,\u201d said Fr. Fabio, \u201cand for this reason, it was credible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He also highlighted Don Bosco\u2019s ability to create connections among believers, non-believers, and people of other faiths, always intending to benefit young people. Fr. Fabio exhorted the Salesian Family to follow Don Bosco\u2019s example, living their vocation with the same spirit of pastoral charity, wisdom, and professionalism.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Memory and the Danger of Losing Meaning<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A central theme of the homily was the value of memory in the Salesian mission. Fr. Fabio warned against the risk of losing the memory of God while working for Him, cautioning that this could lead to a loss of meaning and authenticity. \u201cWhen we forget the memory of God\u2019s love,\u201d he said, \u201cwe risk becoming superficial and disconnected from the mission we are called to fulfill.\u201d He then emphasized that the memory of God\u2019s love sustains and energizes the mission, especially in difficult moments.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jesus Christ: the Fulfillment of Love and the Law<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Fr. Fabio reminded the Congregation that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the law and the definitive expression of God\u2019s love. \u201cHe is the way, the truth, and the life,\u201d he said, inviting everyone to rediscover the joy and depth of communion with Christ. Fr. Fabio then spoke of the importance of living a mature, joyful, and conscious adherence to the law of love, which is the heart of the Salesian mission. This, he observed, is the essence of Don Bosco\u2019s preventive system\u2014not merely a technique but a spirituality inspired by the Gospel, capable of transforming lives through love.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Preventive System: An Evangelical Vision<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Reflecting on Don Bosco\u2019s preventive system, Fr. Fabio described it as \u201cour Gospel.\u201d He noted that it is not merely a method but a spirituality that combines faith, reason, and love to guide young people toward a life full of meaning and purpose. \u201cThe preventive system,\u201d he said, \u201cinvites us to look forward with hope and love, helping young people discover their potential and path in life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Looking to the Future with Responsibility and Gratitude<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Concluding his homily, Fr. Fabio expressed gratitude for the journey that brought him to this moment. \u201cI see this as a gift and a responsibility,\u201d he stated. \u201cIt is a call to accompany young people and the Salesian Family on this journey toward the Promised Land, guided by Christ\u2019s love.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He invited everyone to renew their commitment to the Salesian mission, urging them to live with faith, hope, and love. \u201cWith Jesus, in Jesus, and through Jesus,\u201d he said, \u201cwe can continue to walk together on this beautiful journey.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>A Moment of Grace and Renewal<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Fr. Fabio Attard\u2019s first Mass as Rector Major was a moment of grace and renewal for the Salesian Family. He reminded everyone of the profound mission entrusted to the Salesians: to be living witnesses of God\u2019s love, especially for young people, and to walk together in faith, hope, and charity.<\/p>\n<p>At the end of the celebration, in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, there was a palpable sense of joy and renewed determination\u2014a perfect beginning for Fr. Fabio\u2019s ministry as the 11th Successor of Don Bosco.<\/p>\n<p>Courtesy: ANS-Turin<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-item-metadata entry-meta author-links\">\n                                    <\/div>\n<nav class=\"navigation post-navigation\" aria-label=\"Continue Reading\">\n<h2 class=\"screen-reader-text\">Continue Reading<\/h2>\n<div class=\"nav-links\">\n<div class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"http:\/\/localhost\/ingoldsite\/index.php\/2025\/03\/27\/happy-birthday-dear-fr-siby-vattappara-sdb\/\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"em-post-navigation\">Previous:<\/span> Happy Birthday Dear Fr Siby Vattappara SDB<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"nav-next\"><a href=\"http:\/\/localhost\/ingoldsite\/index.php\/2025\/03\/28\/fr-rafael-bejarano-elected-as-the-new-general-councilor-for-youth-ministry\/\" rel=\"next\"><span class=\"em-post-navigation\">Next:<\/span> Fr Rafael Bejarano Elected as the New General Councilor for Youth Ministry<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GC29 Fr. Fabio Attard Offers First Mass as Rector Major at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians Admin-ING March 27, 2025 Fr. Fabio Attard, the new Rector Major and 11th Successor of Don Bosco, presided over his first Mass at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco, Turin. Fr. Fabio Attard, the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13819,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gc29"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15222","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15222"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15222\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15222"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}