(ANS – Turin) – During the World Congress of Past Pupils of Don Bosco a strategic plan for the Confederation was launched after being drawn up by the Confederation's administrative council at its meeting on 18 December 2010 at the Salesian Generalate in Rome. Now the association has been called, following on from the Turin Congress, to put it into practice.

As repeated a number of times at the World Congress which took place in Turin from 27 to 29 April, the Past Pupils of Don Bosco are called to greater commitment in the future. Now that celebrations of the first centenary of their founding are over, the Past Pupils of Don Bosco must be salt and light, and active, in the light of the education they have received, in society and in the Church.

The Project of Animation and Governance of the Confederation has taken as its point of reference the project bearing the same name of the Rector Major and his Council for 2008-2014, especially the part regarding  the Salesian Family. It also refers to  reports presented by the World President, World Delegate and Regionals belonging to the Confederation at the 4th Elective Assembly of the Past Pupils of Don Bosco held from 29 September to 3 October 2010.

“As a Confederation it is fundamental that you keep in mind the leadership programme for our great Family”, said Fr José Pastor Ramirez, Past Pupils World Delegate. “We are convinced that we cannot go ahead without a navigation chart, one that should lead us to making of every Past Pupil someone who is professionally competent, with a moral conscience and who is socially committed”.

The Strategic Plan for 2011-2016 is an essential document for every national, provincial and local Confederation, who have been called to draw up their own plan according to their own circumstances and in line with proposals coming from the World Presidency.

“We have to plan the future. Those in charge at various levels are called to foster the necessary changes”, Fr Ramirez continued, “To be truly  socially, politically and economically involved we need to have very much at heart and defend at any cost the values of life in particular, freedom and truth”.

The Strategic Plan for 2011-2016 aims at growth in the sense of belonging to the Confederation and the Salesian Family, at a deeper understanding of Christian and Salesian spirituality, at a strengthening of leadership at each level of the Past Pupils, at a greater spirit of communion and teamwork within the Confederation and with the Salesian Family, at strengthening the organisational structure at world, national, provincial and local levels and, above all, as the Rector Major emphasised many times, at greater social and church involvement on the part of Past Pupils.

Published 30/04/2012