(ANS – Paris) – Between 8 and l10 June 2012 in the Provincial House of the Daughters of  Mary Help of Christians in Paris there was a meeting of the  European Secretariat of the Salesian Youth Movement,  the so-called “small-team”. It carried out an assessment of the last General Assembly held in Fatima between 25 and 27 November 2011, and planned the next one to be held in November in Lyon and also offered some first suggestions regarding the Rio de Janeiro World Youth Day.
 
Those present were David Viagulasamy (Coordinator of France and of SYM Europe), Antonija Klobucar (Croatia), Karolina Kiepas (Poland), Michele Zecchin (Italy), the newly elected representative of North Europe,  Elisabeth Humer (Austria), representatives of the FMA and the SDB Sr. M. Angeles Diaz (Spain) and Fr Anibal Mendonça (Portugal) – and two representatives from Roman Centres for Youth Ministry: Sr. Runita Borja and Fr Robert Simon.

Regarding the General Assemblies, all agreed that they always helped them feel part of a “larger” international  family. The times for shared formation and mixed groups certainly helped them feel part of  a wider Movement. In addition, thanks to the use of technology and the ease of movement,  meetings and shared experiences outside the official Assemblies, national projects and cultural exchanges are also becoming much more frequent..

To take part in the World Youth Day in Brazil next year, some European Nations will be getting together so as to facilitate travel arrangements and plan various events. In Rio de Janeiro, as there was in Spain on 17 August 2011 at  Atocha, Madrid there will be a World SYM Day. A SYM mini-forum is also being planned to help with the sharing of ideas and experiences from different parts of the world.

At the next General Assembly most of the Secretariat will be newly elected  but they will certainly not be lacking in guide lines and enthusiasm.

During the Paris meeting there were also times for spontaneous sharing of ideas and experiences to the benefit of everyone. In particular there was a visit to the city -including a sail along the river –a meeting with the FMA Provincial community and Mess in the Salesian parish.

Published 19/06/2012