NEWS PHOTOS
Catania, Italy - September 2022 - The usual annual meeting of young Salesians from the Salesian Province of Sicily in initial formation was held from August 30 to September 2 at the Don Bosco Hostel (Playa) in Catania. The Salesians experienced days of fraternity, relaxation and formation with the theme of projectuality at the center, carried out through the "Projectus Workshop," a tool created by Gigi Cotichella and presented by Fr Alberto Anzalone and Fr Dario Spinella. The workshop simulation aimed at planning in the vocational field for the preadolescent group. The third day of the camp was marked by two main moments: the visit of Archbishop Luigi Renna, Archbishop of the Diocese of Catania, who highlighted the importance of the Salesian mission front at a time of serious educational emergency, stressing the importance of "looking for the Bartolomeo Garelli in the oratory"; and the discussion between the Provincial Center's operational group and the young Salesians present. The camp concluded with a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Valverde and the Eucharist presided over by ISI Provincial Fr Giovanni D'Andrea. Conclusion, this one, that reopens to the pastoral activities of the winter that will see engaged, in the fronts of the Salesian mission, the Salesians who experienced moments of fraternity together before leaving again.
Dr. Pierpaolo Galota
Salesian Social Communication Team Sicily
http://insieme.sdbsicilia.org/cercate-bartolomeo-garelli-in-oratorio/
San Justo, Argentina - September 2022 - On Monday, September 5, the Salesian Provincials in charge of the Curatorium of the Theology Students' House of the CISUR Provinces - the two of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay - met in San Justo, Buenos Aires Province, together with the Councillor for the America Southern Cone Region, Fr Gabriel Romero. The goal of the meeting was to accompany the educational proposal of the Salesians, enhancing the community environment, pastoral practices and the academic itinerary. Some challenges for the coming years were also raised and the work of the formation team was praised.
Malta - As part of the initiatives in post covid period, the Maltese National Federation of Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco organised a weekend encounter for young people to revitalise their GEX group. Covid had 'frozen' most of the GEX activities, and this summer was a good time to inject a new energy in relaunching a group of young people to plan the future initiatives of GEX in Malta. This initiative was possible through an application of funds for youth initiatives by the Maltese National Youth Agency. The weekend was animated by two young GEX Valerie Vella and Marica Aquilina who during this weekend encounter gathered a group of fifteen young people who proposed two new initiatives that they will implement in the coming months on how they will relaunch the GEX in Malta with the involvement of other young people who want to give back from the Salesian identity that they been formed in. They also proposed ways how they will continue to meet up regularly in the next months.
Ayagualo, El Salvador - September 2022 - From August 30 to September 1 in the retreat house "Sacred Heart of Jesus", the Economers of the Salesian works of the Central American Province (CAM) met. The meeting was held with the aim of reflecting on the economic situation of the province and its works from the perspective of sustainability: building sustainability strategies at the local, national and provincial levels; promoting the personal meeting of collaborators in a family atmosphere after the pandemic; and gathering input for the formulation of the Provincial Organic Project (POI 2023 -2028). "We start with an analysis of the current context and then analyze Provincial sustainability, national and local, as well as replicable good practices," said Fr. Julio Navarro, CAM Provincial Economer, who convened the meeting. The occasion also served to host a conference on the economic context of Central America (Framework for Economic Sustainability and Sustainability). The relationship between Social Communication and the Economy was also discussed and the new Provincial Technical Unit (UTI) was presented. During the event, there was time to share educational moments and visit the facilities of the "Santa Cecilia" school and the "Ricaldone" Technical Institute.