The meeting’s official opening took place last October 29 during a moment that brought together the participants and several guests, including the Superior of the "St. Anthony" Province of Portugal, Fr. Aníbal Mendonça, in a festive evening.
After a few words of welcome, with which Fr. Mendonça stressed the great joy of hosting this meeting in Portugal, two musical moments followed featuring Wilson dos Santos, who has been studying piano for three years at the "Musicentro" of the Salesians in Lisbon, and Anaís Dias, also a former student of the Lisbon Salesian music school, who performed a song that is part of her first album.
Emphasizing the great work done by each of the participants in the area of communication, Fr. Gildasio Mendes, General Councilor for Social Communication, took the opportunity to pay tribute to each of the representatives of the communication sector and the Salesian Bulletins from the different regions. Eleven members from different regions of the world were honored. At the end of this moment, Zaida Navarrete, Communication Delegate of the Interamerica region, expressed thanks on everyone’s behalf. "It is a joy to be able to dedicate my work to the Salesian mission."
The evening of Saturday 29 also offered an auspicious occasion for the presentation of the 23rd book by Fr. Mendes. The text, "Eu Confio em Ti" (I Trust in You), aims to present trust as the foundation of human relationships and at the same time asks what insight the founders of the Salesian Family could give us about a life entrusted to the service of others. What strategies will they have followed to overcome difficulties and keep hope alive? "The theme of trust is very important for our human relationships and our work, in all sectors of our lives. Trust is the basis for establishing fidelity, security, and perseverance in everything we do," stressed the author of the book, Fr. Mendes.
It is a book that presents trust as an experience of sacred space for the human being and shows its significance for Salesian education. "For Don Bosco, trust is at the center of education. In this book I present what trust is in human relationships and Salesian education, with reference to St. John Bosco and Mother Mazzarello," concluded Fr. Mendes.
The evening ended with the words of the General Counselor for Social Communication, who stressed the importance of art and communication. Finally, he thanked everyone for their generous welcome and presence.
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