The Provincials present were: Fr Francisco Sánchez, Ecuador (ECU); Fr Manuel Cayo, Peru (PER); Fr Ignacio Ocampo, Mexico-Mexico (MEM); Fr Hugo Orozco, Mexico-Guadalajara (MEG); Fr Javier Ortiz, Bolivia (BOL); Fr Timothy Zak, United States East and Canada (SUE); Fr Ted Montemayor, United States West (SUO); Fr Ángel Prado, Central America (CAM); Fr John Jairo Gómez, Colombia-Bogotá (COB); Fr Luis Fernando Valencia, Colombia-Medellin (COM); and Fr Francisco Batista, Antilles (ANT).
At the opening, Fr Ploch reiterated that the meeting's central axis was the formative context and the propitiation of a climate of "brotherhood" among Salesians. At the same time, there was room for reflection on inter-provincial formation houses and for preparation for the XXVIII General Chapter.
The Regional Councilor presented the main challenge that the ECU Province has for the future, which is fundamentally about increasing vocations to Salesian consecrated life. "It is a Province with many works, but with few vocations; it is a challenge for Ecuador and for the whole Congregation," he said.
The Provincials also had the opportunity to watch the institutional video of the Province of Ecuador, called "Salesian Impacto", created with the aim of communicating and making known the work that the Salesians and lay people carry out in the different sectors, and to show how the people are empowered by the mission and charism of Don Bosco.
Fr Cayo, Provincial of Peru, presented the theme: "The role of the Provincial", and then reflected on the inter-provincial formation houses.
The activities ended with a visit to the Ongoing Education Center of the Salesian Polytechnic University (UPS), located in the town of San Bartolo. There, active, are the "Scuola San Patrizio" (TESPA), the "San Patrizio Educational Unit" (UESPA) and the "Coworking" project. On this occasion, the project's young beneficiaries and their families shared an artistic-cultural program with the Salesian Provincials.
During the meeting, other topics were also discussed, such as: the review of the 2014-2020 Regional Project and the Council proposals on how to elect the next regional in the context of the XXVIII General Chapter. Speakers include Salvador Delgadillo, of the Salesian Center for Ongoing Formation in America (CSFPA) and Fr Horacio Barbieri, of the Regional Center of Salesian Coadjutors (CRESCO).
