In its over 580 pages the publication presents the results of the broad international inquiry carried out at the instigation of the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, and of his Council, to listen to the life experience of young Salesians in initial formation, young people in research who wish to become Salesians, of those who have completed initial formation and part of those who spiritually guide and accompany those in formation.
The Dicasteries for Formation and Youth Ministry moreover promoted the inquiry in the field - with 38 questions addressed to (3,500) young Salesians and 44 questions to their (500) spiritual guides - which involved experts, Provincial Delegates for Formation, the teams of the Dicasteries, hundreds of volunteers from around sixty countries all over the world and from practically all Salesian Provinces and Vice Provinces, and which ended thanks to the precious work of Br Bay and Fr Silvio Roggia, from the Dicastery for Formation.
While aiming to present a research paper that was both theoretical and operational, the choice was made to act primarily in an inductive fashion at different levels, favoring the descriptive, explorative and partly comparative approach regarding formation phases and per Salesian continental regions, and leaving to further subsequent publications the interpretative and prospective approaches.
The book is available on the LAS website or can be requested at the Department of Formation.
