The event saw the participation of the Delegate of the Rector Major for the Salesian Family, Fr Eusebio Muñoz, SDB, as well as the Salesian Provincial of Central America, Fr Ángel Prado, his Vicar, Fr Javier Rivas, and the Delegate for Youth Ministry, Fr René Santos. "By grace and mercy, we are here today to remind ourselves: we are a vast movement at the service of young people," said Fr Rivas at the opening and welcoming ceremony of the participants.
The themes concerned the needs of today's young people. To this end, a study was presented on the reality of youth in the region, with Monsignor Mario Quirós, bishop of Cartago, Costa Rica, invited to participate in the Synod of Bishops on Youth. "The wealth of the Synod was the reflection on the priorities and needs of young people," he explained.
During the meeting a good amount of time was left to listen to the young people via an open forum wherein young people from different areas of Salesian life took part. This was one of the most significant moments of the meeting, in which the young people were able to clearly express their love for the Salesian charism and what they ask of the Salesian Family: "Don Bosco is no more, but for us, you are the new Don Bosco and we want to be part of your life, we want you to look at us, to accompany us ... Sometimes we feel invisible and abandoned; it's enough for you dedicate a little time to us," one of the young people said in a truly sincere appeal.
As a final act of the gathering, Fr Muñoz presented a report in which he highlighted five areas to be taken into consideration in the work that the Salesian Family must accomplish: working with the laity, increasing the charism, monitoring the growth of the Salesian Family and the Salesian movement and being together, working together.
Fr Muñoz also invited everyone to curate the growth of the groups: "It is necessary to foster the insertion of young people and a constant renewal of groups. It is necessary to rejuvenate them and make them grow. We must be careful that the groups do not become too old."
