Ecuador – A commitment: formation in Salesianity

17 September 2021

(ANS - Quito) – Based in Quito, the Salesian Center for Ongoing Formation in America (CSFPA) completed the first edition of the online course "With the eyes of Don Bosco", a joint formation program that lasted 5 months, for the Salesians, members of the Salesian Family and lay collaborators.

The objective was to bring participants closer to Don Bosco’s life and charism by reading, embodying and transforming their own reality drawing illumination from him. To this end, participants were asked to learn about and exercise Salesian discernment, applying the method of seeing, judging, acting, encompassing or embodying it as a way of updating their own Salesian identity and the elements of the educational-pastoral activities in which they are involved in.

Towards this, the methodology used was to apply Salesian discernment on the current reality of the pandemic and post-pandemic (SEE) situation, recognizing in it the criteria with which Don Bosco read the reality of his time (JUDGE) in order to arrive at actiion proposals that were typically Salesian (ACT).

Five resource persons (4 Salesians and a lay person) animated the the process, supporting this journey of the participants: 41 lay collaborators of the mission in Salesian works, 27 Salesians, 13 Past Pupils, 6 Salesian Cooperators, 5 Volunteers of Don Bosco and 4 Daughters of Mary Help of Christians were divided into groups of five people each. The role of the 16 tutors, past pupils of the 4 levels of the courses of Initiation to Salesianity, was fundamental: their accompaniment was a guarantee of the continuity in the methodological, experiential and community style of the CSFPA.

At the end of the course some significant comments were shared. Here are some of them:

- “We must never lose sight of the fact that every Salesian house is a home, a school, a courtyard and a parish”;

- "Take on the methodology of seeing, judging and acting as a style of work in the animative process";

- "It was an incredible experience, there was a lot of dedication from the organizers, we shared experiences and helped each other for months. Though divided by languages, but united with the same love for Don Bosco and his charism”;

- "How nice to see that the 'shared mission' is a beautiful reality full of nuances, capable of producing interesting changes and new ways of going through life!";

- "We must continue to reflect and work on the use of social networks with Salesian criteria".

The participants, who met all the established requirements, received a special certification from the Salesian Polytechnic University of Ecuador.

The second edition of this course began on Monday 30 August, again at the service of ongoing formation in Salesianity for America.

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