For 15 months, participants had a monthly 90-minute session to discuss a wide range of topics: the biblical, synodal, Salesian, and institutional dimensions of communication; the person, theology, Church, and society and their relationships to communication.
Also discussed were digital culture and digital anthropology, social media management, and communication in crisis situations.
Speakers included: Fr. Gildasio Mendes, General Counselor for Social Communications; Fr. Ricardo Campoli, member of the Social Communications Sector in Rome and contact person for America; Fr. Harris Pakkam, also a member of the Sector and Director of ANS; Dr. Fabrizio Vignati, of the ICP Province; Fr. Javier Valiente, National Delegate of Social Communications for the Salesians of Spain; and other qualified persons.
The delegates completed 22 hours of training and will receive a diploma of recognition from the Congregation's Social Communication Sector.
This Spanish- and Portuguese-language school was organized by the Social Communication Team of America (ECSA) formed by the sector leaders: Fr. João Carlos Ribeiro Rodrigues (for the Portuguese-speaking area), Vicente Fritz (Salesian Bulletins), Marcelo Mejía (Publishing Houses and Production Centers), Jocasta Pimentel (Radio of America), Fr. Cristóbal Cáceres (for the Spanish-speaking area). The coordinator was Zaida Navarrete (Delegates of America).
Thanks to the coordination of Fr. Ribeiro Rodrigues, the Portuguese version of the school was offered not only to SC Delegates from Brazil but also to Delegates from several Lusophone African countries.
In the closing session, Fr. Mendes said, "I’m very happy with this school that shows that the network of America is a network of friends." Fr. Campoli added, "I’d like to thank the efforts and good attitude of all those who participated. The response from America was strong, solid, warm, and very Salesian. Thank you to all the Delegates and their teams, to all of you who know how important it is to accompany the Sector in your Provinces and to be mutually accompanied," he said.
Unique in the history of Salesian communication, this initiative gives rise to other communication projects on the continent, having shown how great networking facilitates the development of common initiatives among the 23 Provinces of the continent.
