The meeting was attended by 20 people, led by a number of experts who guided the participants' reflection and dialogue.
Held at the Salesian Institute "Don Bosco" in Guatemala City, the meeting was opened by a short folk concert and greetings from the National Education Commission. Then the Director, Fr. Manuel Guerra, welcomed the participants to this 25th meeting in the region, emphasizing the significance of the educational mission at the service of young people in so many works in the region, which promotes everywhere the dignity and humanistic-Christian value of the new generations.
Through remote interventions, the SDB and FMA General Councilors of Youth Ministry, Fr. Miguel Angel García Morcuende and Sr. Runita Galve, and the Mother General of HDS, Mother Amarilis Orozco, were also present. Through their interventions, they deepened the relevance of the issues in the current post-pandemic contexts, highlighting the good use and of technology and digitization in the service of the educational mission.
Subsequent reflections of the meeting were provided by ESA pastoral sector leaders. Sr. Ivonne Goulart developed the theme of the strength of Salesian identity to respond to current times, while Fr. Claudio Cartes addressed the educational proposal in line with the ecclesiology of communion proposed in the Educational Covenant.
The regional reference persons, Fr. Carlos Montoya and Sr. Eva Doris, led the various interventions, which, thanks to the quality offered by the local community, with Jessica Ureta and Ricardo Martínez, developed the themes on the agenda. Fr. Juan Gabriel Romero presented the theme of the reflection on the Rector Major's Strenna for the year 2023; Mr. Adrián Catalán reflected on digitization in education; Dr. Félix Serrano, Rector of the University, reflected on the value of the Preventive System in the humanistic and evangelizing mission; and Dr. Yuri Melini, highlighted the content of Laudato Sí (LS), as the central axis of the reflection on integral ecology.
Also participating remotely in the meeting were Sister Patricia Parraguez, FMA, who elaborated on the evaluation process that ESA is undertaking in preparation for the ESA V meeting, and Fr. Pascual Chávez, Rector Major Emeritus, who sent a reflection on the Christian humanizing mission of education in today's historical context.
On Wednesday, 22, meeting participants also began their Lenten journey with the whole Church through the Ash Wednesday liturgy, and delved into the reality of the region through Salesian "good night" messages offered by the various members present. On the last day, they also visited the Ancient City of Guatemala, where they participated in the Eucharist in the local Franciscan parish.
https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/17390-guatemala-annual-meeting-of-cimac-nac-and-mesoamerica-region-of-salesian-schools-in-america#sigProIdf5d89a069d
