Peru – Team Visit 2023, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime: "The communion and cohesion of our Congregation"

30 March 2023
Peru – Team Visit 2023, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime: "The communion and cohesion of our Congregation"

(ANS - Lima) - After the enriching cultural academy celebrated on Tuesday evening, March 28 in the auditorium of the "Juan Pablo II" Conviviality House, yesterday, March 29, at about 7 a.m., the 2023 Team Visit officially began with the Eucharist presided over by Fr. Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major.

"Let us entrust these days to the Lord," said Fr. Martoglio. "Let us ask Him to enlighten us so that they may be moments of enrichment. Let us begin this visitation experience together."

Participating in the Team Visit are Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major; his Vicar, Fr. Martoglio; Fr. Ivo Coelho, General Councilor for Formation; Fr. Miguel Ángel García Morcuende, General Councilor for Youth Ministry; Fr. Alfred Maravilla, General Councilor for Missions; Fr. Gildasio Mendes, General Councilor for Social Communication; Salesian Coadjutor Br. Jean Paul Muller, General Economer; Regional Councilor for Interamerica, Fr. Hugo Orozco; and the Rector Major's Central Delegate for the Secretariat for the Salesian Family, Fr. Joan Lluís Playà.

Also participating were the Provincial Councils of 13 circumscriptions (12 Provinces and one Vice-Province) from the Interamerica region: Colombia Medellin (COM), Colombia Bogotá (COB), Antilles (ANT), United States East and Canada (SUE), United States West (SUO), Central America (CAM), Venezuela (VEN), Mexico, México (MEM), Mexico Guadalajara (MEG), Bolivia (BOL), Ecuador (ECU), Peru (PER), and Haiti (HAI).

Introducing the proceedings at 9 a.m., Fr. Orozco emphasized the three important objectives of this meeting. "First of all, we are living an experience of communion of the whole Congregation. Having the Rector Major and his Council is an expression of communion. Second, we are meeting to reflect on five themes that, after more than a year of study with the Rector Major and his Council, have been defined based on the study presented. Finally, it is important that, as a Region, we develop agreements that will help us move forward."

Completing this speech, taking the floor, the 10th Successor of Don Bosco highlighted the great effort made by all the Circumscriptions to come together and celebrate this fraternal gathering. "The Team Visits are a tool for the life of the Provinces, for communion and for the cohesion of our Congregation."

"We come from Rome," the Rector Major continued, "with the intention of listening to the Provinces, to feel the pulse of this reality, so that together we can catch a glimpse of a way forward. That is, we do not intend to invent anything. We have come to listen and share. I tell you this with deep conviction: America has a lot to offer the Congregation. The American perspective is important. It is a very significant value that we have."

At 11 a.m., Fr. Orozco presented the current state of affairs and challenges in the Region.

In the first afternoon session, at about 3:30 p.m., Fr. Coelho developed the theme, "Salesian Consecrated Identity." During his talk, he touched on two key points: on the one hand, walking before the Lord every day of our lives. In this regard, he recalled that when the Salesian Constitutions speak of Formation, they refer to that process of responding to God's call that takes place every day and lasts throughout existence. "If we want to be faithful to the Constitutions we have professed, we can no longer say, 'I am no longer in formation.' Formation lasts a lifetime," he explained.

On the other hand, Fr. Coelho also insisted on the importance of "walking with those who are at the beginning of consecrated life." On this second point, he stressed four key factors of the formation process: accompaniment - discernment, style, and preparation.

Next, Fr. García Morcende addressed the participants on the theme "The Salesian Educator-Pastor in the Educational-Pastoral Community." During his presentation, he stressed the importance of the presence of the laity in Salesian works, the rediscovery of the role of the laity, and the progressive transfer of responsibilities to the laity in mission areas. He also urged a constant renewal of the Salesian charism: "Don Bosco always involved many lay people in his youth and popular mission."

Finally, he left a message for reflection. "We need new models of fraternal life shared with young people. Works that work in synergy, integrated into a single Salesian community."

At the end of the day, there was a time for group work, followed by an enriching sharing in a plenary session.

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https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/17634-peru-team-visit-2023-fr-angel-fernandez-artime-the-communion-and-cohesion-of-our-congregation#sigProId5d869c828a

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