"This call of the Sector for Youth Ministry to reflect on Social Works and Services is really something essential for us," shared the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, in a video. "The Constitutions state that we Salesians were born for young people, and especially for the poorest. And Pope Francis also reminded us of this in his beautiful message left at the Chapter....
This congress is of utmost relevance for us... And it is also an urgency to offer a rich reflection and sharing on one of the priorities indicated for the path of this six-year term (the fifth programmatic line: ABSOLUTE PRIORITY for the young, the poorest, and the most abandoned and defenseless)."
For this reason, the Rector Major has no doubts about the value and effectiveness of the congress: "It will be a great opportunity to say the right word and offer the appropriate service, in the name of the Lord Jesus and with the heart of Don Bosco, to the most needy and discarded children and young people."
For his part, the General Councilor for Youth Ministry, Fr Miguel Angel García Morcuende, indicated the three major objectives of the congress:
- to reflect on the orientations of the Church and the Congregation and different social stakeholders in reference to the Salesian Youth Ministry that is developed in the works and social services of the different Provinces;
- to identify the common aspects that guarantee the charismatic unity of these social works and services within their Salesian Educational-Pastoral Project (SEPP);
- Finally, to generate regional agreements to make visible the impact of these social works and services in the Congregation and in the different ecclesial and civil contexts.
The International Congress of Salesian Social Works and Services aims to implement:
- an updated reading of the Preventive System: starting from the experiences already existing in the works and social services of each province in relation to evangelization, the magisterium of the Church, the Congregation and civil society as a prophetic response to the challenges that the current historical context presents to the accompaniment of young people at risk;
- an organic reading of Salesian social action: in the light of integral human development and the means available in today's world to contribute to the dignity of persons and their environment;
- a dynamic reading of the SEPP and the organic culture of Salesian social works: as an attitude of dialogue and articulation with all those who work to overcome situations of vulnerability and degradation suffered by young people.
At the methodological level, each day, Congress participants will take part in the following areas:
- HORIZON, animated by world-renowned speakers to broaden the Salesian vision and provide inspiration;
- VIEW, with mini-courses by experts to analyze and strengthen the proposal offered;
- GROUND, with contributions from educators to generate ideas and good practices;
- DREAMS, with immersion in the atmosphere of Don Bosco's social Turin;
- ROOTS, with group work at the continental level.
