(ANS - Brasilia) - The Salesian Preventive System and Human Rights Congress involving 300 teachers, began Friday, August 26, in Brasilia, the capital of the country, and continued until 27 August. On the Friday afternoon, Salesian Youth Day began. Both events preceded the march for Don Bosco, which started out from the Don Bosco Shrine, then went via the Cathedral in Brasilia to finish up at Don Bosco Hermitage, a distance of 18 km. The march involved 1,200 marchers.

The Congress began with the opening ceremony and presentation of Salesian schools in Brasilia. The six Provincials were given opportunity to speak: Frs Nilson dos Santos Faria (BBH), Lauro Takaki (BCG), Benjamim Morando (BMA), Orestes Fistarol (BPA), Diego Vanzeta (BRE) and Marco Biaggi (BSP), in addition to Fathers Natale Vitali ( Regional Councillor for America South Cone) and Nivaldo Luiz Pessinatti, executive director of CISBRASIL. They addressed themselves to the importance of the theme. A video produced by the Salesian Schools Network (RSE) presented the History of Don Bosco and the beginnings of the Salesian Congregation.

After a short interval, the series of Congress conferences began. Speakers on the theme of Civil Society and Human Rights were: Professors Vanildes G. Dos Santos, Jussara M. O. Seidel and José Ivaldo Lucena. Discussion on Human Rights and the Preventive System ensued from the presentations. The topic that followed, led by Professor Ricardo Chagas, concerned new educational practices in the new media landscape. Starting with a video and some current images, the professor showed the need to develop a critical sense in the young through the forms of entertainment available in the modern world.

In the afternoon on Day 1 presentations of the Provinces continued. Each representative reported on the activities of the Province and introduced the teachers attending the Congress. The first conference of the afternoon was from Dr. Hugo J. Sarubi, CISBRASIL lawyer, who developed the theme of Human rights and their scope. The final reflection came from Prof. Lucia Chimneys on The State of Human Rights. The day's activities ended with a Mass in the 'Auditorium at the Mary Help of Christians Education Centre (CEMA/Brasilia-DF), which brought together participants from the two gatherings.

The second day involved the Minister of the National Secretariat for Human Rights, Maria do Rosário Nunes, who focused on Human Rights in Brazil. There were other Presenters, who explored topics such as: The Church and Human Rights, Human Rights and proposals from the Salesian Network Brazil.

The Salesian Youth Day brought together 350 young people to reflect on Human Rights. With help from Father João Carlos from Recife Province, and his Band, they put together a grand musical, using ideas from the Conference Presenters. In a relaxed, playful but dynamic way through music, dance and active involvement of young people, they brought the day to an end with a musical involving the young people and Congress participants.

Published 30/08/2011