(ANS – Rome) – Yesterday, 9 January, at the Generalate in Rome there was a meeting of the Youth Ministry Delegate from the Italy-Middle East Region and a representation of the Youth Ministry Department. Discussion centred on the challenges and the opportunities for pastoral ministry nowadays in the Congregation and in the particular situation of the Provinces.

Called by the Department, the meeting was attended by the 7 YM Delegates of the Region, 5 members of the National YM Centre, the Councillor Fr Fabio Attard and the member of the Department with responsibility for Europe  Fr Miguel Angel García.

The potentialities in the Provinces and in the Region were noted and the areas on which to concentrate efforts in planning indicated: training young people in youth ministry; the role of the Provincial Delegate; relations with the Salesian Family; the  Schools and Vocational Training Centres in Italy; the role of the Salesian Youth Movement in relation to Youth Ministry; the importance of communicating the procedures set in motion by the Department and finally the Salesian mission from the perspective of the three Departments for the Mission.

Those taking part also devoted time to the question of the re-thinking of Salesian Youth Ministry. The service provided by the Department was seen in a positive light especially as a stimulus to reflection, the opening up on new horizons, the launching of a change of mentality in the commitment to the evangelisation of the young.
 
The YM Delegates of Italy were also brought uptodate with some of the initiatives of the Department  in the past year: the meeting of the Consultative Committee on “Returning to Don Bosco” held in February; contribution to and the procedures put in place regarding the topic of spiritual direction; the I Meeting of the Commission for Salesian Schools in Europe, held in September; and in the field of vocation promotion, the document produced on the aspirantate.

This meeting preceded a Congress on Vocational Culture which began in the afternoon at the Salesianum and will end on 12 January.

Published 10/01/2012