(ANS – Rome) – Between Friday 30 November and Sunday 2 December, at the “Salesianum” in the Generalate in Rome, IVth meeting of the Provincials of Europe will be held to assess the progress made in terms of the Project for Europe which the Salesian Congregation officially launched in January 2009.

In the letter of invitation sent yesterday 25 July the Rector Major mentioned the two main aims of the meeting:
• to assess the progress made by the European Provinces in welcoming and implementing in practical terms the Project for Europe;
• to offer a “European” reflection starting from the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on “The new evangelisation for the transmission of the Christian faith.”

There will also be the presentation of a survey begun last January about the migrations in Europe and especially about the work and pastoral efforts of the Salesians. The survey was undertaken by Fr  Vito Orlando, a lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome.

In fact there will be 4 topics: assessment of the Project for Europe; new evangelisation in Europe; migrations in Europe and finally the future of the Project for Europe and the “shape” of Europe.

The first meeting of the Provincials of Europe was held between 1 and 5 December 2004 with the subject “Together for the young people of Europe”; the second between 27 and 30 November 2008 which determined the scope of the project called for by the GC26; and a third between 26 and 28 November 2010 at which the implementation of the first key issue (re-vitalisation from within of the Salesian charism)  was especially considered.

Published 26/07/2012