(ANS – Brussels) – On November 27, some representatives of the Salesian NGO "Don Bosco International" (DBI) participated in a debate on the social and humanitarian work of religious Congregations entitled ‘Finding the Spirit of the Good Samaritan’, organized by the Vice President, Hon. Laszlo Surjan, of the European Parliament and responsible for the dialogue with the Churches.

At the meeting contributions also came from members of the "Jesuit Refugee Service", from the Franciscan Friars, the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe (COMECE) and the "Missionary Sisters of the Queen of the Apostles ".

The DBI, which aims to be a platform for dialogue between the Congregation and the International organisations present in Europe, including the European Union, was represented in Brussels by Executive Secretary, Mattia Tosato, and Fr Andrè Penninckx, SDB. Speaking at the European Parliament, the Salesian presented the activities that the Salesian Congregation, NGOs and youth related Network are doing in Europe and worldwide in favour of youth.

In an effort to facilitate a constructive dialogue with international forums with a view to greater attention to young people and their needs on the part of the political world as a whole, the Don Bosco International offers helpful aid for the dissemination and transfer of best practice, experiences, reflections of the Salesian Congregation and associative world linked to it.

The DBI aims to be a tool for education, promotion and defence of the values which the Salesians, in harmony with the Church, have committed themselves to for over 150 years in more than 130 countries. In this mutual dialogue, care is also taken to inform operators and the Salesians on decisions taken at European level and internationally on youth, and to communicate to those institutions the concerns and solutions gained through volunteers, Salesians and operators.

DBI's work is complementary to the daily work of the Salesians and the NGOs, according to the principles of fraternity and subsidiarity.

The Rector Major of the Salesians has often reiterated the need to put youth at the centre of every political action; and in fact many workers in the Salesian world have been strongly concerned about the effects of the crisis on youth and the serious problem of youth unemployment.

Published 06/12/2012