| Spain – III Congress on the Salesian School in Europe and Vocational Training Centre |
This meeting was for the Delegates of the West Europe Region and was attended by 25 Delegates. It was chaired jointly by Fr Francesco Cereda, Councillor for Formation, Fr Fabio Attard, Councillor for Youth Ministry and Fr José Miguel Nuñez, Councillor for the West Europe Region. The practical organisation was in the hands of the Salesians in the Region and in particular of Fr Rosendo Soler, National Delegate for Youth Ministry.
The starting point of the work of the meeting was the conclusions from a previous seminar on vocational promotion held by the Provinces of Spain and Portugal, in collaboration with the respective Provinces of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in February last year. The work of the VIII Meeting therefore was to indicate some priorities for action and suggest practical ways ahead.
In accordance with the message sent by Benedict XVI for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations in 2010, on the theme “Witness awakens Vocations”, the Delegates identified as the first practical objective the need to be authentic witnesses. In particular, it was suggested that some moments be found within community meetings for the sharing of the stories of one’s vocation, and also to organise timetables in such a way as to provide opportunities for direct and continuous contact with the young.
Another practical suggestion was to provide apostolic activities for the young people attending Salesian centres. Evangelisation needed to be adapted to the individual situations and carried out in collaboration with all those involved in any way coordinators, lay members of the formation teams, leaders and families.
Finally considerable attention was given to the subject of the accompaniment of candidates to consecrated life, and also to a more effective promotion of the two forms of the Salesian consecrated vocation, priestly and religious. In particular it was pointed out how too often the vocational formation of the young people tended to exclude or to limit pastoral experience, as though this were secondary. To avoid and respond to this situation the Delegates proposed a commitment to an accompaniment of candidates to consecrated life which was more coordinated at the various levels and more directed towards the individual needs of the candidates.
Each Province was to produce a calendar of activities to plan and monitor the implementation of these suggestions in future years.
Published 13/09/2010
