(ANS – Kigali) – In the context of the X Meeting of the Interprovincial Conference  of Africa-Madagascar (CIVAM), Fr Filiberto González Plasencia, Councillor for Social Communication and Fr Julian Fox, from the same Department met with the Provincials of Africa, their Councillors and Delegates for Communication to present the new edition of the Salesian Social Communication System (SSCS).

On Monday 24 October Fr Guillermo Basañes, Regional Councillor for Africa-Madagascar, opened the meeting with a presentation of the Region. Then Fr González presented various documents connected with Social Communication and emphasised that we are all now living in a world and culture of constant change. Rather than trying to change what is outside, he said, it is necessary in the first place to change ourselves - just as Mother Teresa of Calcutta said: If there is anything to be changed in the Church, it is me and you. He repeatedly insisted on the effort to change the way of thinking and to enter the new, the digital era.

“Much has already been done in the Region,” Fr Gonzalez said, “but as Salesians there is more to be done for the sake of our mission in the Provinces.” During the meeting there were full sessions in assembly and work in language groups: French, Italian, and English. On his part, Fr Fox urged those present to enter into the new mentality proposed in the document published by the Congregation – the SSCS.

The meeting which was coordinated by  Fr Basañes, Fr Antonio César Fernández and Fr Fouda Privat Ignace was considered by everyone a success, thanks also to the hospitality provided by the Salesians in the Province of  Africa-the Great Lakes (AGL). The AGL Province was chosen as being best adapted for the meeting: through its lakes it stretches towards the main areas in the north, west and south of the continent, and from a Christian point of view is the land of the  Holy Ugandan martyrs.

Published 26/10/2011