(ANS - Rome) - On Sunday, October 7th , the 13th  Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme "the New Evangelization for the transmission of the Christian faith" opened officially. At the meeting of the Synod Fathers, they were called to discuss how to revive the proclamation of the Gospel throughout the world. 15 members of the Salesian family were participants, with different roles and expertise.

At the Synod on New Evangelization, as communicated by the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, Monsignor Nikola Eterović, altogether over 400 people: 262 being the Synod Fathers – the highest number in the history of the Synods – arrived in Rome for the election of their respective Bishops Conferences (172), for the Union of Superiors General (10); for the Eastern Catholic Churches sui iuris (3); participants 'ex officio' (37); or those chosen directly by the Holy Father (40).

49 Experts and 45 Auditors, men and women, specialists and those involved in evangelism in the five continents, will also be present at the Synodal Assembly. Completing the list some people with known practical expertise, such as printing, like the 5 attachés for printing, 32 assistants and 30 translators.

The Salesian presence is represented: the Synod Fathers include some members "ex officio", which include the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone; Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. In addition, mgr. Enrico dal Covolo, Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, the synodal father in the more recent appointment of Bishops belonging to the Group of those appointed directly by the Pope. Among the elected by the respective Bishops' Conferences, there are also mgr. Rosario Rosario Vella, Bishop of Ambanja, Madagascar; mgr. Bernardo Miguel Bastres Florence, Bishop of Punta Arenas, Chile; mgr. Miguel Ignazio Bedini, Archbishop of Ispahan of the Latins in Iran, and President of the Episcopal Conference; mgr. Malayappan Chinnappa, Archbishop of Madras and Mylapore, India; and mgr. Timothy Costelloe, Archbishop of Perth, Australia.

Among the 10 men from Religious Orders, there is the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva, President of the Union of Superiors General.

In their role as experts will also be Fr Luiz Alves de Lima, from the Catechists Society of Latin America (Brazil); and Fr Cleto Pavanetto, Professor Emeritus of the Faculty of Christian and Classical Letters of the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome; also attending from the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Sr Dalina Rosanna, former Under Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

In the group of Auditors, the Mother General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Mother Yvonne Reungoat; and Fr Renato De Guzman, Chief assistant for pastoral care of the Grade School and High School Departments, Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati City, Philippines, and Director of the Episcopal Commission Advisory for Catechesis and Catholic education (ECCCE) will give their contribution.

Even in logistical tasks, the Congregation will give its contribution: as Press Officer for the German language, Fr Markus Graulich, an adviser to the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, was selected.

Published on 08/10/2012