(ANS – Torino) –The second "Seminar on spiritual direction from the Salesian perspective", organized by the Department for Youth Pastoral was celebrated in Valdocco (Turin) from 9th to 11th November. The meeting, at which 27 experts participated, focused on two points: spiritual direction and Don Bosco.

Many countries were represented at the symposium held at Valdocco. Participants came from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, India, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain and United States.

The seminar offered a space for reflection on the spiritual direction in Don Bosco, with a historical, pedagogical and spiritual approach. Based on four reports, theological, spiritual and pastoral matters were debated, that could help in the service of spiritual and Salesian vocational  accompaniment.

The first report - "The experience of spiritual direction experienced by Don Bosco in the years of the Church boarding school of Turin (1841-1844)" - was done by Fr Giuseppe Bucellatto; two others were submitted by Fr Aldo Giraudo: "Distinctive Connotations of spiritual direction offered by Don Bosco to youth" and "Contents and paths of the spiritual accompaniment of young people in the practice of Don Bosco"; and, finally, the fourth was by Fr Arthur Lenti: "Don Bosco and spiritual direction: towards a synthesis."

The group ended the meeting with some pedagogical and spiritual guidelines for Salesian spiritual direction, with particular attention to the accompaniment of young people.

The international meeting followed a seminar-style methodology, with analyses and reflections about relationships, dialogues and debates on contributions presented and study groups. The seminar has also motivated the participants to seek pastoral guidelines and operational proposals to draw up new plans of Salesian spiritual accompaniment.

The reports and conclusions of the seminar will be published in 2014 to make many other Salesians, vocation animators, catechists and educators in the faith aware of the theme of Salesian spiritual accompaniment.

Published 13/11/2012