(ANS - Oswiecim) - From 1 to 4 May the European Congress of EuroGex, the  Association of  Young Pupils,  and the meeting of Past Pupil Presidents and Delegates from Europe took place in Auschwitz, Poland. It was attended by about fifty Salesian Past Pupils, Presidents and Delegates from eight countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.

The EuroGex meeting opened on the evening of 1 May, with introductions and greetings from Fr Dariusz Bartocha, Provincial of the host Province (Poland Krakow) and the Rector of the Salesian House in Oswiecim, Fr Bogdan Nowak. Also present were the World President of the Past Pupils, Doctor Francis Muceo, and the President of the Local Union of Oświęcim, Mr. Wieslaw Sojka.

The aims of the meeting were to reflect on human rights, values, and the Social Doctrine of the Church in Europe; to promote knowledge of significant people from Europe and the world; to strengthen the unity and growth of the Local Association of Past Pupils; to get to know the reality of the centenary of the Salesian Family in Poland; to promote the community formation of the Salesian Past Pupils, and the Presidents and Delegates from Europe.

There were various interventions over the next few days: Mr. Ángel Gudiña, World Youth Vice-President, spoke of the example of blessed Stephen Sandor, and Fr Giovanni Gondro, Delegate for the Salesian Past Pupils of Wrocław, spoke about the five young martyrs of the Salesian Oratory of Lublin and about the identity of the Past Pupils; Alessia Clement, from the World Organization of the Past Pupils for Catholic Education, spoke of good practice in the defence of human rights; Mr. Woiciech Mroczek presented a report on the work of the Don Bosco Network on the topic of Human Rights; Fr José Pastor Ramírez, World Delegate of the Past Pupils intervened twice, about the new leadership in the Association of Past Pupils of Don Bosco and on the profile of the young past pupil in relation to the Social Doctrine of the Church, human rights, values ​​and needs; Domenica Sapienza, Confederation Councillor for communication, spoke of fundamental values ​​and human rights in the Salesian Family.

On the afternoon of 2 May, the participants paid ​​a visit to the Holocaust Museum at Auschwitz and Birkenau, which turned out to be one of the central experiences of the whole gathering, and in the evening they attended a prayer vigil. On 3 May, there was time for a tourist visit to the city of Krakow, in memory of St. John Paul II.

The meeting concluded with Sunday Mass celebrated by Fr Luis Fernando Alvarez, National Delegate of Spain.

The EuroGex meeting was coordinated by the Vice-President of the Past Pupils in Poland, Ms Ewelina Matyjasik, and her team which consisted of members of the various local unions in Poland.

Published 05/05/2014