(ANS – Brazil) – On the vigil of the opening of the Don Bosco Bicentenary, Salesians and Salesian Sisters (FMA) in Brazil thought of offering a "gift" to the Founder. One August 13 and 14, representatives of both groups came together to take the first steps in setting up a joint Salesian Social Communication Network (Rescom).

The proposal is that from 2015, the actual Bicentenary year, this network would unite strengths and respond ever more effectively to current communication challenges,  starting with what is already in the provinces and especially teachings and experiences of the great communicator that Don Bosco was.

The Brazilian Salesian Network which already enables joint efforts by SDBs and FMAs in the primary education area through the Salesian Schools network, made up of area-based communications networks (Rescom) and Social action networks (RESAS), held its first work group meeting on August 13 and 14  and took the first steps towards drawing up a plan.

Provincials responsible for social communication in in Brazil are, for the SDBs, Fr Gildasio Mendes, and for the FMAs, Sr Ana Teresa Pinto. Added to them are members of the national Salesian Youth Ministry Commission,  Fr James Figueiró and Go Solange Sanchez, communications delegates for the six SDB and nine FMA Provinces, as well as Salesian Bulletin representatives. It is important to highlight that in this group there are Salesian priests and brothers, sisters and lay people.

On August 13, participants began by reflecting in depth on the "Salesian Social Communication System" and "Youth Cultures in Visual Educommunication", offered respectively by the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. Then they exchanged experiences on the service of communication being offered in each Province. They could see that there was no great difference in the Communications sector, which is of good quality but where joint effort between SDBs and FMAs is rare.

The second day of the meeting was dedicated to highlighting challenges and current opportunities for Rescom and how to set up an initial strategic plan involving the identity of Rescom, its mission, vision and proposed objectives. Participants emphasised that "Rescom is an integrated Salesian plan for Brazil " and its mission is to "encourage and assist relational and organisational processes for the Salesian network, guaranteeing communications ecosystems from an educational and pastoral point of view."  It also indicated as a general aim for the new network  that of "strengthening processes of Salesian communication in the service of evangelisation and education of the young."

Published 20/08/2014