(ANS - Rome) – The International Congress on Salesian Pedagogy started yesterday afternoon, 19 March. About 300 participants from around the world have come to be part of "this important opportunity to thank the Father for the passion and dedication of so many who dedicate their lives to children in need". So said the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime in his opening address.

Right from the beginning the Rector Major identified the significance of the occasion for a family that goes back to a great educator, Don Bosco. We need to discuss, reflect and see how we can increase "our knowledge and attention, and our ability to put Don Bosco’s method into practice, so that we can achieve our educational mission in the Church and in the world today."

Fr Á.F. Artime, sees confirmation of our Salesian educational heritage in the calls of Pope Francis to care for the needy. He said that on his travels he was able to see for himself the situation of so many young people, boys and girls discarded by society, who are given a second chance and helped to live their lives to the full by Salesian educators.

The Rector Major also invited those present to see the congress as an opportunity to strive for ''excellence in our work as educators, an excellence that is very far from any elitism", or the “temptation to be complacent about what we have already achieved".  Rather we are looking for a renewal that will allow us to give of our best for the education and evangelization of young people. He invoked the blessing of Don Bosco and of Mary Help of Christians on this renewal and encouraged all to strive for educational wisdom and pastoral charity, and seek to integrate them.

After the Rector Major’s intervention which was greatly appreciated, work proceeded yesterday afternoon with reports by Stanislaus Swamikannu, SDB, and Professor Paola Bignardi, on the "Current social situation and educational challenges" and reports by Fr Juan Carlos Quirarte, SDB, and Professor Clare Giaccardi on the "Youth Situation and educational needs."

This morning, at the UPS, the participants will study the contributions of Fr Jean-Marie Petitclerc and Fr Miguel Angel García Morcuende on the Preventive System today, followed by papers by Sr. Mara Borsi, FMA and Fr Michal Vojtas, SDB.

The work this afternoon will be centred on the presentation of various best practices developed by Salesian educators in working with children at risk. It will be available on live streaming.

Published 20/03/2015