| RMG – Youth Ministry : study days |
| Italy – The III European Congress on Salesian Schools draws closer |
| Italy – Evangelisation and Education at the Don Bosco International Institute in Turin |
The team together with the members of the Youth Ministry Department discussed and reflected on the current practice regarding evangelisation-education. From the discussions a plan emerged for work to be undertaken in the Regional centres of formation concerning Youth Ministry. On its completion, the document containing information about the situation of reflection and practice regarding Youth Ministry will be analysed and organised.
The starting point for the working sessions chaired by Fr Fabio Attard, Councillor for Youth Ministry was the second theme of the GC26: “The urgent need for evangelisation.” Recognising that some previous guidelines – such as those of GC23 had not n been fully implemented, the last General Chapter of the Salesians had noted the changed situations which needed also changes in Salesian pastoral activity.
GC26 proposed three practical steps: further study of the relationship between evangelisation and education in order to put the Preventive System into practice, adapting the frame of reference for Salesian youth ministry to changing cultural situations; to promote reflection on the contribution which the oratory criterion can offer to the renewal of catechesis which is happening in the Church, and finally to provide guidelines for evangelisation and education of the young and of families of other religions.
Even though the GG26 did not expressly use the word “rethinking,” in fact it does call for it. This cannot be reduced to a revision of the document produced by the Department “Salesian Youth Ministry. A basic frame of reference,” published in 1998 and updated in 2000. Above all it requires reflection on the pastoral praxis of the Congregation and at the same time reflection on some theoretical aspects not fully resolved or only slightly assimilated.
The meeting in Rome was part of a process which involving the various parts of the Salesian world will conclude before the 27th General Chapter in 2014. The next meeting of the team is scheduled for February 2011.
Published 26/11/2009
