(ANS – San Paolo) – Between 6 and 10 October in San Paolo, Brazil there was the I Seminar for the Provincial Delegates for the Salesian Family in the Latin America South  Cone Region. Taking part were 41 people - Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.

To open proceedings there were greetings from Sr Maria Luisa Miranda, FMA Councillor for the Salesian Family, the Brazilian Provincial of the FMA, Sr Vilma Santoro,  the Brazilian Provincial of the Salesians, Fr Marco Biaggi and the Regional Councillor for America South Cone Fr Natale Vitali. They all encouraged those taking part in their commitment to the  formation and the accompaniment of the laity.

This is the third Seminar at world level  for the Delegates for the Salesian Family, following those held at Częstochowa, in Poland, last February and in  Bangkok, Thailand last September. As at the previous Regional meetings attention was focused on the specific role of the Delegate, Salesian or FMA, as the link person and spiritual guide for the lay people in the Salesian Family.

The formation of the Delegates consisted in the study and discussion of various texts, from those of a universal character in the Catholic Church such as “Christifideles Laici”, to those specifically produced on the basis  of internal reflection such as the document on the Consultative Committees of the Salesian Family. Their reflection also included some practical issues and the Delegates drew up some proposals and some solutions with regard to putting into practice the various forms of accompaniment suited to the specific situations in the South  Cone.

Among the talks which were given special mention should be made of those by Sr Maria Trigila, World Delegate for the Salesians-Cooperators (SSCC), Sr Maritza Ortiz, World Delegate for the FMA Part Pupils, Fr Stjepan Bolkovac, World Delegate for the SSCC, and Fr José Pastor Ramírez, World Delegate for the Don Bosco Past Pupils and the Coordinator of the Salesian Family.

The organisation and the coordination of the meeting was in the capable hands of a team led by  Sr Miranda and by Fr Adriano Bregolin, while hosting the event were  were Fr Jurandyr Acevedo, from the Brazil-Belo Horizonte (BBH), and Sr. Cecilia Jalil Fausta, from the FMA Province of San Paolo.

During the meeting held in the traditionally joyful  atmosphere associated with the Salesian Family, the  Delegates also spent a religious-cultural day at the  Sanctuary of Aparecida and in the city of San Paolo. The meeting concluded ob Sunday 10 October with Mass at which  Fr Marco Biaggi presided.

Published 12/10/2010