(ANS – San Salvador) – The journalist Zaida Navarrete and Fr Heriberto Herrera travelled about 1800 km within the “Divine Redeemer” Province of Central America presenting in all the houses the Salesian Social Communication System (SSCS). In good numbers Salesians, lay people and members of the various groups of the Salesian Family took part in the meetings and became involved in various communication projects.

The new edition of the Salesian Social Communication System was approved by the Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva, and presented and distributed by Fr Filiberto González, General Councillor for Social Communication (SC). In response those responsible for SC accepted the task of presenting it to the Salesian, their lay co-workers  and the  various  groups of the Salesian Family.

First they visited the houses in El Salvador: the formation houses – the Theologate, CRESCO, the post-novitiate, the pre-novitiate, then the Parish of Divine Providence, Don Bosco school, Quetzaltenango (parish, school, university) and finally the mission of Carchá (with the Don Bosco Centre, the “Talita Kumi”, the Salesian Family centre and the  Salesian community house).

Fr Herrera and Zaida Navarrete discovered that some communities were well acquainted with social communication ideas, while others were only starting, but doing their best to be close to the youngsters with the media resourses.

All the communities were determined to use the new media as powerful means for evangelisation and education. “This was the best result of our work,” Fr  Herrera said. “There are no prejudices regarding the media, rather there is a real commitment to make good use of them. But also to face to face encounters with people.”

“The sharing of information about the Salesian Family through the  ANS site, the Salesian Bulletin and other Province resourses strengthens  the sense of belonging to the Province community and to the Congregation” he adds.

“We still have to visit Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Honduras. We are counting the miles but we are convinced that what we invest in this animation and formation is for the benefit of the youong people. Communication will always be a constant need for the Salesian world.”

Published 28/02/2012