(ANS – Venice-Mestre) – Between 15 and 18 March  at the “San Marco” Salesian Institute in Venice-Mestre there was the annual “School for Leaders” of the Young Past Pupils  of Europe, a three-year training course. There were 45 young Past Pupils (GEx) from Italy, Spain, Croatia, Poland and Slovakia as well as the National Delegates: Fr Enrico Peretti for Italy, Fr Jesus Guerra Ibanez for Spain  and Fr Ivan Zitnansky for Slovakia.

Starting in the late afternoon of Thursday  15, issues dealt  with at the meeting - useful in the formation of a young Past Pupil – included professional skills, faith choices,  moral conscience and social commitment. Fr Fabrizio Emanuelli, Delegate for Vocational Training in the North East Italy Province considered the subject “Don Bosco the Good Shepherd” emphasising the inventive ability of the Saint in responding to the needs of the poor young people and his total trust in Providence.

The following day  Dr Giovanni Costanza, from Sicily and Dr. Michal Hort, from Slovakia spoke respectively about  “Management of the group and of the council of the Past Pupils” and  “Management and direction of a working party”, pointing out the value of working together in synergy and with a spirit of collaboration.

Saturday was a very busy day with several talks: first Dr. Maurizio Feraco, a business consultant and training officer who dealt with the subject of communication techniques; then Fr Riccardo Michielan, Rector of the house in Mestre who considered the task of evangelisation to which every Past Pupil is called; this was followed by the Salesian Cooperator Luciano Pasqualato speaking about how the motto “good Christian and upright citizen” can be lived out in practical terms of solidarity; finally with a round table discussion  some Past Pupils spoke about their own personal experiences of giving attention and devoting themselves to the needs of their neighbours.

Then on Sunday 18 Fr Peretti spoke about “The  sense of belonging to the Salesian Family” as the real identity of the Leader and above all of the Past Pupil committed to living out Don Bosco’s charism.

Time was also found for exchanging ideas and experiences and for celebrating as at a social evening on the first day – to which the various groups contributed traditional food and other things – and a visit to Venice.

Present at the meeting organised by the Italian Vice Gex Luisa Bertiato and the World Vice Gex Angel Gudiña, were also the World  Gex Councillor Domenica Sapienza, and on Saturday  the President of the Confederation of the Don Bosco Past Pupils, Francesco Muceo. The World Delegate Fr Josè Pastor Ramirez sent a special message of good-will  from Africa where he was involved in various meetings.

Published 21/03/2012