(ANS - Rome) - The Acts of the Study Days on Salesian Presence among Muslims, held in Rome from 30 July to 4 August 2012, are being dispatched in these days to all the Salesian Provinces. The text, the Missions Department's 58th publication, is currently available in Italian and English.

Nowadays the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) are present not only in Muslim contexts, but also in traditionally Christian areas where there is an increasing number of Muslims. Similarly, Muslims are also present in many Salesian works on all continents.

The study days in Rome served to promote very deep discussions and reflections on the Salesian presence among Muslims, to come to a better understanding of the challenges and to uncover new insights and prospects for meaningfulness. The Acts are therefore primarily directed towards Salesians and FMA, as well as other members of the Salesian Family, who already have a reasonable level of theological, missiological, anthropological or academic training.

The study days on the Salesian presence among the Muslims continued the reflection done at the "Seminar on Missionary Animation in Salesian Pastoral Care in the Islamic Context" (1989) and the "Seminar for SDB-FMA Animation and Missionary Training in the Islamic Context" (2001).

The published Acts reflect the study days' three phases: analysing the situation; the study and reflection phase; drawing up the conclusions. It also contains the prayerful reading of the Word of God - through the lectio divina done at the beginning of each day and various documents - and, as appendices, outline syntheses of the Animation and Formation Seminars of 1989 and 2001 and the Recommendations for Conduct of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

The text contains the talks given by speakers, who had been chosen from outside the circle of the Salesian Family to hear a different voice on the topic and help participants think in a new way. Each report is also accompanied by critical reactions from the Salesian point of view - which were put forward as the methodology best suited to the study days - in order to stimulate further discussion and a deeper reflection among participants.

In its last pages the Acts also present ten modules designed to enable local communities - even in different contexts - to use the materials for training their members and, therefore, encourage a deeper and wider reception among the Salesians and FMA of the prospects and insights that emerged at the study days.

The Acts, which will shortly be published in French, are available also on the sdb.org (IT and EN) site.

Published on 12/07/2013