(ANS – Rome) – The acts of the “Study Days on the Salesian Mission in the front line in first Christian proclamation in Europe today” held in Prague in the Czech Republic from 4 to 10 November 2010 were published recently by the Department of the Salesian Missions. The volume contains about 150 pages. It is available in Italian and English and is at present on its way to the Salesian Provinces.

According to Fr Vaclav Klement, Councillor for the Salesian Missions, “The purpose of these days was to study the topic of first proclamation of Jesus in Europe, in dialogue with the cultures, religions and new ways of thinking, and to discover new perspectives that can renew our missionary praxis.”

 “Faced with the second or third generation of young people who live without reference to God, and young immigrants from other religions and faiths, we need small Christian missionary communities who are aware of the signs of the times and reflect on the proclamation of Jesus, and are able to speak the good news in deeds and in words.” – so said Sr Aláide Deretti, Councillor for the Missions of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA).

The study days were held in Prague precisely to come in contact with one of the places most in need of the proclamation of the Good News. The participants studied various themes that are inherent in the Christian proclamation as, for example, the challenges and opportunities of post-modern Europe, and the need for dialogue with other Christian communities and with other religions. In addition to the talks given by the various speakers on these topics, the volume of the Acts contains also the conclusions of the meeting of the Bishops of Europe regarding first proclamation and includes also nine appendices containing challenges, reflections by various experts, and proposals for action that may be helpful in every Salesian situation.

The publication of these Acts is a necessary step in bringing the reflections and good practices shared at Prague to a wider audience. It is also part of the ongoing process of first Christian proclamation that the Salesian Family has been engaged in for several years. In fact, both the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians chose this topic as one of their lines of action for the six-year period 2008-2014.

Following the Study Days in Prague, devoted to reflection on first proclamation in the European context, there were similar Study Days for South Asia (Calcutta, India, 7-11 August 2011); East Asia (Sampran, Thailandia, 14-18 August 2011); Oceania (Port Moresby, Papua Nuova Guinea, 21-25 August 2011); and Africa and Madagascar (Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, 5-9 November 2012).  Next November the Salesians and FMA will complete their world itinerary with Study Days for first proclamation in the American continent.

Published 17/07/2013