(ANS - Sliema) – Today, 21 November, the eleventh Eurobosco opened in Malta. This is the European Congress of Past Pupils of Don Bosco with the participation of over ninety representatives from eleven national federations.

Euroboscois a tradition that has been ongoing since 1965. There have been eleven such congresses, including the one that begins today. They tell the story of Salesian past pupils' commitment to European unity. During this period of almost 50 years, Eurobosco has shown great interest in social issues in Europe: young people in general, youth unemployment, families, and migration, always searching for whatever contribution the Salesian Family might be able to offer.

This eleventh Eurobosco is part of a working plan that the Past Pupils' Association has drawn up worldwide to prepare for the celebration of the Bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco. It is hoped that four objectives will be achieved:

• strengthen the structure of the Association - Local Unions, the Provincial Federation or Confederation;
• improve the animation and formation of Past Pupils;
• study Don Bosco, grow in love for him, and pray to him – as teacher, spiritual father, founder and patriarch of the Salesian Family;
• create social projects and ecclesial solidarity at all levels - local, provincial and global - to meet the needs of the most disadvantaged, especially  immigrants.

During the congress there will be two main conferences. One, on the theme "The identity and mission of the Past Pupils of Don Bosco in Europe today" will be given by Professor Carlos Berenguer Sánchez.  Dr Michael Frendo, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta, will speak on "The involvement of the Past Pupils of Don Bosco in the phenomenon of migration in Europe.”

There will also be reports on three examples of good practice: the Business Platform, developed by the Federation of Slovakia; the relationship between the Past Pupils of Don Bosco and the Salesian Youth Movement in solidarity with the Haiti Project, presented by the Federation of France; and National meetings of Young Past Pupils, promoted by the Spanish Confederation.

The event will end on Sunday, 24 November, with the presentation of the formation plan of the World Confederation: Towards the Bicentenary.

Published 21/11/2013