(ANS - Guadalajara)- The first meeting of volunteers from the four Salesian Provinces of Mexico - two SDB and two FMA -  took place from   5-7 December.  Over fifty young people took part. The initiative was part of the celebration of the Bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco, and coincided with the celebration of International Volunteer Day.

by Jesús García, SDB

During the three days the participants shared their experiences of Salesian youth volunteering in different social or missionary works, such as shelters, oratories, hostels, educational centres and so on.

The national meeting was hosted by the San Luigi Gonzaga oratory and the Anáhuac Garibaldi  school in  Guadalajara. An earler meeting limited to volunteers of the Salesian Province of Mexico-Guadalajara was held at the St. Francis de Sales temple.

Among the topics discussed,were  the following: "What are the social borders?"  and  "Human Rights - a response to the social situation that calls for commitment."

"Don Bosco at the frontiers," was another of the themes touched upon. It led the volunteers to discover the founder of the Salesians as a person who worked proactively to ensure the rights of young people in their socio-cultural situation.  This can be inferred from the model of employment contract promoted by Don Bosco for the young men of his time in Turin. Finally, the theme  "My own frontiers", led the participants to reflect on their limits and what they needed to do to work on them.

Fr Hugo Orozco, Provincial of Mexico-Guadalajara,  presided at the concluding Mass on Sunday 7 December. He congratulated the young people who had given part of their life to serve the most needy.

Published 11/12/2014