(ANS - Rome) - The Course for recently appointed Provincials, which began on 8 December, ended on Friday 20 December with the Eucharist presided over by the Rector Major, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime. The programme was coordinated by the Vicar of the Rector Major, Fr Francesco Cereda. The course is an established tradition of the Salesian Congregation and aims to prepare well the Salesians called to animate and lead the life of the Provinces.

The course was attended by eleven Provincials:

• Fr Estifanos Gebremeskel of Ethiopia and Eritrea (AET)
• Fr G. Victor Luis Sequeira of Angola (ANG)
• Fr Paul Bicomong of the North Philippines (FIN)
• Fr Stephen Yang of Korea (KOR)
• Fr Daniel Federspiel of France and South Belgium (FRB)
• Fr Jozef Ižold of Slovakia (SLK)
• Fr Andrzej Wujek of East Poland (PLE)
• Fr Francisco Mendez of Venezuela (VEN)
• Fr Jaime Morales of Colombia-Bogotá (COB)
• Fr Giuseppe Ruta of Sicily, Italy (ISI)
• Fr Enrico Stasi, of the Special Circumscription of Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta, Italy (ICP).

The topics covered the entire field of Salesian animation (Youth Ministry, Formation, Missions, Social Communication, Economics, Salesian Family ...). Special attention was given to the spirituality of the Provincial, and also legal elements, with reference to the Salesian Constitutions and General Regulations, the Acts of the 27th General Chapter, the plan for the current six-year period and the Provincial’s Manual.

The days of work at the Generalate, together with the moments for prayer, the Eucharist and community life, made up the formation programme for the new Provincials. In addition, they each had an individual meeting with the Rector Major or one of the Councillors in charge of the different sectors.

Published 22/12/2014