In the afternoon of 12 August, the Salesians of the provinces of France-Belgium South, Spain-Bilbao, Spain-Madrid, Spain-Seville and Spain-Valencia, in the company of Fr. Jose Miguel Nunez, the provincial of Bilbao, Fr. Felix Urra, and of the delegates for the formation from the province of Bilbao, Seville and Valencia, have gathered together to begin their meeting with the recitation of the Vespers. During the vespers, the Regional Counsellor presented the contents and the objectives of the meeting; this was followed by the self-introduction of the participants.
The following day, 13 August, after morning prayers and breakfast, the first session took place under the guidance of Fr. Jose J. Gomez on the theme: ‘Young Salesians and their reality’; the presentation of the topic was followed by a group discussion and personal interventions in which everyone was able to express their minds.
In the afternoon, there was a visit to the house of St. Ignatius of Loyola, that gave ground for the second reflection which was done in the form of a panel; each province was represented. Towards the end, the participants gathered for the Eucharistic celebration and, later on, the participants visited the Basilica of St. Ignatius of Loyola with a Jesuit priest who guided the tour.
On the 14 August Fr. John Bosco Sancho, provincial of Valencia, who spoke on the theme ‘Young Salesians and Project Europe: challenges and prospective’. The theme arose dialogue and reflection. At noon, the participants visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Aranzazu, and were guided by the guardian of the sanctuary and of the Franciscan community who look after the shrine. The visit ended with the Eucharistic celebration.
The last day, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Fr. Nunez presented the theme ‘Fundamentals of the initial formation today’ that was followed by a very interesting debate.
The meeting of young Salesians concluded with the Eucharistic celebration in the chapel of the ‘Conversion’, at the house of St. Ignatius of Loyola. After the celebration all the participants received the icon of St. Paul, the Apostle of the Word, and the group photo followed.
Published 18/08/2010
