(ANS - Santiago) – On Wednesday, August 31, 50 communicators from Salesian and Salesian Sisters centres in Chile had an intense first day of work in an historic combined formation session together in the Los Dominicos retreat house, Santiago. Social Communication, Salesian Spirituality and Implementing Projects within a multi-cell management system were the topics covered.

The Provincial Delegate for Communications, Father Juan Bustamante, opened the session on Wednesday using projections on identity, spirituality and what it means to be a Salesian communicator. He identified seven in-depth characteristics of the Salesian charism: pastoral charity, the grace of unity, the style of prayer, the popular mission to the young, optimism and joy, work and temperance, and the sense of Church.

In his presentation, the Provincial Delegate argued that the main challenge of the Salesian community is to communicate the Good News (Gospel) in a context where the dominant information is often negative in character. “We are all educators and communicators, and beginning with communication we need to encourage the capacities of the young. Communication has to do with our spirituality. This is a great challenge. We are missionaries of the young”, said Father Bustamante.

In the afternoon, Sergio Barahona, from the Education Department, explored the topic of developing projects in the context of a multi-cell management model in place in the Salesian and Sisters' schools. From the valuable exchange of views between participants the need to establish roles, functions and responsibilities of the coordinators for school communications emerged, along with a need for an Improvement Plan in communications, in response to requests from authorities offering Quality Certification for School Management .

Barahona drew attention to key aspects in organisation for Communications, stressing that “our main 'users' are young people, which is why we talk about them as being actively involved”. In an educative community type ministry (which educates and evangelises), the dominant structures should organise the community around the benefit of young people and their families.”.

He also stressed the importance of responding to the questions like: Why communicate? What to communicate? How to communicate? When to communicate?” when one wants to develop an improvement plan for the area. “We must look to the future, defining a set of actions for a working group that can help us carry out the mission and vision of our work. The worst thing is paralysis”.

The day ended with a Goodnight from the Provincial Fr Leonardo Santibáñez, who stressed that the Salesian community must be bearers and spokespersons of good news. He called it an historic occasion given the combined session for the first time.. He recalled the encouragement of the Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez, who invites us to take on any place where there are young people in need, a place where the Salesian Family therefore needs to be, and where communication should occupy an important place.

Published 02/09/2011