(ANS – Rome) – On 31 January 2009, on the occasion of the Feast of Don Bosco, the Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez, launched  the  “Project for Europe”. The ANS Salesian Information Agency is offering a series of  special publications devoted to the analysis of the youth situation in European countries, presenting some of the things Salesians are doing to respond to the needs of youth in the Old Continent.

The 26 General Chapter, held in 2008, indicated Europe as one of the new frontiers of the Salesian mission. In putting into effect the directives of the GC26 and re-launching the Salesian charism there, three years ago the “Project for Europe”  came into being with three key points: the re-vitalisation from within of the Salesian presence, the re-location and re-structuring of the presences, the coordination of activities in a Europe recognised a “mission territory.”

In these three years some steps have been taken: the setting up of a special commission to activate and monitor the PE; meetings have been held: of Provincials, of those responsible for certain areas of the Salesian Mission and of novices. Some clear signs of the path followed can be seen in the plan for the re-organisation of the Spanish Provinces and the growing number of missionaries arriving in Europe with the recent Missionary Expeditions.

To get a better knowledge and understanding of the youth scene in Europe  and of what the  Salesians are doing in the context of the PE, for some time ANS has made available a special  section, (visible on the right-hand column of the homepage), which brings together publications on the subject.

On the occasion of the Feast of Don Bosco, ANS is proposing a more systematic approach. Starting from today, more or less on a monthly basis, in the  “Service” section some reflections will be published which consider the youth scene in individual  European countries, in order to present the face of youth, the opportunities and the current challenges.

These short enquiries  carried out thanks to the various correspondents of the Agency, will be accompanied by new items on the work of the Salesians in Europe: significant activities, novel projects, success stories and examples of good practice.

The first regards Spain.
 
Published 31/01/2012