(ANS – Madrid) – "The New Evangelization must occupy a leading role in the educational activities of the Catholic school," said Salesian Fr Francesco Riu in the presentation of his book "Nueva Evangelisación en la escuela católica", which took place first in Barcelona on Monday, Oct. 1st, at the Faculty of Theology of Catalonia; and then on Wednesday, October 3rd, in Madrid, in the auditorium of the "Colegio Mayor San Pablo".

The Madrid event was led by Monsignor Fidel Herráez Vegas, Auxiliary Bishop of Madrid, and served to emphasize the role that Catholic schools should play in the challenge of the New Evangelisation.

A few days before the beginning of the Synod on New Evangelisation, Fr. Riu has published his contribution to reflect on a crucial issue. "The Pope, the author recalled, speaks of an 'educational crisis' to indicate the importance of the role of Catholic schools in the New Evangelization. The current environment presents great challenges to the Church and to the Catholic school ". The author of the book shows how, in his opinion, the New Evangelization must be the new horizon for Catholic schools, and presents the characteristic and the specific contribution of Catholic schools in the present context.

The book, published jointly by the Salesian publishers "Edebé" and "Central Salesian Catequistica" (CCS) analyzes the evolution of Catholic schools in Spain, discusses what is meant by "New Evangelization", what challenges and opportunities it involves, how to run the Catholic school and what resources can be invested in this area. In the book by Fr Riu, he also addresses the issue of the teaching of the Catholic religion as a suitable framework for the New Evangelization.

The presentation was attended by, among others, Carlos Esteban, Director of the magazine "Religion and Schools"; Immaculada Tuset, President of "Catholic Schools", and Fr Koldo Gutiérrez, Salesian National Delegate for youth. Mr. Esteban said that "this is a worksheet of a study" that provides "a roadmap for this time and that helps to meet the challenges of today", and highlighted the educational interest for teaching communities.

Fr Gutierrez first spoke of the need of "the pastoral conversion in a missionary sense" of the Catholic school, a theme well presented in his book; and then he read a message from the Rector Major, in which Fr Chavez thanked him for the reflection in the text and expressed his wish that "Catholic schools take on as their educational mission an evangelising action more effective and reliable".

Monsignor Herráez Vegas, who opened and closed the ceremony, thanked the author of the book for all his work in Catholic schools, especially for his 30-year tenure as Secretary General of the Foundation Christian School in Catalonia, and recalled the long friendship with Fr Riu. The Auxiliary Bishop of Madrid stressed "the balance between faithfulness and creativity" in the author and the ability to "update the evangelizing horizon of the Catholic school" in the book.

Published 05/10/2012