Spain – Salesian Youth Ministry: reflection for action |
Spain – The Youth Centre as a response to the needs of todays youth |
(ANS – Madrid) – The General Assembly of the Don Bosco Confederation met at the Provincial House, Atocha, Madrid from 2-3 March, bringing together 30 representatives from 9 federations, plus representatives from the Executive Assembly and Administrative Council. Fr Fabio Attard, General Councillor for Salesian Youth Ministry also attended the meeting, which had the purpose working towards a strategic plan for the coming years.
The main purpose of the meeting, then, was to identify urgent needs and objectives for the 2nd Strategic Plan which work for the coming years will be based on. Priorities established by the Assembly were as follows: improving internal management of the organisation, strengthening people's involvement, knowing how to communicate the social impact of work done, improving collection and management of resources and promoting social transformation beginning with concrete proposals for youth advancement.
Fr Koldo Gutiérrez, National Youth Ministry Delegate, was present with other members of the Youth Ministry Department. Early in the piece, Santi Domínguez, focused a brief presentation on the context in which youth centres in Spain find themselves, highlighting the work carried out by the various Federations, the major challenges that confront the Confederation and the topics tackled during the 17th State Congress for Salesian Youth Centres, which took place at Logroño under the title “Don Bosco aquí y ahora” (Don Bosco here and now).
Fr Attard congratulated those present and said: “We need to continue our mission and vocation, by being ‘intelligent’ (from the Latin root of this term which means being deeply connected with others); nor should we be afraid to say who we are, starting from our identity”. After a simple and cordial discussion, the day finished with Mass in the crypt at Atocha.
On Sunday, following the opening prayer, the Federation presented the results and difficulties faced over the past year, challenges to be faced up to in 2013; they highlighted the creativity of the Federations in tackling financial difficulties, the favourable opportunity that some of them find themselves in – where they have a good number of volunteers and youngsters who benefit from the Centre – and the successful Federation activities they had organised.
The Administration Council, finally, reported to the Assembly on management in 2012, the budget, work and proposals for 2013. Part of the time was also dedicated to getting to know, through coordinators' reports, initiatives developed by Work Groups, including the media campaign known as “Juntos Somos Más” (We are more when we come together) found on Twitter with the hastag: #JuntosSomosMás.
Published 11/03/2013