(ANS – Campo Grande)– The fifth Continental Conference of the Salesian Institutes of Higher Education (IUS) of America took place in Campo Grande, Brazil, from 26 to 29 August. The conference was hosted by the Università Cattolica Dom Bosco of Campo Grande (UCDB) and the Salesian Mission of Mato Grosso, Campo Grande. About a hundred people took part, Salesians and lay people from nineteen of the twenty-four IUS on the American Continent.

Among the topics dealt with were the identity of the IUS, the quality of the formation offered, and the impact of their educative and cultural activity on society. The principal scope of the conference was how to put into practice the document “Policies for Salesian presence in Higher Education 2013-2016” in all the American institutes, taking into consideration the actual situation on the continent.

The conference opened on Monday 26 August with Mass at which Archbishop Dimas Lara Barbosa of Campo Grande presided. Speakers at the opening ceremony were Fr Natale Vitali, Regional Councillor for America Cono Sud, Fr Lauro Takaki Shinohara, Provincial of Brazil Campo Grande (BCG), Fr José Marinoni, Rector UCDB and, by video message, Fr Fabio Attard, General Councillor for Youth Ministry.

The conference enabled the participants to evaluate the progress made by the IUS in America in the past sixteen years, and to reflect on the new challenges facing higher education in the continent, challenges that come from the social, political and economic situation. It served also to develop a plan to work together in accordance with the new policies and the directives given by the Salesian Congregation.

The video message sent by Fr Attard can be seen, in Spanish, on the ANSchannel on YouTube.

Published 03/09/2013