The Seminar will begin in the mid-afternoon of Saturday 30 (14:00 - UTC+2) with the inaugural address of the Vicar of the Rector Major, Fr. Stefano Martoglio, followed by the introduction note of the coordinator, Fr. Francesco Motto, a member of the ISS.
Then Fr Thomas Anchukandam, Director of the ISS; Fr Stanislav Zimniak, Fr Motto; and Ariel Fresia - all members of the ISS - and Sr Grazia Loparco FMA, lecturer at the "Auxilium" Faculty, will illustrate through their interventions different facets of Fr Albera's life and work. They will analyse the contexts in which he lived, his commitment to the transmission of the charism, the development of the Congregation during his rectorate, the growth of the missions in America, the relationship with the FMA etc.,
After an in-depth study of Fr Paul Albera in the difficult context of the First World War, the first day will end with an assembly discussion and the concluding address of Fr Ivo Coelho, General Councillor for Formation.
On the second day, which will also open at 2 p.m. (UTC+1), another batch of authoritative scholars on the subject will deepen other relevant aspects relating to this fundamental figure in the history of the Congregation and the Salesian Family.
Fr Joe Boenzi, lecturer at the Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology in Berkeley (United States), will speak about Fr Albera as a formator and Spiritual Director. Fr Aldo Giraudo, lecturer at UPS, about his Rector's Manual; Sr Eliane Petri, FMA, of Auxilium, about his contribution towards the formation of the FMA Institute; Fr J. Pudumai Doss, professor at "St. Paul's University" in Ottawa (Canada), of Fr Albera and the First Code of Canon Law; Mr. Giovenale Dotta, CSI, of the Central Josephine Archives in Rome, of the image of Fr Albera in the Salesian Bulletin; Br. Paolo Vaschetto, SDB, of UPS, of the photographs relating to the Second Successor of Don Bosco; Fr Petr Zelinka, of the Central Salesian Archive, will deal finally, with the sources of and on Fr Albera.
After the customary group discussion, historian Andrea Riccardi, the professor emeritus of the "Roma Tre" University will give the conclusions to the discussions. Fr. Andrea Bozzolo, the Rector Magnifico of UPS will conclude the event with his final conclusive address.
After registration they will receive an email with the link for the video conference. The reports will be in Italian (one in Spanish), but it will also be possible to follow them in English.
Anyone wishing to participate in person, at the Faculty of Social Communication Sciences of the UPS, is invited to communicate it by Friday evening, October 29, to the secretary of the Conference by email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
