The second working session gave way to the presentation of this meeting's second theme for reflection: "Working Together between Salesians and Laity" presented by Fr. Miguel Angel García Morcuende, General Councilor for Youth Ministry, and Fr. Joan Luis Playá, Central Delegate of the Rector Major for the Secretariat for the Salesian Family.
Fr. García Morcuende spoke first and presented the document "The Consecrated Salesian in the Educational-Pastoral Community (CEP): opportunities and current approaches." He highlighted seven points of what he considers the role of the consecrated Salesian in the life of the CEP. First, Salesians are disciples, then apostles, and in every situation they express their consecrated being in being in the midst of young people (through the succinct expression coined by the Rector Major of "the Salesian sacrament of presence"). He also spoke of siding with young people by working for an organic pastoral ministry and the need to recreate a pastoral experience that leads to the recovery of the community subject. He then pointed out that an integrated pastoral ministry requires moments of intense joint formation between Salesians and laity, with serious and profound formation itineraries that encourage encounter, listening, and discernment and that allow thinking about the density of Salesian presence. Finally, he called for renewed processes and community discernment, enabling new models of shared fraternal life with young people.
At the end of the morning, Fr. Playá took the floor, exhorting, "You are the living Don Bosco in this blessed land of the Southern Cone. May the Lord continue to bless you." His presentation sought to help one become aware of what the Salesian Family offers, and can still offer, to the growing reality of shared mission with the laity in the areas of community life, educational-pastoral communities, and Provinces.
He then began with a question, "Can the vitality of the Salesian Family help us to positively develop this role in the current context?" In this sense, he highlighted some key concepts: ensuring mission, an essential charismatic element, and continuing to believe with great commitment. This is not simply a strategy, but fidelity to the charism. And he then presented some ongoing processes with the Salesian Family and the structural conditions needed to carry them forward.
In the afternoon, the moderator opened the session by inviting the groups to work on the morning presentations in a discussion that lasted over an hour. Then came the time for official photos, during which the Rector Major gave some interviews to the Argentine media.
The second part of the afternoon session focused on the presentation of the groups' responses that presented the resonances and elements to be highlighted and integrated in the document "The consecrated Salesian in the educational-pastoral community."
Finally, the day ended with the Mass presided over by the Councilor for the America Southern Cone Region, Fr. Gabriel Romero.
