Around 250 young people took part in this eagerly awaited confrontation and dialogue, held at the Salesian Provincial House in Lisbon, as part of the Salesian Youth Movement Day (SYM Day) during WYD Lisbon 2023. It was a very meaningful and fraternal dialogue with the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, the FMA Mother General, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, the SDB General Councillor for Youth Ministry, Fr Miguel Angel García Morcuende, and the FMA General Councillor for Youth Ministry, Sr Runita Borja. After registration, the forum began with an input on the theme: Envisioning the Worldwide Salesian Youth Movement. It was presented by Sr. Runita Borja FMA, FMA General Councilor for Youth Ministry, and Fr. Miguel Angel Garcia-Morcuende SDB, SDB General Councilor for Youth Ministry. The presentation ended with the following questions for sharing in the different language groups: Identifying an important global issue or challenge to which the Salesian Youth Movement can make a significant and visible contribution, and propose concrete lines of action in response.
The diversity of answers calls the attention of both young people and Salesians (SDBs, FMAs, the Salesian Family) on the necessity to respond to the challenges of the times. Young people ask for formation on various aspects of their growth such as identity, vocational discernment, faith and Salesian spirituality; SDBs, FMAs and the Salesian Family are called upon to accompany young people especially the poor and migrants, and their families.
Young people want to form their identity by being assisted in their sexual, affective, emotional, and mental development in order to live a dignified life. By their lives with Christ, they seriously want to discover their vocation, deepen their Catholic faith and be of service to their fellow young people and the Church. They have also expressed their desire to grow in Salesian youth spirituality and integral ecology. As they pursue these aspects of growth, they hope to be accompanied by and with their families in living the faith.
The results of the wonderful reflection also ask for accompaniment from the SDBs, FMAs and even the entire Salesian family. This accompaniment means taking time to listen to the young, to journey with them in the discovery of their vocation, to deepen the knowledge and practice of Catholic faith and Salesian spirituality, and to take care of the families.
Indeed, the world is presenting our young people and the Salesian family with ever greater challenges. It is hoped that the SYM Forum will serve as a concrete experience of listening to young people that will spur the Salesian Family to a joyful and meaningful accompaniment that the young people desire.
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