Spain – "Growing up and believing": 600 young people prepare to form other young people

19 September 2023

(ANS – Madrid) – Last Saturday, 16 September 2023, the Salesian houses of Atocha in Madrid, Ourense and Deusto in Bilbao hosted formation days for leaders at Salesian youth centres, an event attended by about 600 young people. Under the motto "Growing up and believing", these days offered the hundreds of participating boys and girls a common programme based on developmental psychology and the pedagogy of faith.

During the meetings, seminars were held on affective-sexual education, attention to emotions and mental health, and attention to diversity. And, at the same time, it was an opportunity for conviviality and celebration to play a privileged role.

This formation session organised by the Salesians is known as the "Itinerary of Faith Education" (IEF). It is "a formation offer which is part of the pastoral dynamics of our Province; they offer the opportunity to bring together a large group of leaders from our youth centres at the beginning of the school year," said Fr Xavier Camino, SDB, Youth Ministry Delegate for the Salesian St James the Greater Province (SSM) in a statement.

Fr Camino also stressed "the opportunity to share quality formation time for leaders, both for those who are just starting out and for those who already have more experience." It is also a way to offer "different spaces for living together and celebrating the faith. Spaces that shed light on the new year and offer the opportunity to present the annual pastoral campaign and some of the main objectives of the new year."

Last year, these days brought together a total of 500 young people, between the three locations. A figure that, according to the number of registrations, has been exceeded this year. This high participation, among other things, demonstrates the interest of the leaders in Salesian youth centres in their formation, in order to be able to continue to accompany and form children, adolescents and young adults who attend their settings.

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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