After the Team Visits already carried out throughout 2023 and related to the Salesian realities of South Asia, America South Cone, Interamerica and Central and Northern Europe Regions, this moment of the Team Visit to the Mediterranean Region is also an instrument of animation of the Rector Major and the General Council to verify the journey underway in the different Salesian realities, ensuring convergence and unity.
The Mediterranean region comprises Salesians and presences spread over 19 nations (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, San Marino, Lithuania, Albania, Kosovo, Romania, Moldavia, Cape Verde, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria), and divided into 11 Provinces (the six in Italy, the two in Spain, Portugal, the Middle East, and the new North African Circumscription), to which must also be added the realities inherent to the Vice Province of the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS) and the Community at the Salesian Headquarters (RMG).
In terms of numbers, the Mediterranean is home to some 2,500 Salesians, although the number of novices is currently among the lowest of the seven regions.
The guiding theme of the work concerns the "Building a Future of Hope" for this Region and of Thanksgiving for the Charismatic Loyalty and the Sense of Belonging to the Congregation, in the perspective of what can be offered by it to the whole Congregation.
This theme, at the level of the contents that will be shared, will then be articulated through three other sub-themes:
- A JOURNEY OF FAITHFULNESS AND VOCATIONAL FECUNDITY, which must take care of the personal life of each Salesian, the meaningfulness of fraternal life, and the renewal and relaunching of Salesian pastoral action;
- A JOURNEY OF SHARED SPIRIT AND MISSION BETWEEN SALESIANS AND LAY PEOPLE, recognizing and valuing the contribution of so many committed to the service of the mission and in particular that of the lay groups of the Salesian Family; this will also require a journey of conversion, a change of mentality, a common path of formation between Salesians and lay people, a journey of shared spirit and mission, in the awareness of the different roles and in the co-responsible management of tasks and duties.
- A PATH TOWARDS A NEW MODEL OF ANIMATION AND GOVERNANCE, to be designed with creativity, utilizing all the juridical and canonical options. This journey will aim in particular at rethinking of the organization and governance at the level of the Region, the Provinces and the Regional or Interprovincial Centres; and also at the level of the formation houses.
At the operational level, the work opens on Tuesday with the morning Eucharist, the first introductory speeches, the greeting of the Rector Major and the report of the Regional Councillor for the Mediterranean, Fr Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy, on the current reality of the Congregation. In the afternoon of the first day, Fr Ivo Coelho, General Councillor for Formation, is expected to speak on the topic: "A path of fidelity and vocational fruitfulness: The life of the brothers and communities", followed by time for clarifications and the final formulation of some proposals.
On Wednesday 4 October, it will be Fr Miguel Angel García Morcuende, General Councillor for Youth Ministry, who will offer the day's keynote address, entitled: " Our mission: A path of fidelity and vocational fruitfulness ". After the sharing in groups and then in the assembly, will follow the drafting of some concrete proposals for the future, the afternoon will be reserved for a moment of spiritual and community recharging with a pilgrimage to the Greek abbey of San Nilo, at Grottaferrata.
On Thursday, 5 October, the theme of the reflection that will be developed, by Fr Fernando García Sánchez, Superior of the Province of Spain-San Giacomo Maggiore (SSM) will be "Continuing to build together a shared path of Spirit and Mission between Salesians and lay people"; while in the afternoon, the Vicar of the Rector Major, Fr Stefano Martoglio, will introduce to those present his ideas on "a new model of animation and governance".
Finally, the work will end on the morning of Friday, 6 October with the concluding and summing up session and the final Eucharist presided over by the Rector Major.
