This fifth continental meeting has as its theme "Together, for the present and the future of Salesian education in America", and as its goal is to transform education in Salesian Family settings, promoting Salesian educational leadership that is committed to the integral formation of young people.
The meeting will take place at the Chapalita institute in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, in the State of Jalisco, Mexico, and aims to bring together the educational leaders from Provinces in 25 countries of the continent for a joint reflection, together with the Salesian and FMA General Councillors of the Sector.
Participants will be called to reflect on and prepare for a present and a future, despite changes and uncertainties, that is still promising and full of opportunities, and all are challenged to study and explore the new strategies and educative and pastoral processes for the coming years.
The meeting will be developed with a participatory methodology involving reports, round tables, thematic rooms, and exchange of best practices developed in the different regions of ESA -CIMAC-Mesoamerica; CINAB - Andina; CICSAL - South Cone, Salesian Network of Brazil – or in schools of Salesian Family Groups such as the Daughters of the Divine Savior and the Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
This fifth version of ESA's continental meetings will continue the process already carried out in previous meetings: Cumbaya I (1994); Cumbaya II (2002), ESA III (Brasilia, 2008) and ESA IV (Medellin, 2017). In this way, it will want to take into account the living realities of schools in America, paying attention to the educational needs of students, the ongoing formtion of educators in the Educative and Pastoral Community, enhancing their proposals and working on institutional management.
“On this occasion, considering the speed of political, economic and cultural changes, we are called to dialogue with new realities, preparing ourselves to adequately form the new generations, especially after the pandemic” explained Fr. Claudio Cartes, ESA Coordinator in the Salesians of Don Bosco Sector for Youth Ministry. "From this perspective, guaranteeing the significance of the Salesian School in America is an increasingly exciting challenge for those who, like us, live immersed in the daily educational mission. The fast and constantly evolving world drives us to continue looking for new ways to reach the hearts of young people in their integral formation, so that they can become the good Christians and upright citizens that our educative and pastoral projects seek to produce, by putting the Preventive System into practice .”
The specific work proposal, prepared by the Central Commission of the Salesian School of America, in response to its Strategic Planning (2020-2022) and in direct relation to the commitments assumed in the ESA Charter of Identity, was validated by a committee of Rectors from various countries in America, who shared responsibility and commitment in tackling this task. The Model of Significance on which they will now work and which will then be presented, is designed precisely for the school leaders of Salesian schools on the American continent.
“As core animators, we share responsibility for strengthening the service we offer, to make it increasingly meaningful and sustainable” Fr Cartes concludes.
For more information, visit: http://www.escuelasalesianaamerica.org/esav/index.php/es/
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