Fr García Morcuende presented the renewed text of the “Oratory-Youth Centre” frame of reference, and Delegates emphasised the importance of receiving new guidelines in this area of activity. They noted that a new thrust is needed in order to make the oratory a place of personal friendly relationships between the Salesian and the young person and one of fraternal presence of the educator among the young (with reference to the school dimension of the oratory). It is also an environment that facilitates encounters with young people from a wide variety of backgrounds in the region (home), considering also that in most countries of the region, the Catholic Church is a small minority. They also stressed the importance of the pedagogy of celebration, occasional and systematic catechesis, solidarity and group life (playground). Finally, they insisted on the missionary aspect of doors that are open (Church) to all young people who wish to enter.
The reflection focused on joint formation of Salesians and lay people and on the motivational document on the “role of the Salesian in the educative and pastoral community”. Delegates are quite clear that shared mission does not dilute the vocation of Salesians or lay people respectively. On the contrary, the shared mission must serve to grow in their respective vocations, in the service of the common mission. It is a path that presents difficulties in the Region. The lay person runs the risk of being content with a reduced version of the charism, of limiting his or her involvement, or of not being sufficiently committed to formation. The Salesian, for his part, runs the risk of considering the laity as subsidiary, of seeing the shared mission as a threat to his own identity, and of feeling distant from the mission. However, despite the difficulties, the shared mission is already a reality that is developing in all the Provinces, Vice-Provinces and Delegations.
There was discussion on the Salesian Youth Movement and the proposal to organise a first Regional Assembly. Also on on morning the Youth Ministry Delegates met with Salesian Family Delegates to share the various initiatives of the Groups and to get to know them better.
Led by Fr García Morcuende and F Jobeth Vivo, a member of the Youth Ministry Sector, the working days in Cebu City began with a Lectio Divina based on the text of Mk 3:13-19 which guides the convocation of the Salesian Congregation’s General Chapter 29. In addition, among the various topics discussed, the implementation of the topics addressed last year was evaluated, and various Best Practices developed in the Circumscriptions of the Region were shared.
Finally, other topics of dialogue and reflection concerned the Salesian Youth Synod - one of the initiatives organised to celebrate Don Bosco's Dream at 9 years of age in 2024; and some information was provided on the pedagogical processes that will accompany the text "A Salesian Youth Ministry that Educates to Love" and on the 4th school for Youth Ministry Delegates.
