The first event, entitled "Vocational seminar for formation in the accompaniment of young people", was held in Turin in 2022; the second, held in Malaga in October 2023, concerned "An updated commitment to the reception of migrants and refugees"; and the third, in October 2024, took place at the Casa Don Bosco in Madrid and involved the Regional Councillor for the Mediterranean, Fr Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy, and the valuable assistance of the Director of the National Youth Pastoral Centre of Italy, Fr Elio Cesari.
The seminar was also attended by Fr Fernando García, Superior of St James the Greater Province (SSM), Fr Fernando Miranda, Provincial of Spain's Mary Help of Christinas Province (SMX), Fr Roberto Dal Molin, Provincial of Lombardo Emiliana Province Italy, and Fr Leonardo Mancini from the Piedmont and Valle d 'Aosta Special Circumscription.
After welcoming the 54 participants from Italy, Spain, Portugal and Morocco (from Kenitra), work began aimed at offering spaces for shared reflection to guide pastoral activity with a view to offering first proclamation to today's young people.
The first presentation was given by Salesian Jesús Rojano. His report entitled "The context: young people and faith", clearly and precisely presented, was on the sociological and religious characteristics of young people, an essential factor for understanding subsequent pastoral interventions.
The second part of the afternoon on the first day was occupied by the presentation of three best practices:
– "The First Announcement proposal at Sarriá, in Barcelona", by Rafael Rodríguez;
– "Building bridges of understanding and faith", by Antonio Alférez and Abdellatif Laqisse;
– and "Young people from the Middle East emigrating to Europe", in which Jabra Nahmi Assafo, Syrian refugee and Salesian Cooperator, recounted her impressive life experience.
The day ended with the Eucharist presided over by Fr García.
The second day began with the Eucharist, presided over on this occasion by Fr Pérez Godoy. The elements of reflection were provided by Fr Gustavo Cavagnari, who presented "The announcement of the kerygma. Essential lines " in which he explored the importance of a comprehensible and empathetic First Announcement embodied in credible testimony. A new time for sharing best practices followed, and following the afternoon's work, there was also time for conviviality with a guided tour of the city of Madrid.
The third day of work opened with a conference by Fr Koldo Gutiérrez, from the National Centre for Youth Ministry in Spain, on "Accompanying young people from First Proclamation". While the proclamation of the kerygma is essential, it is equally important to give continuity to the pastoral process through a well-established and guided accompaniment. These were some of the proposals that Fr Gutiérrez illustrated and that were followed with great interest by the participants.
On the third and final day, with the concretisation of the proposals by the provincial groups and the celebration of the Sunday Eucharist, the seminar came to its conclusion.
The participants expressed their gratitude for the reception reserved for them in the new "Casa Don Bosco" and for the interesting moments of shared reflection, an essential element to give meaning to Salesian pastoral activity shared with young people.
More information is available on the website: https://pastoraljuvenil.es/seminario-primeranuncio/
Source: Salesianos.info
