The workshop was opened by Br Kgosi, OFM, a provincial vocation animator, who shared his congregation’s experience of Vocation Ministry in recent years, highlighting the challenges and specific attention in vocation discernment around Southern Africa. The young Salesians were guided by the SDB Social Communication Team members in terms of AI (Artificial Intelligence) at the service of the Mission (Br Clarence and Fr Odise) to discover the challenges and educative and pastoral opportunities of modern technology affecting our daily life, especially the young people.

Two sessions dedicated to psycho-sexual affective maturity and a conflict solution check, based on the manual for the confreres in initial formation circulated worldwide, with special attention to the practical trainee phase, when the young Salesians are fully exposed to the youth apostolate.

The following Saturday afternoon and Sunday were dedicated to concrete experiences of vocation animation. SDB practical trainees learned about the respective programs and experiences from other Congregations in Southern Africa, like Franciscans, Jesuits and Oblates of Mary Immaculate as well from Salesian experience from other provinces worldwide, such as the VocTok community of 13 thousand young people (Philippines), or from other African provinces.

Then was a time to bring together the various elements of vocation culture (prayer, vocation groups, consistent regular contact with the young people interested in vocation, vocation storytelling) and preparation time for Sunday outreach to 6 Catholic communities around the Vaal deanery (Orange Farm, Sharpeville, Evaton, St Kizito, St Anthony and Sebokeng) where after the Sunday Masses they encountered many young people and interacted with them in youthful ways, inspiring their vocation searching.

And finally Sunday afternoon was a time for recording a few Don Bosco hymns for the upcoming Novena to St John Bosco (January 22-30 2025), who is one of the three Patron Saints of Youth Ministry in the SACBC, and for evaluating their 3 day experience. This workshop experience is a valuable contribution to the 2025 Jubilee of Hope when the whole Southern Africa SDB Vice-Province (eSwatini-Lesotho-South Africa) will focus Youth Ministry on Vocation Animation. 

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