In the morning, after the presentation of a video on the Planning and Development Office of the Province of the Southern Philippines - a model in the region – there was a talk by the Economer General, Bro. Jean Paul Muller, on the theme: "the common good, ethics, business and administration: four pillars to navigate in a complex society".
In the presentation delivered by the Rector Major, there were several important issues, such as the witness of poverty, professionalism and solidarity at all levels ...
So, after a session for group work, some considerations were offered on the value of transparency, which the General Council is promoting as a key element during this term; a Salesian view which includes economic aspects but is not dominated by them; the increasingly important collaboration of trustworthy lay people who are co-responsible; relationships between Rectors and Economers.
In the afternoon, the talk on Social Communication by Fr Filiberto González, Councillor General, was passionate and dynamic. "These days the Rector Major invites us to look ahead, Fr Cereda urges us to be authentic consecrated persons, Fr Attard tells us not improvise the Salesian Mission, Fr Basañes exhorts us to reach out with a missionary spirit, Bro. Muller says we should not simply repeat what Don Bosco did ... Why? Because everything changes, only the love of God remains forever: God and Jesus are the centre of our lives."
Fr González called on everyone to consider whether, in the change that is happening in society, culture, technology, media, youth, and so on, if the Congregation and the individual provinces are responding promptly.
In the afternoon session, videos were shown on the situation regarding communication in five areas of the region. There was also work in provincial groups on the communication plan for the next three years; and the sharing of good practices.
