The continental seminar on "First Announcement and Salesian Mission" took place on 23-30 April in Cachoeira do Campo, Brazil.
During the seminar, several topics of in-depth study were developed, such as the "Memory of the Route", thanks to the work of Fr Martín Lasarte of the Department of Salesian Missions; or "Listening to the Word" by Sr. Maike Loes, from the Missions Sector of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA). On the third day a paper on the Salesian Missionary Charism was presented. The seminar ended with a presentation on Sharing Mission.
The seminar methodology envisaged the implementation of group work and workshops to study the various themes, promote the exchange of experiences and share the respective resonances among all the participants.
The event was attended by Fr Guillermo Basañes and Sr. Alaíde Deretti, Councillors for the SDB and FMA missions; Fr Natale Vitali, Councillor for the American Southern Cone Region; Provincials and representatives of several SDB and FMA Provinces, as well as Fr Alfred Maravilla, former member of the SDB Mission Department and current Superior of the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (PGS).
One of the most anticipated interventions was the experience presented by Fr Carlos Tazzioli, a diocesan priest, who spoke on the theme: "First Proclamation: experience in the poorer quarters in a parish in Argentina where there is extreme poverty and marginalization". The priest underlined the preferential option for the poor from the Latin American magisterium, which implies a service of the Church for the people of God and places the human person at the centre of the pastoral action of the Gospel.
There is no doubt that this First Continental Seminar opens a path of reflection on the reason-for-being of the Salesians and the FMA: "Evangelizing is not a function but a testimony with one's life."
