At the opening of the conference, Fr Filiberto González Plasencia, Councilor for Social Communication - who led the work together with Fr Juan Pablo Abreu, member of the Dicastery – asked participants: "Where are the Salesians?" An imperative reference to the vocation of those present who, starting from the famous "Letter from Rome" by Don Bosco, demands working towards new areas of socialization, a “place” where the Internet and social networks also play an important and vital role.
Fr Moreno Filipetto and Fr Mariano Diotto, respectively SC Delegates for the Piedmont-Valle d'Aosta District and for the INE, then presented the new document for social communications entitled: "Salesians and the Net", which proposes to become a simplified guide to the use of communications and the modern tools available to everyone within the various Salesian realities.
On Friday the current state of the art and various good practices in the communications ministry of the various Provinces were presented.
On Saturday, the focus was on formation, thanks to teachers from the Salesian University Institute of Venice (IUSVE). Professor Giovanni Vannini offered an in-depth analysis of the entire scenario of doing "social communications" centered on social networks (Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Instagram, Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger and on-line game) and their uses within the socio-anthropological changes taking place today. He reiterated the central role of the Delegates for education and the development of awareness and knowledge in the use of these tools, especially towards minors and young people.
On the last day, Professor Matteo Adamoli of IUSVE presented a study on the education and training of the person, the individual, via the creation of online content on the web, based on the techniques of "storytelling" (telling a story): a new way of communicating the mission in the network that the various Provinces are urged to make theirs in order to transmit Salesian values.
"The professors of IUSVE were very good, indeed, and the sharing of good practices has shown the creative and courageous development of so many Provinces that have made serious investments in terms of personnel and resources in this field, always, of course, at the service of the Salesian mission," said Fr González in his concluding statement.
