These objectives are:
- Discover the presence of God among the poor and articulate the nature of this presence by experiencing community life in urban and rural contexts;
- Better understand the reality in which the poor live and learn about the social structures that support and accompany them;
- Experiment a participatory approach within the community and identify the latter's needs;
- Learn to respond effectively to the concrete needs of the community;
- Achieve a deeper and fuller self-knowledge.
The program began with a visit to the Makati City prison. Subsequently, the young people in formation then visited the Laura Vicuña Foundation and the Center for street children "Kuya", participating in the apostolic activities with these minors.
From 12 to 18 June, the program then included a stop in Valenzuela City, where participants could experience the "urban immersion" phase, a real urban immersion. They in fact lived in close contact with the families working in the city's factories.
On the evening of June 18, together with the members of the "Sandor Community", which takes care of the specific formation of the Salesian Brothers, the young students moved to Sagada, located in the province of Mountain. From there, the following morning they went to the small community of Kilong, and the "St. Joseph the Worker" parish, where they finally sorted into the different communities of Kilong, Tetepan, Antadao and Aguid, being welcomed by their respective host families.
They then experienced the lives of rural families, sharing their daily life experiences with them.
After this real immersion, urban and rural, all those who took part in the program re-elaborated and reflected on the experiences lived during this period, under the guidance of Fr Arnold Sanico, a Salesian. The following days were spent to share moments of fraternity and to visit sites around Sagada.
Finally, in the afternoon of Sunday 30 June, the participants in the program returned to Parañaque.
https://www.infoans.org/en/component/k2/item/8369-philippines-salesians-in-formation-experience-the-life-of-urban-and-rural-communities#sigProId1c862d9eb7
