Chichirat, Peru – November 2024 - On 9 and 10 November, the community of Chichirat, in the Peruvian Amazon, was the site of the 12th Binational Congress of Achuar Lay Ecclesial Ministers. Involving 250 representatives from different communities in Peru and Ecuador, this meeting has become a lively space for reflection and strengthening the Achuar cultural identity. This congress is the result of the pastoral work of the Salesian provinces of Ecuador and Peru, which continue the legacy of Fr Luis Bolla in his accompaniment of the Achuar people and in the inculturation of the Gospel in the region. Focused on young people, the congress addressed crucial issues such as ancestral education, mythology, culture and traditions. Through an approach that embraces the past, present and future, they sought to strengthen fraternal ties between communities and reaffirm the importance of this ancestral knowledge. On the second day, the challenges faced by young people today were analysed, especially in relation to the use of technology. The participants were encouraged to take advantage of technological tools as allies for the development and well-being of their communities. The main objective of the congress was to strengthen the Achuar culture and promote good living in the communities. Fr Rogger Valdivia, a Salesian in the community at Wasakentsa, stressed the importance of generosity and sharing as fundamental values of the Achuar culture and as key elements of this meeting.

Monica Ulloa
Don Bosco Editorial Group