"Forty years ago, the then Rector Major wanted all the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians who had some specialisation in the biblical area in their studies, to be able to meet to exchange ideas, to see what could be done together to develop a Salesian approach to biblical study. And the idea was brilliant", explained Fr Alejandro León Mendoza, Superior of the Salesian Province of the Middle East, who hosted the Conference. For the Provincial, this event was also an opportunity to recall the first conferences, which were held in Cremisan.
Among the speakers, Fr Giorgio Zevini, one of the founders, also spoke, affirming how the Association has grown greatly over the years, despite the challenges that could be faced during the Conference.
"We have focused mainly on three major areas" explained Fr Zevini. "The area of cultural and professional qualification of the Salesian Biblical Association, which, through personal study, research, publications, trips to the Holy Land, the various conferences, has been able to make a significant contribution in this field, especially in service of the Congregation. A second area," he continued "was young people, above all to offer a qualified service around the Word of God, to show the beauty and richness that the Gospel brings to their lives, especially at the level of spiritual life. A third and great area was concerns the service of biblical pastoral animation to the entire Salesian Family ."
During the days, there was also discussion on communications media and the importance of "being able to bring the Salesian charism to different cultures, through the service of the Word of God. A word of God" Fr Zevini added, "that should not be presented at the theoretical, doctrinal, abstract level, but at the level of experience, of spiritual reading of the text, so that young people understand that before grasping religious content, the fundamental thing is education in the faith."
Fr Francisco Sanchez, a Salesian who works in biblical pastoral animation with young people in Mexico, remarked that "beyond the human and cultural diversity of young people, they want to experience the living Christ. This" he went on to say "has to do with the development of one's own life. Today the important thing is to give young people a formation that helps them to be active evangelisers." In this respect, he said, "it is beautiful if we speak to young people about Jesus, but it is more beautiful when a young person speaks to others of the same age about Jesus."
In addition to the intense work of these days, such as the renewal of the Statutes of the Association to be presented to the Rector Major, the participants were able to meet the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM. It was a warm occasion of mutual listening to the pastoral, cultural and religious challenges of the Holy Land.
Finally, the visit to the holy places was also an integral part of the days of the Conference: a way to live the experience of approaching the places of the Gospel events. One of these visits, led by Fr Eugenio Alliata from the Studium Bibilicum Franciscanu, was to the Shrine at Bethany.
"All the effort we have made has been to review, rethink and plan the best professional service that, as biblical scholars, we can offer to the Salesians and to Youth Ministry" said Fr Juan José Bartolomé, President of the Salesian Biblical Association. "Accompanying young people in the faith with the Word of God, enlightening the lives of the members of the Salesian Family with the Word of God, so that everyone approaches the word of God which is Christ Jesus."
Source: Christian Media Center
