During this session, Bishop Luis Antonio Scozzina, OFM, of Orán (Salta), President of the Episcopal Commission for Indigenous Pastoral Ministry (CEPA) of the Argentine Episcopate, and Mons. Rodolfo Fernández, Executive Secretary of CEPA and Coordinator of the National Indigenous Pastoral Team of Argentina (ENDEPA- Equipo Nacional de Pastoral Aborigen), will welcome participants.
Following this, with moderation by Fr. Francisco Chimento, SDB, coordinator of the Congress organizing team, presentations will be given by Viviana Vacca, Sr. Rosita Sidasmed, RSM, and Dr. Germán Zúñiga, members of ENDEPA. They will invite attendees to reflect on Querida Amazonia, Pope Francis’ post-synodal apostolic exhortation published in February 2020, in light of the challenges facing indigenous pastoral ministry. The discussion comes at a time when the hard-won rights of indigenous peoples across Latin America are once again being questioned and nearly erased from public awareness. Drawing inspiration from the papal exhortation, the topic will be explored from both an ecclesial perspective and the lens of integral ecology.
The event will begin at 7:00 PM (Argentina time, UTC-3). Those interested in participating must register by filling out this form. A few days before the event, registered participants will receive a link to join the session.
The Salesian Missionary Congress Entrelazando Caminos (Interweaving Paths) aims to merge the rich history of Salesian missionary work with critical reflections to promote more effective cultural evangelization in the Americas. This initiative is part of the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the First Salesian Missionary Expedition in 2025. It is organized by the Salesian Polytechnic University (UPS) of Ecuador and the Salesian University (Unisal) in Argentina.
The Salesian Missionary Congress will take place from Monday, May 19, to Thursday, May 22, 2025, at the La Montonera retreat house in Pilar, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.
At the conclusion of the preparatory dialogue series, participants who have attended all four webinars (November 14, 2024; December 5, 2024; February 27, 2025; and March 27, 2025) will receive a certificate from UPS Ecuador and Unisal.
Additionally, as part of the initiatives celebrating the 150th anniversary of the First Salesian Missionary Expedition, submissions for monographs and posters on "Salesian Missions" are still open until April 15. Participation details can be found here.
