The meeting served to renew awareness among the participants of the identity of the Salesian Network of Schools, in which religious and laity share the Salesian charism and style of management through projects, processes and programs deriving from a convergence of work-related guidelines.
Fr Jaime Morales, Provincial of Bogotá, led the prayer and welcomed the Salesian School of America (ESA, in Spanish). Fr René Antonio Santos, of the Youth Ministry Dicastery (PG) and Sr. Ivone Goulart Lopes, PG, coordinated the formative session.
Work proceeded with the verification of ESA IV, held last May, and the results from the first meeting "Cumbayá I" up to "ESA IV". The gains obtained from the exchange of experiences and good practices in ESA IV guided the lines of action for the region, in consideration of the main educational needs of the continent.
Fr Hector Ugarte and Sr. Arelys Paulino, representatives of the CIMAC/NAC-MESOAMERICA region, presented the work methodology and the path taken by the central commission, organized in three work areas. The work for commissions of the various Provinces aimed to:
a) analyze what has already been done in each Province to answer to the set challenges and objectives;
b) present a variety of proposals on what remains to be done. These responses were the basis for the elaboration of a regional work plan.
The participants then discussed processes to be activated in the next 4 years, based on the ESA IV guidelines, and the work program; the objectives to be achieved and the timetable for the next meetings in the region were also elaborated.
All participants in the CIMAC / NAC-MESOAMERICA meeting will also participate in the XXV Inter-American Congress on Catholic Education, organized by the CIEC, also to be held in Bogotà.
