The annual Theological and Pastoral Update Days in Santiago de Compostela, began on the afternoon of Friday 19 July and ended on Sunday 21 July at noon. 18 Salesians from SSM and SMX were involved and had Salesian Cardinal Cristóbal López, Archbishop of Rabat, Morocco as their special speaker.
The cardinal began his first address by outlining the methodology of the conference: he would avoid theoretical, theological or pastoral expositions to focus on passing on his deep convictions, the fruit of his pastoral experience both in personal life and in the development of the various roles in which religious obedience and the Church itself has asked him.
After presenting himself as a "son of God" since baptism, an "immigrant" first with his family and then through various obediences, a "Salesian" by Christian lifestyle, "international" due to his various destsinations (Spain, Paraguay, Bolivia, Morocco...), and a "bridge", due to the task in which he is engaged every day (currently a bridge between Spain and Morocco, between Christianity and Islam), he went on to illustrate what he called "his bride": the Church of the Archdiocese of Rabat. The Church of Rabat is insignificant in terms of numbers (just 30,000 Catholics out of 37 million inhabitants), but significant for its testimony of seeking to be salt and light. And he has a clear message to convey: that Christians and Muslims can live and work together, and build a fraternity (the Kingdom of God or a world according to God's will).
Subsequent speakers addressed the question of the Kingdom of God, the proclamation of Jesus, at the service of which he founded the Church, and from which he derived the need to move from ecclesiocentrism to regnocentrism. Within the general theme of the course – "The Church according to the guidelines of Pope Francis" – the cardinal spoke of the Kingdom of God as God's will to create a world of justice, peace, solidarity, life, truth... and love; of the value of a minority Church (geographically and/or quantitatively) such as the Catholic Church in Morocco; of the development of the Synod on Synodality, "a fundamental characteristic that must survive the end of the Synod"; and of the true meaning of "catholicity" as an ecclesial characteristic. Much of what he passed on, very much in line with the ecclesial program of Pope Francis, fascinating those present were his human warmth, sincerity, the strength of his statements and his contagious optimism.
The days were enriched by the conviviality experienced in the house of the Conceptionists hosting the meeting, in the ancient part of the city of Santiago; by the visit to the exhibition section of the Ages of Man, in the crypt of the Cathedral and in the monastery of San Martín Pinario; and by the concluding Sunday Eucharist presided over by Cardinal López Romero himself in the cathedral.
The Theological and Pastoral Update Week (SATEP) promoted by the SMX Formation Delegation is taking place from 22 to 27 July in Chipiona, near Cadiz. The theme of this year's edition is "The art of maturing in community life", and is carried out by Ángeles Lozano, Doctor and Surgeon, an expert in Health Pastoral Care and with a long history of health accompaniment in religious communities.
The speaker, who is a member of the Centre for the Humanisation of Health, is exploring the topic through theoretical and practical sessions with the participants, Salesians over the age of 70, to whom this formation course is aimed. Coming from the two Salesian Provinces of Spain, they are reflecting on issues such a holistic approach or how to know how to grow and decrease over time, and attitudes in looking after oneself in these times of growth and decline, and the appreciation of a spirituality that fills life. The speaker is offering different interpretations for this phase of life and proposes an integral and integral vision of health in this phase of religious life.
The serene and peaceful environment that the House of Spirituality at Chipiona contributes to making this meeting an experience of great value for the participants.
Source: Salesianos.info
