In his welcome to the 15 participants, Fr Petr Vaculik, the Superior of the Czech Province (CEP), invited all to present the values of Christianity to people, to offer new models of life, to accompany young people in their growth and to support the Communication programmes.
Fr Filiberto González, Councillor General for Social Communication, then outlined three key elements to be considered over the next two years.
He emphasized that "greater attention should be paid to ensuring Salesian identity and mission, updating the editorial project, having a profound institutional sense, as the Salesian Social Communication System expects, and to be open to all in Unity in diversity.
As for attitudes, he said that "it is essential to face the future with hope, intelligence and imagination, offering the values of the gospel and the charism in new ways, while listening to consumers and experts in the values being proposed."
With regard to the principles, he urged the publishers "to act with professionalism, transparency and the laws of the country, to be competitive in quality and to achieve sustainability."
Fr González also underlined that what Don Bosco did and what is written in the Constitutions in the field of Communication and Publications is a historical and fundamental fact that has developed and continues to develop the charism, placing publishing at the heart of the Salesian mission. The work of Salesian publishers therefore comes in line with the reconfiguration and redesign of each Province, so as to be always faithful to the charism and the youthful and popular mission of Salesian works.
In the conclusions of the meeting, a commitment was made to think and develop Salesian publishers starting from the Provincial Organic Plan to which individual publishers belong, as well as to produce materials for formation, education and evangelization. Moreover, it was clarified that the sale of rights should be regulated case by case.
The next meeting of Salesian publishers in Europe will take place in 2019 in order to continue to share challenges and good practices in synergy.
