Directors' Workshop for North American Provinces

By Fr. Dominic Tran, SDB, Vice Provincial

From Tuesday, July 13 to Thursday, July 15, the SDB provincials, directors, and members of the provincial councils of the New Rochelle (SUE) and San Francisco (SUO) Provinces met for a virtual Directors' Workshop.

On the first day, people shared where they were in their ministries, including during the pandemic. Then, Fr. Hugo Orozco, the Regional Counselor for the InterAmerica region, joined us from Rome. He took the opportunity to get to know every participant, many for the first time. He expressed his hope to visit the two provinces in the near future. He also shared his life and ministry as a new regional with the leadership of both provinces. He gave us some of his observations and plans for the InterAmerica region. The conversation with Fr. Hugo continued in the forms of questions and answers and dialogue during the last hour of the day. 

Fr. Ivo Coelho, General Counselor for Formation, and Fr. Silvio Roggia of the Formation Department led the second day's work. They provided us with some information on the ministry of the Salesian Rector, including an overview of the new director manual. They also spoke on the director's ministry of accompaniment, including younger confreres.

On the third day, those who participated in General Chapter 28 shared some guidelines on the ministry of leadership provided by the chapter. The two provincials, Fr. Mel Trinidad and Fr. Tim Zak, then used the second half of that day to share their perspectives, visions, and plans with the leaders of their respective provinces.