International Congress on Salesian Works and Social Services

By Br. Rafael Vargas, SDB

Prior to the recent gathering of Salesian Family for the canonization of St. Artemides Zatti, there was a "smaller" gathering of 300 people in Turin for the International Congress on Salesian Works and Social Services. It took place from Tuesday, September 27, through Sunday, October 2. Fr. Lou Molinelli, Fr. Thomas Pallithanam, and I represented the SUE Province.

Together with other SDBs, FMAs, and laypeople, we gathered to address our Salesian work and response to the poorest, abandoned, and marginalized youth. Nineteen young adults who had been selected to represent the various continents and areas we are present in also joined. They met over the past six months to present us with the needs and challenges facing youth and their recommendations for change.

Over days of presentations, workshops, and dialogue, we all left motivated, informed, and grateful for the experience. It was very clear from the words of the Rector Major and in the concluding documents (which was written by the General Councillor for Youth Ministry, Fr. Miguel Angel García Morcuende) that "Service in favor of the least is highlighted as a congregational priority: such a preferential option shapes our vocation and gives meaning to our Salesian mission." We cannot keep on conceptualizing our definition of "poverty." Ultimately, the final documents left us with many proposals, which I would summarize as "go to the margins and peripheries, work in collaboration with other people/organizations, and finally make visible the needs of our youth and our works." There was also a presentation of a Salesian Map of the majority of Salesian social works (working for the poorest).

For further reading, check out the final document, as well as the presentation by the youth forum.