4320_The face of Don Bosco is becoming more complete

Day 2, Youth Ministry: EAO Team Visit 2017 (5)

March 9, 2017

By Our Own Correspondent

Hua Hin, Thailand, 8 March 2017 -- The third theme of the EAO Team Visit was dedicated to the Youth Ministry. Fr. Fabio Attard (born in Malta) the General Councilor for the Youth Ministry was animating the two sessions in the afternoon time. The Team Visit dynamics of Short Input - Group sharing - Assembly with presentation - open forum and the conclusion of the Rector Major - helped to focus our vision on the YM in the 11 provinces and 6 delegations.

Fr. Fabio shared his journey with the EAO region in past 9 years and appreciated a significant growth of the YM animation in all EAO provinces developing in a very systematic approach with a focus attention of the provincials and YM Delegates, publication and translations of the YM Framework of Reference (FoR) to many EAO languages and close accompaniment of the YM Councilor and his team.

The YM Councilor also pointed to 4 main challenges of the EAO provinces, regarding

1. The pastoral leadership of the Provincials


2. Inculturation of the Preventive System of Don Bosco, systematically disseminating the Youth Ministry FoR


3. Involvement and formation of our Lay Mission Partners


4. Family - one of the main pastoral option of the Congregation in this 6 year period

During the lively discussion emerged also some specific challenges of our provinces and some (new) provincials were able to get her province animated during this year (out of schedule!) by Fr. Fabio himself. Not less than ITM, MYM, AUL and PGS provinces during this year! All province group sharing were collated by Fr. Jobeth Vivo (FIN YM Delegate). At the end of the day the large EAO Map in front of the Meeting Hall did reveal already a significant part of Don Bosco's face composed of the 'Action Plan' for each sector.

Before the evening prayer animated by the ITM Viceprovince (Fr. Joao Boavida, YM delegate - the youngest Team Visit participant, 34 years) as every evening, the Rector Major offered with great passion his feedback on the previous two sessions (Themes of Reshaping and Missions) with a special focus on provincial and government interventions.

Each participants appreciates after two full days of the Team Visit the impact of the marvellous Thai hospitality on our work and proceeding with serenity, calm and deep sharing. We pray, that these 4 days of EAO Salesian Pentecost will help us on our Conversion journey as Salesians of Don Bosco!