austraLasia #2282

Salesian Educators Congress (FIN)

MANILA: 5th November 2008 -- The 3rd Salesian Educators' Congress of the FIN Province was held from 27-29 October 2008 in Makati, Metro-Manila, and is considered to have been a truly re-kindling experience for the Salesians and their 750 lay mission partners in the educational apostolate. Particular kudos goes to Fr Jun Inocencio, head of the Office for Development of the Educational Apostolate (ODEA), and his steering committee.
    The three-day event was graced with the presence of Bishop Patrick Buzon SDB, bishop of Kabankalan, who celebrated the opening Mass, and Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, alumnus from Pampanga and bishop of Cubao, who celebrated the closing Mass. The panel discussions on social transformation and environmental issues were truly inspiring and challenging. Salesian alumnus from Pampanga, governor Ed Panlilio, advocated integrity in public governance, while another alumnus from Mandaluyong, multi-award-winner and actor-rapper, Francis Magalona, spoke of nationalism. Student and NGO leader Kip Oebanda spoke on human trafficking.  The final day, ably moderated by Fr Chito Dimaranan, saw qualified advocates of environmental spirituality, care, and protocol.
    The 2008 Salesian Educators Congress aligned itself with the theme of the SDB 26th General Chapter: "Starting Afresh from Don Bosco: Education with a Soul". Upholding the Salesian pedagogy and spirituality of "educating and evangelizing", Fr Eli Cruz, provincial superior, once again expressed the desire articulated in 2001 during the golden jubilee of the foundation of Salesian work in the Philippines for the Salesian Educators Movement of FIN to be recognised as members of the Salesian Family. Furthermore, as concrete expression of the educators' support for the "new Pentecost" challenge from GC26, the issues of social transformation and care for the environment saw resolutions by each participating setting.
    In the context of the whole of Salesian youth ministry, the simple objective of Salesian education as noted by Fr Provincial in his keynote address is "to help young people to discover their own niche in the building of the Kingdom and to will it with joy and determination" (GC23, 150). The succeeding General Chapter, he continued, was more explicit when it said that commitment to education is "our principal contribution to changing the world for the coming of the Kingdom" (GC24, 99).
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Title: australasia 2282
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces FIN Educators Congress
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2282