Conference Calls on Salesian Educators to be Prophets of Life

MELBOURNE: 14th March 2005 -- Fifty delegates from four States attending the 2005 Australian Salesian Educational Leaders Conference were called upon to be prophets of life to their students and their educational communities.

     The weekend conference, which took place in Melbourne (Australia) from 11 – 13 March, was addressed by Professor Richard Teese of the University of Melbourne and Sr Edna Mary MacDonald, Provincial of the Salesian Sisters.  The conference was characterised by quality professional dialogue and high levels of collegial interaction in a typically Salesian context of prayerful and festive celebration.

     Professor Teese explored the implications of his research which unequivocally demonstrates that low levels of achievement at school is a key indicator that a young person is more likely to be socially and economically disadvantaged once leaving school.  “An implication of this is that poor school achievement sours a young person’s relationship with themselves, others and society,” he said, “and is a predictor that the young person is less likely to engage in the social, economic and political life of society.” 

    “Young people are not all the same,” Professor Teese said, “and we need to recognise the unique needs of each person.  All young people are valuable and we need to be creative in finding ways to demonstrate that all young people are valuable, especially by having a place for every student in a programme with valuable benefits.”  He went on to develop a proposal that advocated the combining of academic integration and social integration as a means of striving towards personal integration.  He concluded his presentation by urging educational leaders not to forget the needs of the poor and to re-evaluate their practical commitment to young people who are disadvantaged by the schooling system.

     Sr Edna Mary MacDonald gave a powerful presentation which sought to address the question of how to re-interpret and re-enliven the Salesian Charism so as to be able to engage young people, whom she described as “living in the kingdom of stuff”, to find a deeper and richer sense of purpose, meaning and spiritual fulfilment in life.

    Sr Edna Mary used the story of Bartholomew Garelli to identify and illustrate ways in which Don Bosco was dissatisfied with some of the common ideas about life, meaning and living that were current in his own time.  She demonstrated how he tried to re-write and give life to the gospel for the poor and vulnerable of his day, and showed how the joy, love and acceptance of Don Bosco had a transforming effect upon young people.

    Sr Edna Mary emphasised the importance of continually re-examining the Salesian charism and the need for the continuing formation of Salesian educational leaders.   Integral to this project is empowering leaders to develop a “critical consciousness”.  She proposed that Don Bosco’s Preventive System provides both a spirituality and a methodology for assisting young people to question their personal values and the values of their society. 

    Sr Edna Mary continued to develop an understanding of Salesian Spirituality, with its emphasis on finding God in the context of daily living), as being uniquely placed to engage young people, who are thirsting for meaning, in exploring and living life with greater depth and wholeness. 

    Fr Greg Chambers, Principal of Salesian College, Sunbury, preached the homily at the concluding Eucharist.  He linked the readings of the 5 Sunday of Lent to the Salesian spirituality.  Speaking of Salesian educators as life-givers and Salesian education as life-giving, he encouraged delegates to engage as prophets of life to enable young people to enter into and celebrate the “Kingdom of Life” as proclaimed by Jesus and as expressed by the spirit of Don Bosco.

    As a result of the Conference participants were encouraged in their identity as Salesian educators, affirmed in the work they are doing with and for young people, challenged to evaluate and give new life to manner in which the Salesian charism is given concrete expression in their school contexts, and inspired to renew their commitment to Don Bosco and young people.

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