Salesianity Teachers Seminar – final meeting January 5, 2007 SAMPRAN

Participants: UPS – Fr. Giraudo, EAO regional; Provinces: AUL (1), CIN (1), FIN (1), FIS (2), GIA (1), KOR (1), THA (2), VIE (2)

Priorities to be set by each Province to conform to Cereda’s guidelines.

1.Each Province will adopt the Cereda guidelines (2005) as its model.

2.Each Province will take those steps that will gradually bring them to adopt and adapt within 5-10 years the Cereda model, beginning from the pre-novitiate stage and gradually building on it.

3.Each Province will gradually prepare the critical translation of all the ‘essential’ Salesian sources.

4.Each Province will draw up and circulate internally and within the Region a bibliography of all books on Salesian topics produced or translated into the local language.

5.Each Province will take adequate steps to motivate Salesians to value serious studies on Don Bosco.

I. Feedbacks on the minutes and Priorities by each Province (point 3 – above)

- Make sure, what happened here, was seriously motivated, will not be set aside. Each province of the EAO can build on this precious experience. Need to point out some realistic dates, practical steps (at least the next Rectors formation in Hua Hin, Aug 1-10, 2007)

- After 15 years long experience of the EAO meetings, the enthusiasm does vanish with the time passing and the Provincials and Rectors not motivated to follow it up (see the recent Salesian Brothers Seminar in the CIN province)

- We need to back up this movement by the political will of the Regional, of the Provincials to RE-ECHO the workshop in our own provinces.

- Possible to involve more Salesianity teachers in Manila – Paranaque, where we have the only inter provincial Center of Studies for theology (2007 more than 60 students)?

- The possible data base can be set on the BOSCONET. If we share the local Salesian bibliography, please also notice the ORIGINAL title of the book (out of the local version!)

- What is clear after this workshop – the Memoirs of the Oratory and the Three Biographies are considered very important Salesian sources in our provinces.

- The books of Fr. Artur Lenti (USA – San Francisco Province) to be printed within next 2 years are to become a good contribution to the solid textbooks.

- Everybody can do, what he can. After few years we will see the results.

- Concern about ongoing formation in the local communities – lack of Salesianity libraries.

- Initital formation: generally after the postnovitiate is the problem – only 1 hour a week giving a conference is not enough, the level and motivations is a problem. Basically the theological studies are at the university level, but the Salesianity studies is definitely on lower level than the rest.

- Example of Crocetta – Torino: extended daily teaching from 4 to 5 hours, in order to accommodate the Salesianity studies within the curriculum (or possible to add one week at the end of the semester – which will be accredited!)

- Important issue to MOTIVATE us formators, than of the confreres: HOW to motivate us? (GIA)

- The future is opened through the next generation of experts raised up at the UPS in Rome (since 2005 the course of Salesian Studies – these graduates can contribute to the critical edition translations in the future!). They are prepared much better than the generations studying only the ‘Spirituality’ department until 2005.

- Need first to motivate the EAO provincials and rectors.

II. Follow up of the Seminar

- at least one full day for all confreres in the Province

- raised a need of better translation (more faithful to the original sources)

- produce the CD with all materials (also with the audio of Fr.Giraudo talks – comments of value to the MO and the 3 lives)

- How to motivate the confreres? Have some experts of value around our province!

- Fr.Joe Boenzi (Berkeley – UPS) can be also a good resource person – MO&Potter

- Berkeley offering a Symposium ‘Da mihi animas’ (July 1-13, 2007) free of charge – for one participant of SA, EAO and the former English speaking region – speakers are Frs.Boenzi and Lenti.