Page 21 - Salesian Bulletin 2014 [01] January-March

BERLIN MEETING
YOUTH MINISTRY GATHERING
The Rector Major, his Vicar and the Regional Councillor Fr Marek Chrzan met with the Provincials and Vice-Provincials of the North West Europe Region at the Don Bosco Centre in Berlin-Marzahn, 21-25 November 2013. Information was exchanged on current projects in the provinces and the challenges being faced; the main points of the provin- cial chapters; and the implementa- tion of Project Europe in the provinces of the Atlantic-German area especially with regard to evan- gelisation. The group looked at the socio-political and religious situa- tion in Berlin and met with the Member of the Federal Parliament of Germany with responsibility for social policy, and the parish priest of St Hedwig’s Cathedral.
Thirty-six Salesian Y outh Ministry (YM) Delegates met in Valdocco (Turin), 20-22 November. A Framework of Reference for
RuDby Jubilarians
ubliners Dessie
Campion (1) and Jack Finnegan (2) were ordained in their home parish of Drimnagh, on 7 December 1973. Their companion Gerry O’Neill (3) from Rosbrien was ordained two days later in his native Limerick. All three did their practical training in India. Back in Ireland, Fr Dessie served as bursar in various houses, curate, Chaplain to the Armed Forces in Limerick, and for the last 26 years has been Naval Chaplain at
1
2
Haulbowline in Cork. Fr Jack holds a doctor- ate in theology, and served as rector, lecturer, Provincial Councillor, Vice Provincial and has been Provincial Delegate at
four General Chapters. Fr Gerry served with the VEC and Limerick Youth Service, was first parish priest of Milford, prison chap- lain, rector , adminis- trator in Sean McDermott St parish and currently is Army Chaplain
3
in Collins Barracks, Cork.
YM, aimed at assisting provinces to a better understanding and articulation of Salesian YM, was presented.
Berlin was chosen so participants could get to know the new Don Bosco Centre in Berlin-Marzahn for disadvantaged young people and the unemployed. The German Salesians run this centre with the Sisters of St Mary Magdalen Postel. “I am very proud of this work,” the Rector Major said. “Here we start from the needs of marginalised young people and we work with the preventive system. It is not a ques- tion of protecting young people from negative experiences because they have already had them, but rather encouraging young people to believe in their resources, accompa- nying them in life and preparing them well for the future.” Ireland was represented at the meeting by Frs Michael Casey and Koenraad Van Gucht.
The Dept. for YM
had done two Consultations: one on Returning to Don Bosco,
the other on Evangelise and Educate: Reflections on Rethinking Y outh Ministry. It had held four Seminars on Spiritual Direction in a Salesian Perspective; and examined the work of
the European Group
for Vocational Education and Training; the Network
of European Projects;
the Commission on Salesian Schools (SDB- FMA) in Europe; and the Salesian YM Meeting on Don Bosco in 2015.
To engage Christian- wise with the present cultural situation in Europe, a thorough knowledge of young people, through being close to them and lis- tening to their ques- tions; and a systematic training of delegates for
youth ministry , who
real leadership in the different situa- tions in the provinces, are needed.
will give
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