By Viet SocCom
K'Long, Vietnam, 16 February 2024 -- At 6:30 a.m., 15 February, the participants gathered in the chapel to celebrate Mass presided over by the Rector Major. In the sermon, the Vicar of the Rector Major relied on God's word to invite everyone to live a spirit of renunciation to follow Jesus and become disciples of Don Bosco.
The first session started at 8:30 a.m. Participants gathered in the large hall to listen to a presentation by Father Miguel Garcia, General Councillor for Youth Ministry, with the topic: Sharing mission with lay people. He emphasized that sharing the Salesian mission is based on sharing the Salesian spirit, sharing the Salesian charism. When working with lay people, despite differences in vocation, Salesians are never allowed to consider lay people as belonging to a second-class vocation, but they share the same Salesian charism.
Then the provinces shared the three questions that the presenter raised, in groups. The provinces look back at the current situation in their provinces, review the situation of shared responsibility with lay people in carrying out the mission, what are the difficulties and what are the ways to overcome these difficulties.
At break time, the participants had a souvenir photo with the Rector Major. Then each province took a photo with the Rector Major and the regional superior.
After the break, the conference continued with the group discussion presentation of each province.
Before lunch, the Rector Major said a few words to summarise the morning session of the second day of EAO Team Visit 2024.
At 2:30 p.m., the participants gathered in the hall to listen to a talk by Father Joan Lluis Playa, the Rector Major's representative in charge of the Salesian Family. He presented the Salesian Family as an apostolic movement to carry out the mission. He invited everyone to pay attention to five related elements: formation, sharing of mission, youth ministry, animation and accompaniment.
Afterwards, the provinces met in groups to discuss three issues related to the Salesian Family in each province: current works, new initiatives and some specific contributions to the office at Rome.
After the break, the conference continued its working session in the hall to hear reports from the provinces.
At the end of the second working day, the Rector Major gave a few words of advice and summarised what the conference had shared.
