By Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB
General Councilor for the Youth Ministry

Generalate, Rome, 9 April 2017 -- One of the most important concerns of Pope Francis is without doubt a Family ministry. Not less than two Synod of Bishops (2014 and 2015) and his Apostolic Exhortation 'Amoris Laetitia' (The Joy of Love) about Family show us the way. With the Strenna of the Rector Major for 2017 'We are a Family' there is also one major event scheduled at the end of this year 'Family Ministry Salesian Congress' in Madrid.

The Sector for Salesian Youth Ministry organizes the International Youth and Family Pastoral Care Congress, to be held, at the Hotel Weare Chamartin in Madrid (Spain) from November 27th to December 1st 2017. The Congress aims at deepening the three following topics:

1. A proposal-oriented reading of the family of today: starting from the current experience of the Salesian Congregation to grasp the challenges and opportunities in our times - today.


2. An ecclesial and spiritual reading of the family: following the Synods and the Apostolic Exhortation “Amoris Laetitia - Joy of Love” and providing inspiration and recommendations for personal and community commitment (family and evangelization; youth and vocation to marriage; education to love; training courses for engaged and newly married couples; particular couple or family situations; family and children).


3. A Salesian educational and pastoral reading: takes forward to strengthen Salesian youth ministry and integrates in it a family care as important task within the Salesian Work.

The Congress target audience is made up of 400 participants, including lay mission partners and religious, from all 90 provinces of the Congregation of the Salesians of Don Bosco in 132 countries. Each of these provinces will be represented by a delegation with lay people and religious Salesians, who are involved with families in the field of Salesian youth ministry Their participation to the Congress will help promote and strengthen various family ministry processes in each province.

Expected participants from the EAO region: AUL (3), CIN (3), FIN (3), FIS(3), GIA (4), ITM (3), KOR (3), MYM (4), PGS (3), THA (3) and VIE (4). Registration responsability - Provincial Delegates of Youth Ministry, until July 30.

There is a specific website in 5 languages (Italian, Spanish, English, Portoguese and French) for the preparation of this event: https://www.symfamily17.org/?lang=en

All materials for the FAMILY MINISTRY SALESIAN CONGRESS in MADRID - November 2017 are available on the BOSCOLINK

Related articles and resources on the BOSCOLINK - Rector Major Strenna 2017 about Family.

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