A Vocational Seminar to train in the accompaniment of young people

From October 3 to 5, 2022, more than 100 representatives of Salesians, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and some lay collaborators in the Salesian mission of the Provinces of the Mediterranean Region gathered in Turin-Valdocco for a reflection seminar on the theme of personal accompaniment of young people from 18 to 30 years old, convened by Juan Carlos Perez Godoy, Regional for the Mediterranean area. The title of the meeting was: “If I have done something well, I owe it to Mr. Cafasso. Accompany young people in their life choices”.

Drawing inspiration from the rich Salesian tradition, starting precisely from Don Bosco’s experience with Don Cafasso, the participants were guided in reading the present time, to identify viable paths and opportunities aimed at helping young people to become adults.

It is not an isolated event in time, but rather this seminar gives continuity to the path undertaken in the Youth Synod of 2018 and reaches the conclusion of the vocational animation project that culminated in the publication of the document “Good Things – Towards a Vocational Animation project. The personal journey. For a craft of Salesian accompaniment”. On this occasion, the Salesians of the Mediterranean Region wanted to focus their attention on young people (from 18 to 30 years old) called to become adults by responding to their own vocation.

“We approach adult life from the art of discernment as a method and attitude of deep listening to desire, life itself and the Word of God, going through the Easter passage of going out of oneself. We are guided in this by the living tradition of our charism and the wisdom of those who today accompany young people in their growth”, explained the organizers of the seminar.

Work in the Seminary

The program of activities included three central reports, one each day, and three reflections on some significant figures of Salesian spirituality: the venerable Don Vincent CimattiDon Joseph Quadrio and the young blessed martyr Bartholomew White Marquez.

On the evening of the first day, October 3, Gustavo Cavagnari (sdb), Professor of Pastoral Theology at the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS) in Rome, addressed the theme: “The traits of an adult identity in a vocational key”.

On Tuesday, October 4, it was the turn of Gaetano Piccolo (sj), professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University, who illustrated to those present “The dynamics of choice in becoming an adult.” The mass of this day, celebrated in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco, was presided over by Miguel Angel Garcia MorcuendeCounselor of the Youth Ministry of the Salesian Congregation.

On the morning of the last day of the seminar, after the Mass presided over in the Shrine of the Consolata by the Rector Major, Jose Miguel NunezDirector of the Salesian National Center for Youth Ministry (CNSPJ) in Spain, gave a talk on “An updated charismatic reading”.

The event, which was attended by those responsible for Youth Ministry and Vocational Promotion of the two Salesian provinces in Spain (Xavier Camino Y Jose Carlos Sobejanofrom Salesianos Santiago el Mayor; Jordi Lleixa Y Joseph Louis Navarroof Salesianos María Auxiliadora), together with their teams, also included moments of encounter for debate at the provincial level, group meetings between provinces and moments of shared spirituality.