Rome (Italy). On 24 June and 14 July 2023, the “Salesian Research Circles” webinars were held, promoted by the Youth Ministry Sector in collaboration with the Network of Higher Education Institutions of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (ISS-FMA), Asia and Africa group.
The initiative aims to promote among the collaborators of the ISS-FMA network knowledge and reflection on today’s education of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and to disseminate the results of research production on Education, Culture, Salesianity, and Youth Ministry developed by the members of the ISS-FMA, as well as by researchers linked to other research groups. The ultimate aim is to approach, establish a dialogue, and study the scientific debate in the field of research on the topic.
In the two Webinars, the work of two FMA researchers from Brazil and Slovenia was valued, who defended their Doctoral thesis in 2023: Sr. Marcia Koffermann, of O. L. Aparecida Province (BAP) on the theme Educommunication for integral formation in the information society: an analysis of the Rede Salesiana Brazil de Escolas; and Sr. Barbara Poredoš, of Mary Help of Christians Province (SLC), on the theme Accompaniment of adolescents in youth centers in Ljubljana through positive youth development: Case Study.
11 ISS attended the meeting in English on 24 June with 300 people, while 11 institutions with 38 people attended the meeting in Spanish on 14 July.
At the first meeting, Sr. Lolia Pfozhumai was the moderator, Sr. Chanda Nsofwa was the translator, and Sr. Regina Mary Rathinaswamy was the group coordinator. In the second meeting, Sr. Mónica Tausa was the moderator and Sr. Herlinda Palomino was the translator.
The Webinar began with prayer and then Sr. Ivone Goulart Lopes, collaborator of the Sector and ISS-FMA contact person, welcomed everyone and expressed the joy of starting these Circles. She thanked everyone who gives “energy to continue dreaming … we are not alone, we are a network in favor of youth, to try to build a more just and fraternal world.”
She then explained the initiative of the Circles and thanked the Asia and Africa node for their commitment to formation and for the networking they are carrying out. After the presentations of the two researchers, the participants were able to interact through a brief time of discussion.
