Rome (Italy). On 20 and 21 November 2020, the young people, the Salesians of Don Bosco, and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the SYM Councils of Europe and the Middle East met on a virtual platform for the General Assembly of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM).
Participants at the meeting were over 60 young representatives from all countries, accompanied by SDB and FMA referents, and the General Councilors for Youth Ministry, Sr. Runita Borja, FMA, and Fr Miguel Ángel García Morcuende, SDB.
The theme of the Assembly revolved around ‘4 C’: Crisis, Connectivity, Communion, and Commitment , in order to reflect on the Salesian mission in the contemporary world in the face of the health emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The proposal came from the Coordination Team composed of three young people – Pablo Osorio (Southern Europe), Marta Radić (Central Europe), and Jeanine Balzan Engerer (Northern Europe) – from Sr. Lolia Annie, FMA collaborator of the Sector for the YM, and Fr. Patrick Anthonyraj, SDB of the YM Team.
The formative moment was led by Dr. Marlene Cauchi, counselor, psychologist, and teacher at the University of Malta, who spoke about the impact of the pandemic on children, animators, and young people in Salesian realities, the difficulties encountered, and especially the new opportunities that have arisen: “We are children of dreamers, committed to a charism and a mission that have no limits”, said the speaker.
Another objective of the meeting was the preparation of the Encounter 2021, which will take place in Italy from 11 to 16 August, in which a representation of young people from all the countries of Europe and the Middle East will meet to deepen Salesian Youth Spirituality with a pilgrimage through the Salesian places of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello, so significant for the whole Salesian Family.
The two Salesian ‘Good Nights’ were given by the General Councilors. Fr. García focused his thoughts on the Encyclical Fratelli Tutti, while Sister Runita closed the two days with a reflection inviting young people to be active protagonists.
There was no lack of testimonies from some young people and a Salesian, who told how the pandemic situation is lived in their countries and how Salesian Youth Ministry continues to accompany young people. The various online moments of prayer, formation, reflection, sharing of experiences, music, showed the face of a Salesian Youth Movement full of hope for the future.
