Bogotá (Colombia). In an atmosphere of profound fraternity, dialogue, and the exercise of synodality, from 6 to 8 March 2023, a meeting took place at the See of the Episcopal Latin American Council between the CELAM centers, the representatives of the Commissions for ‘Education of the Episcopal Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean; the Confederation of Latin American Episcopal Conferences; the Confederation of Latin American Episcopal Conferences of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico; the Inter-American Confederation of Catholic Education (CIEC); and the Organization of Catholic Universities of Latin America (ODUCAL) on the theme: “Weaving networks for education. The Education Pact in Latin America and the Caribbean”.
The meeting was attended by two Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Sr. Myrian Celeste Benítez González of the Paraguayan Province of St. Gabriel the Archangel (PAR) and Sr. Ana Julia Suriel of the Dominican Republic, St. Joseph Province (ANT), representing their own Episcopal Conferences.
Each representative shared the educational reality of their own Countries, recognizing their suffering aspects and lights of hope. The processes and actions of the network of ecclesial educational networks were also shared: (Latin American Episcopal Council – CELAM, Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious – CLAR, Caritas of Latin America and the Caribbean, Organization of Catholic Universities of America Latin and Caribbean – ODUCAL, Confederación Interamericana de Educación Católica – CIEC, Associação Nacional de Educação Católica do Brasil – ANEC, Red de Universidades Católicas de América Central – RUCAC, and Conferencia de las Instituciones Católicas de Teología – CICT – COCTI), and how in each country work is done in relation to the Global Pact for Education (PEG).
It was underlined that the PEG tries to face the changes of today, responding to the cultural and anthropological crisis, and going well beyond the purely scholastic sector, integrating the fundamental space of the family and society.
It was underlined that the PEG tries to face the changes of today, responding to the cultural and anthropological crisis, and going well beyond the purely scholastic sector, integrating the fundamental space of the family and society.
Similarly, the research work promoted by this network together with the Xaverian University was presented, in order to draw a map with the progress of the PEG in the Region. This initiative was highly appreciated by the participants, who were encouraged to enrich it and make it reach many more actors in the field of education.
As part of the meeting, a videoconference dialogue took place with the new Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, Msgr. Melchor Sánchez de Toca, in which the strength of the path followed by the PEG in the Latin American Church emerged.
The representatives of the four Regions – Southern Cone, Andean, Caribbean and Central America, and Mexico – in a significant time of listening and sharing opinions, established common paths and agreements so that the PEG would have an impact with transformative effects in the different contexts.
Following the meeting, the ‘network of networks’ was further consolidated with the incorporation of the Education Departments of the Episcopal Conferences in this team, to continue to give impetus and to materialize the commitment towards a more just education, dignified, and inclusive on the Continent.
Among the many challenges that emerged during the Days, three common denominators stand out:
– The concern for the lack of pedagogical vocations and the abandonment of the profession in the different sectors of teaching due to multiple factors that deny the value of this noble task.
– The thousands of children and young people expelled from the education system or who have abandoned it, especially in the most vulnerable sectors, a scenario that has worsened and the lack of public policies to reverse this situation.
In this context, the Global Education Pact represents a horizon of hope and proactivity. As Pope Francis states “in a time of extreme fragmentation, of extreme opposition, it is necessary to join forces, to create an educational alliance to form mature people, capable of living in society and for society.”
Celebrating the ten years of Pope Francis’ Pontificate, the participants thanked God for the opportunity to meet to renew their commitment to building an “educational village” on the American continent.
