Rome (Italy). From 25 to 30 September 2022 in Rome, at the Generalate of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the international Conference will be held on the theme, “The contribution of the FMA to education (1872-2022). Paths, challenges, and perspectives” promoted by the FMA Institute and organized by the Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences “Auxilium”.
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, promoting a dialogue of study attentive to pluralism and stimulating a comparison with current challenges to relaunch its educational mission in the present and in the future, is the main objective that animates the International Conference.
Starting from historical data, the initiative intends to define some aspects of the contribution of the FMA to education and to offer elements of method capable of influencing the formation policies of the Institute. The reflection, in fact, is part of the process put in place to support the Global Educational Pact promoted by Pope Francis in 2019 and to cooperate in a new development model.
The Conference will offer multidisciplinary and multicultural interpretations, and will be divided into three sessions entrusted to the contributions of speakers of international origin.
The introduction to the work will begin on 25 September, followed by the opening of the first session dedicated to the “Historical path between data and experiences” on 26 September, with the aim of outlining a panoramic picture of the Institute in its 150 years of life – Houses, people, works in the countries where it is present – to detect some diachronic and synchronic aspects of the contribution of the FMA in the various contexts, especially through the commitment to education among the lower and middle classes.
On 27 September, with the second session entitled “Confronting the challenges of education today”, the aim is to help understand the role of some contemporary anthropologies starting from the impact they generate on educational processes, and then reflect on the challenges of the present and assess the impact on the behavior of the individual and the community, in particular of young people and educators.
The third session scheduled for 28 and 29 September – “Paths and perspectives for the future of education in the light of the Preventive System” – aims to raise awareness of the way in which some nuclei of the Preventive System are understood and lived today by the FMA and by the laity who share the mission in the Educating Communities of the various contexts.
The concluding session will take place on the morning of 30 September 2022, chaired by the Superior General of the FMA Institute, Sr. Chiara Cazzuola, and moderated by the Dean of the «Auxilium» Faculty, Sr. Piera Ruffinatto, with reflections and perspectives on the educational and formative contribution that the FMA Institute can offer society today. The event will end with the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco.
The program, materials, and information on the topics, speakers, and registration procedures can be found on the website of the International Conference. Furthermore, in the Words section the Faculty proposes, from month to month, small video insights with the words at the center of the Conference, “nuclei” generating conversation and discussion on the themes of education and of educating.
Fazer retrospectiva de uma caminhada em busca de encontrar melhores soluções para superar obstáculos é algo que sempre devemos estar buscando fazer. E, quando se trata de uma obra grandiosa como é o IFMA, isto se torna mais espetacular. Que sejam momentos de muita luz para as FMA e para a Família Salesiana. Deus no comando e Maria Auxiliadora se fazendo presente com seu olhar protetor.
Parabéns ao Instituto por tão rica iniciativa!
Refletindo sobre nossa prática educativa, focando no percurso histórico como EXPERIÊNCIA), analisando os DESAFIOS do hoje ( presente), e buscando PERSPECTIVAS ( futuro), à luz do Sistema Preventivo, traçaremos sábios caminhos de fidelidade criativa a esse tesouro que é nosso e da Igreja.