Rome (Italy). The Salesian Family Sector of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, in the context of the 2022-2027 Six-year term Programming, launched the proposal for an online Seminar aimed at FMA Past Pupils, Salesian Cooperators (ASSCC), and members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), with the aim of assuming integral ecology as a dimension of life and of the educational mission according to Laudato Si’.
The Seminar consists of three online meetings, 15 October 2022, 15 April, and 7 October 2023 aimed at stimulating a personal and community change that can give rise to concrete steps, even small but constant, to nourish life styles that are more human and in harmony with nature.
The first meeting took place on 15 October 2022, with the participation of 30 members of the World Councils of the three Associations. Present were Sr. Leslie Sándigo, General Councilor for the Salesian Family; Sr. Lucrecia Uribe, World Delegate of the SSCC and World Animator of ADMA; Sr. Gabriela Patiño, World Delegate of FMA Past Pupils; and Sr. Viky Ulate, collaborator of the Youth Ministry Sector, invited to facilitate the process of studying integral ecology in the light of Laudato Si’.
Sr. Leslie framed the Seminar in the context of the 2022-2027 six-year planning of the Salesian Family and of the General Council, which in the priority choices favors continuous formation, the synodal journey, and integral ecology.
Emanuela Chiang, of Italian-Taiwanese origin, born in Rome and graduated in Integral Ecology, Laudato Si’ animator, contact person for Integral Ecology in the Youth Pastoral Sector of the Salesian Congregation, collaborator in the Laudato Sì Movement and in the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development of the Vatican, proposed a reflection starting from the 7 objectives of Laudato Si’, on the theme: At the root of the issue of the Care of creation.
She stressed the need to answer the question, “Why do we need an ecological conversion?” Her response highlights the importance of everyone’s involvement. If the earth is a common heritage, everyone is responsible for its deterioration; the speed of current changes is greater than the natural one. Thus, everyone is called to recognize the contribution that he/she can make for the care of the common home”.
After the group work, the participants showed themselves determined in their commitment, as Salesian Family, towards the care of the common home, taking the first step starting from everyday life, from themselves, from small gestures that also ‘contagion’ others. It is necessary, first of all, to look for strategies to connect and network in order not to remain isolated.
“The ecological conversion that is required to create a dynamism of lasting change is also a community conversion” (LS 219).
Bravissimi! E complimenti