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South Asia Youth Ministry Charts Six-Year Roadmap Following GC29 Directives
News written by: Fr. Patrick Lepcha SDB
The Youth Ministry Delegates of the South Asia Region, together with the Regional Dimension Coordinators and the International Green Alliance Coordinator, Fr. Savio Silvera, convened an online meeting on 19 December to chart the region’s Youth Ministry's future course of action. The deliberations were guided by directives from the SPCSA Council on preparing a six-year plan in light of General Chapter 29.
The South Asia Region has identified six priority areas and has been advised to select those that best respond to the concrete needs of young people. The directives discussed during the meeting were based on recommendations from Fr. Rafael Bejarano, the General Councillor for Youth Ministry, following the recent Annual Meeting of Youth Ministry Delegates held in Siliguri, Kolkata Province.
Opening the session, Fr. Patrick Lepcha, Regional Youth Delegate of South Asia, introduced the agenda and facilitated the discussion. The assembly also reviewed and evaluated the outcomes of the Annual Meeting of Youth Delegates and Network Heads in Siliguri. The presence of Fr. Rafael Bejarano, accompanied by five members of his team, enabled meaningful interaction and sharing on the broader vision of Youth Pastoral Ministry. Participants noted that the encounter was particularly significant in fostering personal acquaintance and strengthening interpersonal relationships essential for carrying out the Salesian mission as a united international body.
During the meeting, the assembly reflected on four key recommendations presented by Fr. Rafael Bejarano. These included ensuring a clear and uniform role for Youth Ministry Delegates across all Provinces, developing an integral ecology plan, designing a structured formation programme for the laity and Salesians (SDBs) engaged in youth work, and clarifying the role of the South Asia Youth Delegate within the regional framework.
On the theme of integral ecology, Fr. Savio Silvera highlighted that concrete directions had already been communicated to all Provinces during the School Principals' meeting. Each Province is expected to submit its working document by 31 January, after which implementation will begin at the Provincial level. The assembly also proposed the constitution of a dedicated committee or team to prepare a common syllabus for the formation of laity and SDBs. This initiative will be coordinated through the Don Bosco Renewal Centre, Bengaluru, and the Don Bosco Youth Animation Centre, Ennore, Chennai.
The final segment of the meeting focused on the formulation of the six-year plan for Youth Ministry in the South Asia Region. In alignment with the priorities of the General Council and the SPCSA Assembly, three key priorities were selected: socio-political commitment and adequate formation for young people; integral ecology and care for the common home; and strengthening accompaniment of youth, particularly in the digital environment.
In the coming weeks, the regional team will work on defining concrete lines of action for these priorities, with implementation scheduled to begin after the Feast of Don Bosco.
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