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Don Bosco Provincial, 26 Feb: The Salesian Provincial Conference of South Asia (SPCSA) met at the twin city of Hyderabad for its annual General Assembly and Provincial Conference Council Meeting, 24-27 February 2015. The meeting was preceded by a day of hectic review and planning sessions for the various regional commissions and Networks of the Salesian Apostolate in South Asia on 23 February. The entire meeting was hosted at the Salesian Provincial House of Hyderabad by the Provincial Fr. Raminedi Balaraju and his team.
About 15 Heads of Regional Commissions participated in the Networking meeting on 23 February, presided over by the Regional Councillor Fr. Maria Arokiam Kanaga, and coordinated by the SPCSA Secretary Fr. Noel Maddhichetty, during which they presented their annual reports, projects and plans for the year 2015-16.
During the General Assembly Fr. Maria Arokiam briefed the Provincials and the commission heads about certain concerns that the Rector Major and his Council have for the Congregation, such as concern about the quality of religious life and the need to take seriously the radicality of the gospel. He affirmed the need to keep the poorest people in focus in the apostolate carried out and to avoid the tendency to move away from those who need us most.
Another major concern of the Congregation is about Vocations and the loss of a large number of younger confreres especially in the South Asia region. He called also for greater financial and administrational transparency, and strict adherence to animation as well as governance by the Provincial Superiors. “Provincials are called to animate as well as govern,” he said. “they need to bring discipline in the provinces. Right decisions have to be taken, at the right time”.
Among other concerns he highlighted also the urgency of promoting lay collaboration in the Salesian services and ministries “in order to strengthen our hands and to be free for the priestly and religious tasks that are pertinent to us”. He
pointed out that “Lay collaboration is a top priority in the General Council”. He called on the participants of the meeting to promote creativity and the taking up of non-traditional forms of apostolate as well, while not playing down Salesian spirituality.
The commissions and Bodies that took part in the Networking meeting were: Youth Animation, Formation, Social Communications, Vocational Animation, Education to Faith, Forum for Young at Risk, Don Bosco Action India, Don Bosco Tech India, Bosco Net, Don Bosco Schools India, Don Bosco Higher Education, Salesian Social Forum and the Economers` Network.
