Interamerica Provincials Meet in Colombia

Interamerica Provincials Meet in Colombia

(ANS – Cartagena, Colombia – Oct. 24, 2023) – The 2023 meeting of the provincials of the Salesian region of Interamerica is taking place these days in the premises of the Salesians’ St. Peter Claver Institute in Cartagena. It aims to strengthen working together in synodality in the Interamerica Region, on the basis of the program guidelines that the Rector Major presented during the 28th General Chapter (2020).

The meeting, convened by Fr. Hugo Orozco, SDB, regional councilor for Interamerica (seated, center), was attended by 13 Salesian provincials in the region, Fr. Gildasio Mendes, SDB (general councilor for communications, seated right), and Fr. Ricardo Campoli, SDB (member of the Communications Department, seated left).

The meeting began on Sunday, October 22, with a welcome and presentation by the host province (Medellin, Colombia), by its provincial, Fr. Luis Fernando Valencia. The minutes and actions-taken report from last year’s meeting were also read.

On the 2d day, the provincials had a moment of fraternal greeting and exchange with the educational-pastoral community of the Saint Peter Claver Institute. It was followed by a day of spiritual retreat in the Claver religious house, which ended with a concelebrated Eucharist. A moment of fraternity concluded the evening.

On the 3d day, Tuesday, October 24, a conference was presented by Fr. Mendes and Fr. Campoli with the aim of reflecting on the Salesian System of Social Communication and the Salesian Communication Network of America. The afternoon was followed by moments of reflection and dialog to review the processes involving the regional level, such as: the conclusion of the visitation of the region carried out last March, the formation at the postnovitiate and novitiate houses, and the functioning of the Regional Center for the Specific Formation of the Salesian Brother (CRESCO).

The U.S. provincials are present: Fr. Dominic Tran of New Rochelle (standing 3d from left) and Fr. Mel Trinidad of San Francisco (standing 4th from right).

The Interamerica Region includes 13 provinces stretching from Canada to Peru and Bolivia.