The first online meeting was held on Saturday, with about a hundred participants from the eight Salesian Regions around the world, from which various subgroups were formed according to interest and ability (podcasts, videos, reels, infographics), together defining objectives, criteria, initial deadlines, and ways to keep interaction and communication alive. They are developing a platform (Hyper-Ratio) on which to share ideas and exchange materials produced, which will then be made accessible to the communities.
The cooperation of young people and their involvement is already part of the history of the text. A distant root of the new edition lies in the survey on accompaniment that involved over 4,000 young Salesians in 2017, the results of which were incorporated into the document. Once again, there was an active presence of young SDBs in 2021, with questionnaires on Salesian formation addressed to confreres, groups, communities and ECPs. In particular, spontaneous groups (‘70 x 7’) were set up in each Region, whose online meetings brought to light important elements for the new text. One representative from each region, a confrere in one of the initial stages of Initial Formation, was a member of the first workshop that brought together 28 Salesians from all regions at the Sacred Heart (15-28/11/2021), giving rise to the core content and outlines from which the rewriting of the document began.
At Saturday’s meeting it was immediately apparent how easily young Salesians get along with each other, with linguistic differences becoming increasingly easy to overcome thanks to the technologies now available. The harmony is even stronger and more immediate on the social media platforms they use.
This is a sign of hope, because it shows that in the generational change and continuous transformation that the digital habitat brings to communication, and the corresponding international and intercultural openness that this promotes, the charismatic treasure that unites us always finds new ways to express itself and to involve us, not only as recipients but as protagonists. This first step is an invitation to any other young Salesians who might be interested in joining this Hyper-Ratio Catalyst Group.
To facilitate the gradual understanding and assimilation of the first five chapters of the new document from the Central Office at the beginning of March (chap. 1), May (chap. 2), July (chap. 3), September (chap. 4) and November (chap. 5), a video interview and other materials will be made available. This is the initial part of the document (about 60 pages in total) which contains the themes and guiding principles aimed at supporting the journey of each confrere and community in responding to the Salesian vocation and mission today. There is complete harmony between what is written in the Ratio and what is said in the final document of GC29. These bimonthly inputs will be a source of inspiration for the exchange and proposals of young SDBs, which will in turn be made available and shared on the platform they are activating.
Those who are interested, as a community or individually, in receiving what is made available every two months can indicate this at this link: MATERIALI BIMESTRALI RATIO.
