The meeting, attended by representatives of the Salesian Museums and other institutions interested in Don Bosco’s methodology, began with a moment of prayer and a welcome address by Salesian Fr Reginaldo Cordeiro, a member of the Missions Sector. Following this, Fr Marcelo Farfán, Provincial of the Salesian Province of Ecuador, delivered an inspiring message, urging educational communities to continue offering these educational opportunities that enrich the institutional mission.
Dr Nataly Orbe Ortiz, Director of the Abya Yala Museum in Ecuador – the institution that broadcast the event via its YouTube channel – emphasised the importance of this work, in line with the theme proposed by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) for this year: “Museums unite a divided world”.
A group of international experts
The formation was structured around three high-level presentations, which addressed the theme of mediation in different contexts: To enrich the digital environment of the meeting, an example of cultural mediation and an artistic video by the Proyecto Raíz group were then presented, highlighting the importance of art in educational processes.
- Oscar Rodríguez (National Museum of Colombia) explored the fundamentals of mediation and its role as an essential educational activity.
- Ana Martín García (Don Bosco House Museum in Turin, Italy) presented the Preventive System within the museum space, highlighting loving kindness as a fundamental key to guiding the visitor.
- Dirceu Mauricio Van Lonkhuijzen (Don Bosco Museum in Campo Grande, Brazil) explored intercultural mediation as a necessary dialogue between institutional identity and the Amazonian and Andean heritage.
The conclusions of the meeting were presented by Mariano García, Coordinator of the Advisory Team of the Salesian Missionary Museums. In his summary, he emphasised that what distinguishes Salesian museums from other institutions is their essence as a “welcoming home”. Furthermore, it was reiterated that Don Bosco’s Preventive System is the tool that enables a more human visitor experience, transforming the museum into a space for encounter and lifelong learning.
With this event, the Salesian museum network reaffirms its commitment to professional development and the strengthening of a unique cultural offering, centred on the person and on shared heritage.
