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Participants of the 8th ‘Northern Zonal Conference of the Salesian Cooperators’ Association,’ which was conducted on Sep. 30 at the Don Bosco Institute for Development and Leadership, in Dimapur.[/caption]
Dimapur, Oct. 1 (EMN): The 8th ‘Northern Zonal Conference of the Salesian Cooperators’ Association’ was conducted on Sep. 30 at the Don Bosco Institute for Development and Leadership in Dimapur.
There were 70 participants including provincial coordinators, secretaries, administrators, “formators”, and delegates and few other members from the Salesian provinces of New Delhi, Kolkata, Shillong, Guwahati and Dimapur, a press release from the organisers informed on Sunday. Jonas Kerketta sdb, Bosco B. Ed College, appended the press release.
The conference was conducted with the theme “family ministry,” it was informed. The event was inaugurated with the hoisting of the association’s flag by Fr. Albert Johnson sdb, current South Asian delegate for Salesian Family, the organisers stated.
According to the press release, Sr. Alphonsa fma read out the keynote address of Sr. Elizabeth George fma, provincial of Guwahati FMA province. In her address, Sr. Elizabeth highlighted the importance of the theme saying that the family was the cradle of life ‘where children feel loved, cared for, protected and accompanied.’ She quoted Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia which underscores the fact that welfare of the family is decisive for the future of the world and the church, the updates stated.
Fr. Albert Johnson read out the message of Rev. Fr. Maria Kanaga sdb, regional councillor for South Asia. Fr. Kanaga described the ‘Salesian Cooperators’ as secular (lay) arms and wings of the Salesian family having a special role to play with their public commitment to God and ‘Salesian charism.’
The event also conducted various sessions for different topics of discourse: Roles of Salesian Cooperators; family ministry; formation of Lay Leadership. There was also a session about action plans as a well as a meeting of the National Advisory Council, the updates stated.
Further, the updates stated, on Oct. 1 there was a business session during which all the participating provinces presented reports specifically about the Family Ministry’s activities.
