The Salesian Family in Zambia through the Youth Ministry of the SDB and FMA organised an International Youth Conference that attracted about 1000 Youths from parishes run by the Salesians of Don Bosco from Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia, the host, from August 28
to September 3, 2018, at St. James Parish in Mansa.
The focus was on the threefold theme of Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment inspired by theme carried by the Working Document of the forthcoming 15th Synod of Bishops to be held in October 2018. An International Seminar to account the situation of young people took place last year from September 11-15, 2017. While “Pre-synodal Meeting” of young people took place from March 19-24, 2018,in Rome, with the final document prepared by the young people delivered to Pope Francis. The theme is meant to foster the pastoral care of the Church for the young. It is consistent with the results of the recent Synod assemblies on the family and with the content of the post-Synodal apostolic exhort tion Amoris Laetitia.
BACKGROUND TO THE SYNOD
The Holy Father, after the customary consultation with the Episcopal conferences, the Oriental Catholic Churches and the Union of Superior Generals, as well as hearing the suggestions of the Fathers of the last Synod assembly and the opinion of the 14th Ordinary Council, has established that in October 2018 the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will be held, on the theme: “Youth, faith and vocational discernment”.
This initiative demonstrates “the expression of the desire of the Church to listen to all young people without exclusion”, notes Cardinal Baldisseri.
“The material collected by these four main sources – in addition to the observations of the Secretariat of the Synod has been thoroughly analysed, synthesised and collected in “The Instrument of Work” approved by the XIV Extraordinary Council of the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, in the presence of the Holy Father.
RATIONALE OF THE CONFERENCE
The primary aim of the gathering in Mansa was to accompany the young on their existential journey to maturity so that, through a process of discernment, they discover their plan for life and realise it with joy, opening up to the encounter with God and with human beings, and actively participating in the edification of the Church and of society.
