PRACTICAL TRAINEES MEET
by Cleric Jeswin Mastan
MUMBAI, AUG 21, 2017: Twenty practical trainees of the Salesian province of Mumbai met for their first official annual gathering with a special focus on Value Education 
and Catechesis for the year 2017- 2018. The theme for the meeting that was held at the Don Bosco Provincial house in Matunga on August 17 and 18, was Journeying and Faith formation.
The first day commenced with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist by Father Godfrey D'Souza, the Provincial. Father Savio Silveira, the Vice Provincial, conducted the sessions and urged the participants to make the most of their training period. He helped them evaluate and become aware of themselves.
Later in the day, Father Silveira dealt with the four dimensions of Salesian youth spirituality, namely, introducing the faith, group and social experience, vocational discernment and the cultural dimension. He further stressed on integrating youth spirituality with the forthcoming Boscoree 2018, which is an all-India gathering of scouts and guides from Salesian schools.
Father D'Souza, in his address highlighted the importance of Don Bosco's Preventive System of education, which is essentially based on three pillars: reason, religion and loving-kindness. "We need to revisit the preventive system and use this phase of formation in deepening our Salesian identity, mission and work," he said.
The following day Father Cletus D'Souza, animated the brothers on the theme of journeying with faith formation, which entails a deep nurturing and love for scripture and tradition. He focused on the role of the practical trainees as catechists in the various Salesian institutes.
For the trainees in attendance, it was a time of relaxation, a meeting point of ideas and a learning experience. "The meeting broadened my vision and helped me to look at education to the faith with a newer perspective," Brother Chris Ferreira, a participant, said.