BIS # 4288 SYMPOSIUM ON EVANGELI GAUDIUM HELD AT DIVYADAAN

by Nevelle Coutinho and Ian Pinto

NASHIK-MAHARASHTRA, DECEMBER 16, 2014: Many days of hard work and relentless efforts by the SYBPH brothers of Divyadaan culminated in a spirited  symposium on the topic 'Social Dimension of Evangelization' taken from Pope Francis' Apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, on   December 13, 2014 at Divyadaan, Salesian Institute of Philosophy, Nashik.


The programme began at 2:00 p.m. with a hymn to the Holy Spirit, after which a very creative introduction was presented in the form of Pope Francis supposedly dialoguing via Skype with the audience present at Divyadaan for the symposium. The presentations of the four speakers of the day, Jarnel Syiem, Nevelle Coutinho , Nester Furtado and Ian Pinto who spoke on the topics, 'The inclusion of the poor in society', 'Concern for the vulnerable', 'Common good and peace in society',  and 'Social Dialogue' respectively then followed. The talks were accompanied with PowerPoint presentations.


Each talk was crisp and relevant. The audience participated well with their insightful questions and responses aptly given by the speakers. Later, the audience, divided into four groups, participated in group discussions. The groups were provided with pertinent questions and were asked to come up with practical solutions to problems. This was followed by the vote of thanks, appreciating the efforts of all those involved in the project, particularly Fr. Wyman Gonsalves, the coordinator.


Finally the programme concluded with the Peace hymn of St. Francis of Assisi. The audience left with a sense of satisfaction, enriched with the knowledge of the social dimension of evangelization and with greater awareness of what Pope Francis and the church expects of every Christian in this regard.