by BIS Correspondent
MUMBAI, JUNE 14, 2018: Eighty teachers from four Salesian schools in the Mumbai district attended a workshop-seminar, conducted by Father Francis Gustilo and Joanna Marie Oliva, from the Philippines, on June 11-12 at the Don Bosco Matunga campus in Mumbai.
The event organised by the Mumbai province aimed to echo what both speakers shared during the Salesian International Congress on Youth Ministry and Family held in Madrid in November 2017.
Father Gustilo focused on the need to link Youth Ministry done in schools with the families of the students themselves. He stressed that, for students, schools must be an extension of their home. Father Gustilo stressed on the importance of healing relationships, because at the deepest core of life is relationship itself. He pointed out that this is evidenced by the undeniable connectivity that exists be it in the macro-system of the universe, as well as in the micro-system of every human person.
Oliva stressed on the Live-Pure Movement's basic principles culled from St John Paul II's Theology of the Body. The principal tenets of this 129-Wednesday catechism lie on the Original Experiences of humanity as exposed by the Book of Genesis Chapters 1 and 2, she said. She further explained that Original Solitude, Original Unity and Original Nakedness are the stem of humanity's true worth, true freedom and total happiness.
She said, man and woman are the image and likeness of Love. This makes Love, the most distinctive capacity of every human person. To push forward Don Bosco's educational principle that youth do not just need to be loved, but must feel they are loved, Oliva led the participants to know their particular love-language and in what manner they can give and receive love leading to an experience of felt-love.