General Conference focuses on education: in the classroom and beyond
Over 80 people from around the world will gather July 16-21 in Neustadt, Germany, for “Educare,” the 8th General Conference of the congregation.
The tradition of the general conference began in 1969. Held at the midpoint of a superior general’s term the themes have varied greatly, beginning with “The Renewal of the Congregation in Light of Vatican II.” The last conference was in 2006 in Warsaw, Poland; its focus was “SCJs on Mission Ad Gentes.”
Participants include the major superiors of each SCJ entity, along with invited guests and staff. Among the guests this year will be a number of lay people who serve in SCJ schools and other ministries.
Educare?
So what does “Educare” mean? The word was chosen by conference organizers to describe a more encompassing view of education, a view that goes well beyond the classroom. The conference will look at ways in which SCJs, as well as those who collaborate with the community in ministry, can have an impact on the formation of youth from a Dehonian perspective.
Diverse speakers from around the world
Several presenters have been chosen to help conference participants explore this topic. Among them is Fr. Joao Carlos Almeida from the Central Brazilian Province. He teaches at the Instituto Teológico SCJ of the Faculdade Dehoniana in Taubaté and is chairperson of the Latin American Theological Commission. Fr. Joao’s doctoral thesis was on the educational philosophy of Fr. Dehon; he will speak about Fr. Dehon as a educator.
Following him will be Fr. Olav Hamelijnck of the German Province. Rector of the SCJs’ secondary school in Handrup, Fr. Olav will present a synthesis of the responses to the questionnaire done by the entities in preparation for the conference.
- Fr. John van den Hengel giving a presentation at the recent province assembly
Fr. John van den Hengel, professor emeritus in theology at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, Canada, was a theological consultant for over 30 years to Canada’s National Office of Religious Education. Now a member of the General Council, Fr. John will talk about “Dehonian Values in a Time of Fluidity.”
Examining the relationship of youth and mass media will be Fausto Colombo. He is a professor of Media Communications Theories and Media and Politics at the Faculty of Political Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan. He is also director of Osservatorio sulla Comunicazione, a media and communication research center, based at the Università Cattolica.
Judith King is an adult educator, psychotherapist, teacher/trainer, group facilitator and organizational consultant. Her clients include individuals, student groups and leadership teams of religious congregations (at chapters and province assemblies, as well as with major superiors and councils). Much of her work focuses developing a better understanding of the factors that influence the holistic development of individuals as members of organizations and systems. Her presentation at the General Conference will examine schools –– from primary grades to the university level –– and their impact on youth. Note: in 2010 she gave a very well-received talk to the Union of Superiors General (USG) on consecrated life in Europe. Click here to read it in English.
Moving from schools to churches, Fr. Anthony-Francis Vincent, SDS, director of the Institute of Practical Theology at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome, will report on the impact of parishes on youth today. Originally from India, Fr. Anthony has done extensive research on inculturation and catechesis as it relates to Catholic schools, the focus of his doctoral thesis. Fr. Anthony also serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Empirical Theology.
