Hajja Salesjana

The Letter says that we must ensure that “online space is not only safe, but also spiritually life-giving”. How can this be done? The digital environment is not a fad for us. It is an opportunity to communicate with young people in their habitat. In this environment, girls and boys bring their dreams, their stories, their challenges and their creativity. Not only that. They seek answers to questions crucial to their lives. That is why it is essential to establish a dialogue with them. To be recognised as a point of reference. This means understanding their language, accompanying them on their journey, indicating values without making them feel judged. Through this presence with them, a shared and life- giving journey is born. If we want to have an impact on the lives of young people, we need to train digital apostles and missionaries. Do you think the Salesians have formed them enough? To answer this question, we must consider the recommendations of the Church, which has always taken up the great challenges of the contemporary world. In fact, it invites us to deepen the anthropological and ethical dimension of the digital world. The Final Document of the Synod of Bishops on Young People, "Young people, faith and vocational discernment" states that "The digital environment presents a challenge to the Church on various levels; it is essential, therefore, to deepen knowledge of its dynamics and its range of possibilities from the anthropological and ethical point of view." (no. 145). Recently, the Document of the First Session of the Sixteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops stated that "we cannot evangelise digital culture without first understanding it" (no. 17, d). With the help of theologians and educators, it is important to understand and encourage the experiences we have already acquired in this field. Photo by Brooke Cagle - Unsplash.com Photo by Rami al Zayat - Unsplash.com 13 Jannar-Marzu 2024 hajja