(ANS – Santo Domingo – October 22, 2026) – Communication, understood as an expression of Salesian identity and a service to education and evangelization, was the focus of the first day of the Continental Meeting of Communication Delegates from the Americas. Discussions centered on the role of the sector within the Congregation, the relationship between artificial intelligence and human formation, and ways to align provincial planning with the needs of young people.

Communication in the Life of the Congregation

The program began with a meditation and Mass with Lauds. During the opening session, Fr. Fidel Orendain, General Councillor for Social Communication, outlined the context of social communication within the Congregation and connected the delegates’ work to the guidelines of the 29th General Chapter, held in 2025.

The presentation revisited the Chapter’s discussion of the possibility of transforming the Social Communication Sector into a Secretariat reporting directly to the Rector Major. The Chapter maintained the existing composition of the General Council, with Social Communication remaining a sector represented by a councillor. This decision preserved the current structure, while the discussion identified several tasks that remain on the agenda: clarifying responsibilities, improving coordination, and avoiding duplication of initiatives. In this context, the communication service extends to Youth Ministry, Formation, the Missions, the Salesian Family, and the governance of the Congregation.

Fr. Orendain described the Sector as a means of building relationships, educating, and proclaiming the Gospel. He cited Articles 6 and 43 of the Salesian Constitutions as the foundation of this vision, which connects the production of news, videos, and publications with a presence among young people and the building of communion.

The Human Person in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

The morning program also featured a presentation by Ramón Guzmán, an expert in regulatory compliance, risk management, and technology. His presentation, titled “Pedagogy of the Human: Educating and Communicating in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Starting from Magnifica Humanitas,” was followed by an open forum.

The relationship between technology and human dignity also emerged as a proposed mission for the Social Communication Sector. The proposal calls for the formation of Salesians, lay collaborators, and young people in the responsible use of technology and artificial intelligence, with an emphasis on relationships and service to the common good.

Communion, Mission, and Collaboration

In the afternoon, which was dedicated to working groups and contextualizing the discussion within the provinces, Fr. Fidel Orendain presented a proposal outlining the mission, vision, and values for the period from 2025 to 2031. The document organizes the Sector’s work around three guiding principles: communication for communion, communication for the renewal of commitment to mission, and communication for collaboration.

The first guideline focuses on listening, dialogue, and the flow of information among communities, provinces, and the Congregation’s governing bodies. The goal is to nurture relationships and foster a sense of belonging through participation and shared responsibility.

The second guideline emphasizes education and evangelization, proposing ways to communicate the Gospel and Don Bosco’s charism in the languages and environments where young people are found.

Collaboration brings these two dimensions together through the sharing of knowledge, resources, and skills across sectors, departments, and members of the Salesian Family. The proposal also envisions collaboration with Church bodies and organizations that share the goal of serving young people.

The Guidelines Move into the Planning Phase

The presentation identified four areas of action: evangelization and formation, animation and coordination, strategic communication, and content production. The proposal calls for developing these areas at the general level, within the provinces, and in local communities, adapting them to each specific context.

The planning process will need to translate the guidelines into objectives, programs, and activities; assign responsibilities; and establish methods for support and evaluation. The values presented included the Preventive System, presence and accompaniment, and truth and responsibility in communication. The questions posed to the delegates invited them to analyze the work being carried out in their own provinces.

A Strategy to Raise the Profile of the Mission

Among the materials presented during the meeting, the St. Philip the Apostle Province of the Eastern United States and Canada (SUE) proposed a three-year plan titled “Voices of Hope.” The initiative involves establishing a working group, integrating communication channels, and creating a network of coordinators across Salesian communities and institutions.

The proposal includes reorganizing the website; producing videos, publications, and podcasts; and implementing evangelization and vocational outreach campaigns. It also calls for content in English, Spanish, and French, along with opportunities for young people to share their stories.

Overall, the discussions highlighted the relationship between what the institution communicates and how its members interact with one another. Listening within communities, maintaining a presence on social media, and fostering cooperation among teams emerged as interconnected tasks within a single mission: accompanying young people and making known the mission entrusted to the Salesians by Don Bosco.