Last Thursday, I went with Fr Bob Gardner SDB, Delegate for Publications and Social Communications, to Munich, for the 4-day European meeting of Salesian Social Communications delegates, chaired by Don Filiberto González Plasencia SDB, General Councillor for Social Communications.

In preparation for our 28th General Chapter, which will take place in Valdocco in February, we were asked to consider what sort of Salesian communicator is needed for the youth of today, and we spent time discussing this in language-based groups (English and Italian), and then sharing the results of our conversations.

We also had the opportunity to share some of our work as examples of good practice, and it was extremely valuable to meet people working in this field in other European countries, and to gain ideas and insights that will help in our communications work in the UK.

On Friday, we had a tour of the Bavarian public service broadcasting company, Bayerischer Rundfunk, and a presentation from their Digital Development and Social Media team. I was especially interested in the methods they use to develop new projects to suit the needs of their audiences. That afternoon, some of us had a superb guided walking tour of some of Munich's spectacular churches.

Saturday's schedule included a fascinating presentation from Sonja Pohl of the German Bishops' Conference of research into the social media habits of young people.

On our last evening, Don Filiberto gave the Good Night after evening prayer, and we headed into the city for a Bavarian night at the famous Hofbrauhaus.

This was a valuable forum for exchanging ideas, and the hospitality we all received from our colleagues and confreres in Germany was simply wunderbar! It was especially good to be in Munich this year, as the Salesians celebrate the centenary of their presence there.

Thank you!

Clare Lewis

Communications Manager, Salesians UK