In 1984, in Bogotá, the first meeting of Popular Education of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Latin America was held. That meeting was the culmination of a long process and, at the same time, the beginning of an experience that has strengthened and reinforced the projects that specifically propose to live our option for the poor. (RSCJ.MX)

This process began to be glimpsed in the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), it was concretized in our area with the meeting of CELAM in Medellín (1968), it was nourished by the book "Theology of Liberation" (1971) and gave rise to the third of the options of the Society of the Sacred Heart at the General Chapter of 1970: "In the light of the Gospel and the social context we want to show solidarity with the poor."

In the RSCJ Provinces in Latin America this process had a strong impact and more or less quickly these guidelines were brought to life. A variety of Popular Education projects were opened with great enthusiasm and limited preparation for this type of education. Communication between the RSCJ working on these projects in the different countries increased and deepened and some nuns came to the conclusion that it was necessary to share experiences and learn together. There was dialogue with the Provincials of the different countries and the search for the right moment and finally it was agreed to have a workshop in Bogotá and that would be the first meeting.

The founders of this network were Sisters Ada Martínez (Cuban, who was then in Venezuela), Ana Elena Estrada and Socorro Martínez (from Mexico), and Elsy Martínez and Fanny Martínez (from Colombia). It is important to note that the initiative of this Network came from the grassroots and it was slow and difficult to get it accepted by some authorities. However, the founders remember the support received from Emilia Margarita Martínez (Emilmar), then Provincial of Venezuela and later from Tere Caicedo, Provincial of Colombia, and Paquita Tamayo, from the General Council, in the realization of the first meeting.

From that date on, meetings were held every four years in different countries, with the aim of sharing, learning from each other and receiving training that would allow for a higher quality of service. It was agreed that there would be a Coordinating Team with participants from different countries, which would be responsible for maintaining communication and organizing the next meeting. In addition, some lay popular educators began to participate in the meetings. Participants pledged to share what they knew and learned with their project staff.

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF HISTORY

As the year 2024 approaches, the liaisons of the now Continental Network of Popular Education, planned a Zoom meeting that took place on Thursday, October 10, which was coordinated by: Iris da Silva rscj (Brazil), Carmen C. Alfaro from Colombia, Gloria Guerrero (Chile) and Maricruz Trigueros rscj (Mexico). There was a great participation and a lot of interest from the sisters from the different provinces that make up the Philippine Region.

The desire was to celebrate by collecting what has been cultivated and harvested along the path traveled in these four decades of history, hope and walking with others, always looking for the best way to respond to the reality where we have been inserted.

We begin with a prayer, remembering the Sisters who were a strong support in this Network and who are already in the house of our Father God. Some of them are Felícitas Mastropaolo (ARU), Elizabeth Amarante (BRA), Fanny Martínez (COL), Elizabeth Bazan (PER), Luz Garcés (CHI), among others. It was a joy to remember them.

The first interventions were given by Ada Martínez and Socorro Martínez, who shared their experiences in the process of forming the Network.

Subsequently, we listened to the contributions of the provinces of Antilles (Carmen Margarita Fagot), Argentina-Uruguay (Marisa Sacerdote), Brazil (Helosia María Rodrigues), Colombia (Carmen Cecilia Alfaro), Chile (Guillermina Luza), United States-Canada (Reyna González), Mexico (Ana Elena Estrada), Peru (Pilar Cardó), Venezuela (Emilmar) and Haiti (Matilde Moreno). They shared concrete experiences of Popular Education that have been developed in each Province. This helped us to recognize the diversity of ways in which projects are implemented, always taking as a starting point the concrete context of the country and the region: the "Analysis of Reality".

It was recalled that a valuable process was carried out to clarify how the methodology of Popular Education is fully compatible with the pedagogy that Magdalena Sofía bequeathed to us. The meetings, every four years, helped to deepen this and also to share and integrate, in the concrete reality of the Popular Education projects of each Province, the advances and contributions of each country and of the scholars of the subject, to this methodology.

It was recognized that the contribution of the General Chapter of 1988 was important, it prompted us to attend to the political dimension of our life and to ground it in our various projects.

Recently, another contribution that enriched our Methodology was the integration of JPIC with all its richness and breadth of horizons, above all we opened ourselves to the ecological dimension that brings with it so much demand.

Towards the end of the meeting, it was announced that different online events will be organized and the next one will be on November 14 addressing the topic of Analysis of the continental reality, of great interest for the entire Region.

We invite you to watch the full video of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Popular Education Network below (in Spanish only) :