【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2025 年03月28日意大利都靈訊】 – 在2025年3月28日（星期五）上午舉行的第二輪投票中，慈幼會第29屆全會代表大會選出Fr. Rafael Bejarano為新一任的青年牧民總部議員。
根據慈幼會會憲第136條，「青年牧民總部議員負責推動及指導慈幼會在教育及宗徒工作的各種活動，確保青年作為優先對象，並以預防教育法作為行動指引。他協助各會省制定牧民計劃，以鮑思高神父的精神，回應各地各時代的需求。」
Fr. Rafael Bejarano Rivera隸屬於哥倫比亞-麥德林”San Luis Bertrán”會省（COM），於1977年12月1日出生於哥倫比亞的布加（Buga），是Carlos Humberto Bejarano與Dioselina Rivera三個子女中的次子。
Fr. Rafael Bejarano Rivera曾在卡利市的聖若望·鮑思高學院接受教育，並於1995年在里奧內格羅（Rionegro）開始慈幼會準初學培育，1996年在La Ceja初學，並於1997年1月24日發初願。他在2003年1月12日於麥德林矢發終身聖願，並於2006年12月2日在卡利晉鐸。
他先後在哥倫比亞Pontifical Bolivarian University與Pontifical Javeriana University完成哲學與神學培育。此外，他還取得「社會企業管理—創新與地方發展」碩士學位，目前正在馬德里Pontifical Comillas University攻讀International Cooperation for Development 博士學位。
在他的牧職生涯中，Fr. Rafael Bejarano Rivera曾擔任多個重要職務：
• 布埃納文圖拉（Buenaventura）「青少年耶穌之家」牧民協調員（2005）
• 巴蘭基亞（Barranquilla）「鮑思高」社會中心副校長暨牧民協調員（2007）
• 哥倫比亞-麥德林省（COM）青年牧民委員（2010）
• 麥德林「鮑思高城」社會服務工作中心主任（2013-2015、2016-2018）
• 哥倫比亞-麥德林省連續三屆省議員（2013-2019）
• 多斯克夫拉達斯（Dosquebradas）「聖若望·鮑思高」學院主任（2019）
自2020年起，他在慈幼會總部青年牧民部門負責關顧修會內的社會工作及社會服務。
Don Rafael Bejarano Elected as the New General Councilor for Youth Ministry
(ANS – Italy–Turin, 28 March 2025) – During the second round of voting on the morning of Friday, March 28, 2025, the 29th General Chapter of the Salesian Congregation elected Fr. Rafael Bejarano as the new General Councilor for Youth Ministry.
According to Article 136 of the Salesian Constitutions, “the General Councilor for Youth Ministry animates and guides Salesian educational and apostolic action in its various expressions, ensuring that youth remain the priority and that the Preventive System serves as the inspiration. He assists Provinces in developing their pastoral projects so that, faithful to Don Bosco’s spirit, they respond to the needs of the times and places.”
Fr. Rafael Bejarano Rivera, a Salesian from the “San Luis Bertrán” Province of Colombia-Medellín (COM), was born on December 1, 1977, in Buga, Colombia. He is the second of three children of Carlos Humberto Bejarano and Dioselina Rivera.
After studying at the “San Juan Bosco” Institute in Cali, he began his Salesian formation in the pre-novitiate in Rionegro (1995) and continued with his novitiate in La Ceja (1996), where he made his first religious profession on January 24, 1997. He later professed perpetual vows on January 12, 2003, in Medellín and was ordained a priest on December 2, 2006, in Cali.
He completed his philosophical and theological formation at the Pontifical Bolivarian University in Medellín and the Pontifical Javeriana University in Bogotá. Additionally, he earned a master’s degree in “Social Enterprise Administration for Innovation and Local Development” and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in International Cooperation for Development at the Pontifical Comillas University in Madrid.
Throughout his ministry, Fr. Bejarano has held various roles:
- Pastoral Coordinator at the “Hogar Jesús Adolescente” center in Buenaventura (2005)
- Vicce Rector and Pastoral Coordinator at the “Don Bosco” Social Center in Barranquilla (2007)
- Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry in COM (2010)
- Rector of the “Ciudad Don Bosco” social work in Medellín (2013-2015, 2016-2018)
- Provincial Councilor in COM for three consecutive terms (2013-2019)
- Rector of the “San Juan Bosco” Institute in Dosquebradas (2019)
Since 2020, he has been collaborating in the Youth Ministry Sector at the Salesian Generalate in Rome, where he has primarily worked on coordinating Salesian Social Works and Services.