The rector of Universidad Mesoamericana, Father Rómulo Gallegos Alvarado, sdb, attended the 21st Ordinary General Assembly of the Organization of Catholic Universities of Latin America and the Caribbean (ODUCAL) in the Dominican Republic. He was joined by Academic Vice Rector Mgtr. Efraín Estrada Herrera and Pastoral Director Father Ricardo Rodríguez, sdb.
The event took place at Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) in Santo Domingo. It brought together over 40 rectors and 130 academics from 68 universities across 17 countries. The main focus was on mental health and holistic care for university students.
Under the theme “Mental Health and Holistic Care: A View from Pope Francis’ Thought,” participants discussed emotional well-being among young people. They shared experiences, best practices, and proposals to strengthen a university culture centered on support and comprehensive care. The assembly emphasized the need for institutional responses to rising mental health issues on campuses in the region.
According to representatives from Universidad Mesoamericana, their participation "reinforces its commitment to the Salesian educational mission and to developing humanized university spaces that integrate academic training with students’ emotional and spiritual well-being." The meeting also marked a milestone as it was the first time in ODUCAL’s 72-year history that an assembly was held in the Caribbean, aiming to enhance collaboration among Latin American Catholic universities.
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