Salesian Family Renews Commitment to Shared Mission and Communion

September 11, 2026: Members of the Salesian Family gathered on August 26 for a day of prayer, formation and reflection, renewing their commitment to communion and the shared mission inspired by St John Bosco, particularly the service and accompaniment of young people.

Held under the theme “Together we inspire, serve and grow,” the meeting sought to deepen the participants’ common Salesian identity while recognising the distinct vocations and missions within the wider Salesian Family.

A major focus of the gathering was the need to understand and accompany young people amid rapid social and technological change. Fr Clive Tellis used the image of a river and a rescue team to challenge participants to look beyond responding to problems and address their underlying causes.

He explained that while a rescue team saves people who are swept into a river, Don Bosco and the founders of the Salesian Family went “upstream” to understand why young people were falling into difficulties and to respond to their needs at the source. This approach, he said, became the foundation of the Preventive System.

Fr Clive urged participants to walk patiently with young people and accompany them with love, posing two questions: “Do our young people love us? Do they feel loved by us?”

Sr Meenakshi D’Silva, Provincial of the Mumbai Province, called on members to remain faithful to their Salesian vocation and charism. She particularly highlighted the role of Past Pupils in becoming honest citizens and responsible human beings who carry forward the values received through Salesian education.

She also stressed the importance of unity and communion, urging participants to become credible witnesses of the Salesian spirit in the Church and society.

The international character of the Salesian Family was highlighted by the participation of Sr Leslie Sandigo Ortega, Sr Carmen Lucrecia and Sr Sangitha Rani, who had come from Italy.

Through a puzzle-based group activity, Sr Sangitha Rani illustrated how every member has a unique and indispensable place within the Salesian Family. The activity underlined how different gifts, talents, personalities and vocations complement one another and contribute to the strength of the wider family.

Sr Carmen Lucrecia led a reflection on communion, synergy and shared mission, emphasising that although members belong to different groups and vocations, they are united by a common concern for the salvation and integral well-being of young people.

Her question, “Did anything change in me after this formation?”, encouraged participants to move beyond participation in a programme towards personal transformation and concrete commitment.

The meeting also reflected on the structure and diversity of the Salesian Family. The four groups founded by Don Bosco—the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) and Salesian Cooperators—were highlighted as being at the heart of the spiritual family. Other groups, while retaining their own identities and specific missions, share the same Salesian charism.

A presentation of the film Collecting the Stars reinforced the importance of listening, accepting differences, appreciating each person’s contribution and working collaboratively. Participants were reminded that a common mission becomes fruitful when it is pursued together.

The reflection on communion and synodality addressed challenges such as religious divisions, competition, corruption, individualism, the influence of social media, inequality and injustice. Listening, dialogue, participation and collaboration were proposed as essential elements of a culture of walking together.

Sr Leslie Sandigo Ortega, in her session on “Shared Mission in a Charismatic Key,” presented collaboration as a journey from control to trust, individualism to community, power to service, and possession to gift.

Listening, trust, dialogue, participation, formation, hope and mutual accompaniment were identified as foundations for building a Salesian Family capable of walking together in mission.

Looking ahead, the proposed Action Plan 2027 seeks to strengthen the organisation of the various Salesian Family associations within their respective communities. It also proposes a Congress or wider gathering by the end of 2027 to provide further opportunities for formation, accompaniment, sharing and collaboration.

Personal sharing and reflection helped participants examine their own responsibility towards the Salesian mission. The meeting reaffirmed the conviction that the mission belongs to the entire Salesian Family and that every member has a role in keeping the Salesian charism alive and relevant to the needs of today's young people.

The gathering strengthened the commitment to communion and collaboration, affirming that diverse vocations and gifts can serve one common mission: to inspire, serve and grow together in the spirit of Don Bosco.

By Catholic Connect Reporter