(ANS – Rome) – In a spirit of deep commitment and renewal, we are excited to share with our Salesian family across the globe the ongoing online formation for Salesian Missionary Volunteering (SMV) Directors, a concrete expression of our Congregation’s strategic vision for 2022–2026. Guided by our collective call to “walk with the young” and support our missionary presence in the world, this formation is both a response to real needs and a proactive investment in our global network of volunteers.
Our goal is simple but ambitious: to ensure that every volunteer program is well-prepared and each volunteer is welcomed into a space of formation, community, and meaningful service. This work is driven by the Strategic Plan of the SMV Advisory Team, a joint initiative of the Youth Ministry and Missions Sectors of the Congregation, and it focuses on creating spaces for collaboration, professional development, and spiritual accompaniment.
Over two enriching days in May 2025, we gathered online with over 30 leaders from every region of the world. Directors and coordinators from Vietnam, Australia, the UK, Slovakia, the Congo, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, and beyond came together to share best practices, deepen our shared identity, and grow in our mission.
Learning Across Borders
What made this formation truly powerful was not just the content, but the people. Our experts presented their approaches, often rooted in decades of experience. We explored how past volunteers can return as mentors, the grieving process for past volunteers, how to prepare young people for legal and cultural realities far from home, and how to foster intercultural competence grounded in faith, among other topics.
One participant reflected, “I used to think grieving only happened when someone died. But this formation helped me understand that grief is part of any real loss, even when we say goodbye to a community, a routine, or a way of seeing the world. This new perspective has opened my heart and changed how I accompany others.”
That’s the power of shared learning; it expands our understanding and renews our spirit.
From Best Practices to Common Purpose
We heard about vibrant programs where weekends of formation blend lectures, dialogue, culture, and prayer. We reflected on critical topics like identity, emotional maturity, crisis response, and the reintegration of volunteers after missions. We shared models for empowering receiving communities and deepening every volunteer’s vocational journey.
These aren’t isolated efforts. They are strategic steps into our shared commitment to form volunteers with critical thinking, intercultural awareness, emotional resilience, and a missionary soul.
Anchored in Our Strategy
This formation directly supports the objectives outlined in our 2022–2026 Strategic Plan. These include:
– Creating spaces and processes for collaboration
– Offering formation and professional training for all SMV leaders
– Supporting new programs and accompanying the receiving communities
– Enhancing platforms for volunteer directories, newsletters, and shared resources
These priorities are reflected in our infographic, which outlines the mission and impact of the SMV Advisory Team since 2020.
Looking Ahead: The Work Continues
We remain committed to listening, learning, and serving together as we move forward. In June, the Advisory Team will meet to continue shaping the future of our network. Your insights and contributions are vital; this is a shared mission.
We are profoundly grateful to every province, coordinator, and volunteer who brings this dream to life. Through this global formation, we are not just improving programs but building a culture of mission, faith, and communion.
At the bottom of the page, you can download the infographic (in English) showing the main steps taken by the SMV Advisory Team in recent years.
Together, we walk with Don Bosco’s daring heart, planting seeds of hope wherever we go.
Salesian Missions and Youth Ministry – SMV Advisory Team
