By Bro. Al Vu, SDB

(Rosemead, California) – As the canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati approaches, the St. Joseph Salesian Youth Renewal Center in Rosemead invites the Salesian Family to participate in a special four-week pilgrimage from September 7 to October 4, coinciding with the Season of Creation. This initiative provides an opportunity for young people to grow in holiness and deepen their commitment to caring for creation, aligning with the teachings of Laudato Si’ and Salesian spirituality.

Rooted in our Salesian spirituality, this resource invites young people to live their faith with joy, seeing holiness not as something distant, but as a present reality. Don Bosco’s message of meeting young people where they are, walking alongside them, and helping them grow through everyday actions mirrors the purpose of this pilgrimage by making small but meaningful steps toward care for creation and personal holiness.

In celebrating the Season of Creation, we draw inspiration from Pope Francis’ Laudato Si‘, which links the care for creation to the dignity of every human being, especially the poor and marginalized. This vision is central to the Salesian mission, which encourages us to meet the young at the crossroads of faith, service, and social justice. The pilgrimage invites young people to engage in daily prayer, reflection on Laudato Si’, and simple actions that promote sustainability, guiding them to live out their vocation through both care for creation and love for others.

Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati are powerful companions for this pilgrimage. Carlo’s example of using technology for the Gospel shows us that holiness is lived today, not in the future. His example invites young people to use their digital lives for good, echoing Don Bosco’s call to meet young people where they are. Pier Giorgio’s love for nature and social justice aligns with Laudato Si’s call to connect care for creation with love for the poor. His motto, Verso l’alto (“toward the heights”), is a reminder that holiness calls us to always aim higher, to live with joy, and to serve others.

This pilgrimage is a journey of prayer, reflection, and concrete action. Each day, young people are invited to carry a stone as a symbol of their commitment to the journey and to make small changes in their daily habits through prayer, spending time in nature, or reducing waste. These simple acts reflect Don Bosco’s focus on holiness in everyday life and offer a practical way for young people to integrate their faith with action.

As members of the Salesian Family, we are called to accompany young people on this pilgrimage—guiding them in prayer, reflection, and service. By sharing this resource, we not only help them grow in holiness but also invite them to see that caring for creation and caring for people are two sides of the same coin. This pilgrimage is not just about a month of activities—it’s an invitation to lifelong conversion. It offers young people a chance to develop habits of holiness, sustainability, and service that will shape their lives and the world for years to come. We invite you to accompany the young people you serve during this pilgrimage, encouraging them to take small but bold steps toward holiness and care for creation.

Let’s answer the call to holiness and stewardship together. Verso l’alto!