(ANS – Guayaquil) – Fr. Rafael Bejarano, General Councilor for Youth Ministry, concluded his Animation Visit to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province of Ecuador (ECU) on Friday, January 9, 2026.

During five intense days of visits, conferences, and conversations, Fr. Bejarano became closely acquainted with the educational environments and activities of the various Salesian centers. With rectors and leaders, he shared the Oratory Criterion—the model that gives life to all the works—and recalled how the Preventive System serves as the guide for an integral education that goes beyond the classroom.

Explaining the purpose of his animation visit in a short video, the General Councilor said that his goal was not only to learn about the various projects but, above all, to verify the organic nature of the activities in line with what is expressed in the Overall Provincial Plan (OPP) and in the Provincial Salesian Educative and Pastoral Plan (SEPP).

“What kind of Salesian youth ministry is being developed? How is it organized at the provincial level? And how is it implemented in Salesian communities so that Don Bosco’s dream becomes a reality?” Fr. Bejarano asked, pointing out the aspects he observed during his visit.

Fr. Bejarano examined the different dimensions of Salesian youth ministry—parish, playground, school, and home—and the processes running through them (safeguarding, accompaniment, catechesis, integral ecology, socio-emotional and affective well-being). He evaluated, for each area, the ECU Province’s capacity to create solid Educative and Pastoral Communities and assessable projects, in order to verify the ability of Salesian Youth Ministry to respond to the needs of young people, especially those most at risk.

As part of his tour of the country’s works, on Wednesday, January 7, Fr. Bejarano visited the Salesian works in Guayaquil. Welcomed by the heads of the various educational centers at the city airport, the General Councilor led a rich program that included a meeting with the Educative and Pastoral Communities (EPCs) of the coastal region—a space for reflection, dialogue, and future planning.

In his address, he explored the Oratory Criterion as the inspiration and model for Salesian activities and works, emphasizing the pedagogy of welcome as a fundamental axis of pastoral action. He also presented Salesian Youth Ministry as an authentically communal experience in which accompaniment, closeness, and lived faith are built together.

Furthermore, Fr. Bejarano shared the global priorities of youth ministry, emphasizing, as concrete responses to today’s global challenges, the promotion of youth leadership, renewed momentum in digital evangelization with a focus on Artificial Intelligence literacy, and support for youth-led ecological projects.

The following day, Fr. Bejarano visited the centers of the “Salesian Project Guayaquil” Foundation—facilities that welcome and accompany children, adolescents, young people, and their families living in situations of vulnerability and marginalization.

During his visit, Fr. Bejarano had the opportunity to learn firsthand about the realities faced by these young people and the impact of the programs developed by the project. He met with educators, animators, and pastoral teams, who shared the activities carried out in the centers: training workshops, academic support, recreational activities, and association spaces that promote the positive use of free time and reinforce human and Christian values.

This fraternal encounter with “Don Bosco’s favorites” deeply moved Fr. Bejarano, who expressed his joy at being able to hear their stories, dreams, and challenges firsthand. In turn, the young people expressed their gratitude to the Salesians for offering them a place of welcome, trust, and personal growth.

During his visit to the ECU Province, Fr. Bejarano also visited the campuses of the Salesian Polytechnic University in Guayaquil, as well as those in Cuenca and Quito, continuing his work of learning, encouragement, and evaluation.

The visit concluded on Friday, January 9, 2026, with a meeting with the Lay-Managed Works groups, also attended by Fr. Mauricio Leime, Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry and Lay-Managed Works. On this occasion, the General Councilor urged all those present to continue deepening the mission of the laity in the Church and in the province, and invited them to be true witnesses of the Salesian charism, while always caring for their family, professional, and spiritual lives.