(ANS – Turin) – In an atmosphere charged with emotion, gratitude, and shared responsibility, the final moment of the Salesian Family Spirituality Days, held in Turin–Valdocco, took place on the morning of Sunday, January 18, 2026. The event concluded four intense days of listening, prayer, discussion, and communion, followed both in person and online by a large audience: over 18,200 people connected via live streaming, joined by numerous groups gathered in oratories, communities, and Salesian works around the world.

From the outset, the tone of the gathering was one of collective gratitude. The presenters warmly thanked the translators and technicians, whose service made truly global participation possible, as well as the organizing team, which accompanied and supported the entire course of the Days. This thanksgiving became shared applause, acknowledging that behind the visible event lies silent and skilled work that makes communion possible.

Alongside gratitude, a strong sense of responsibility also emerged: what was experienced is not meant to remain a memory, but to be transformed into concrete life—in families, workplaces, and educational and pastoral communities, especially in service of young people. Participants were invited to “take out” what had been heard and prayed for, so that it may become action and witness.

The Manifesto of the Days: A Shared Synthesis

The symbolic heart of the concluding moment was the presentation and reading of the final Manifesto, the fruit of the work of the team and the Secretariat, conceived as a tool of memory and renewal for the entire Salesian Family. It is a text that gathers and reflects the journey lived in light of the Strenna 2026, inspired by the Gospel passage of the Wedding at Cana.

In the sign performed by Jesus at Cana, participants recognized a living icon of the Salesian mission: accompanying life, safeguarding joy, and believing that God continues to work miracles in everyday life. The Manifesto highlighted the four verbs proposed by the Rector Major—looking, listening, choosing, acting—as a spiritual and apostolic roadmap for the year:

• Look with the attentive eyes of Mary, recognizing Cana in every place of mission.
• Listen with the heart, placing Christ at the center and cultivating authentic spirituality.
• Choose with determination the path of service, even in the face of “empty jars.”
• Act with faith, offering the new wine of the Gospel through courageous and shared experiences.

The text concluded with an invitation to leave Valdocco with hearts filled with the beauty of these days, accompanied by Jesus and Mary, and to transform the world with the good wine of the Gospel.

A Broader View: Family, Mission, Future

The closing moment also highlighted faces and stories that embody the richness of the Salesian Family: the appointment of Fr. Luis Eugenio Vargas Isasa as spiritual animator of the Primary and World ADMA; the announcement of the 2027 Salesian Family Spirituality Days, scheduled for January 21–24; and the communication of resources available online to continue the journey throughout the year.

Particularly significant was the announcement of the 10th World Congress of Mary Help of Christians, which will take place from February 9–12, 2028, in Manila, Philippines, for the first time on the Asian continent. The invitation was extended to the entire Salesian Family, welcomed with enthusiasm and entrusted to Mary’s protection with the prayer of a Hail Mary.

A moving greeting came from the Salesian Family in Pakistan, expressing their closeness and gratitude to the Rector Major through a simple yet deeply symbolic gesture, recalling the testimony of the Servant of God Akash Bashir and the growth of the Salesian presence in challenging contexts.

The Rector Major’s Final Words: A Message for the Journey Ahead

The highlight of the closing ceremony was the final message by Rector Major Fr. Fabio Attard, greeted with prolonged applause. In his paternal words, he first renewed thanks to the team and the participants, emphasizing the enduring value of these Days. He also addressed those following the event remotely, recalling how the Days serve as a lasting resource for formation and spiritual life throughout the year.

Referring to the Manifesto and the Strenna, Fr. Fabio reiterated the pedagogical and charismatic choice of the four verbs, designed to guide all groups of the Salesian Family on a journey of lectio divina and continuous discernment, so that the Word may always offer “new wine.”

Taking up each verb individually, the Rector Major enriched them with a precise message:

• Look with empathy, without filters or judgment, like Mary and the servants at Cana, capable of perceiving reality and its urgency.
• Listen and form ourselves, not just intellectually, but with the heart of Christ, in tune with the Gospel and the charism of Don Bosco, especially in times of profound change.
• Choose generously, not out of voluntarism, but as a response to the divine beauty and goodness encountered, which transform us.
• Act with faith, lived as a living relationship, the architecture of existence, the daily breath guiding every choice.

He also strongly reminded participants not to fall into defensive attitudes or sterile victimhood, but to live the Salesian charism as evangelical creativity, capable of turning challenges into opportunities.

In conclusion, Fr. Fabio entrusted everyone to Mary Help of Christians, inviting the assembly to pray and sing a final hymn to Don Bosco, as a sign of shared joy and a mission that continues.

The Salesian Family Spirituality Days thus came to an end, not as a point of arrival, but as a new beginning, with the awareness that the good wine received now asks to be brought, poured, and shared in the daily life of the entire Salesian Family.