(ANS – Rome) – The participatory initiative “Organizing Hope,” at the heart of the renewal of Salesians for Social, has received the support of the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard. The National Assembly is scheduled to take place in Naples from June 5–7, 2026.
The Rector Major’s Support: A Word That Guides the Journey
One central idea runs through and illuminates the journey of Salesians for Social: gratitude that becomes encouragement. This is the message expressed by the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, the 11th Successor of Don Bosco and leader of the Salesian Congregation worldwide, who has chosen to accompany the journey of “Organizing Hope” with clarity and depth.
“A word first and foremost of appreciation and also of gratitude for the work that Salesians for Social is carrying out in all the provinces of Italy,” said Fr. Fabio Attard, recognizing the value of a widespread and concrete commitment. This work, he emphasized, is “charismatically fundamental,” because it is rooted in the living experience of Don Bosco.
His message clearly outlines a direction: to interpret the present with depth, to understand the challenges facing local communities, and to develop responses that meet the needs of young people—especially the most vulnerable.
“The commitment to interpret the local context well, to look at the challenges we face […] and to reflect on the response we are called to give today” thus becomes a concrete call to action.
Rooted in the Charism of Don Bosco, for the “Don Bosco of Today”
At the heart of the Rector Major’s message is a clear and powerful invitation: to remain rooted in the Salesian charism, bringing it to life in the present.
“The word of gratitude also becomes a word of encouragement to continue rooting ourselves in what is the Salesian charism, the Don Bosco of today,” he stated.
This is not about preserving a memory, but about making it fruitful—embodying today the same vision of Don Bosco, one capable of encountering, accompanying, and uplifting every young person.
It is a vision that unites spirituality and practical action, faith and social engagement. As Fr. Attard noted, the journey of the Congregation and its network has long been marked by a strong commitment to social issues, active citizenship, and the promotion of human rights.
A Vision for the Present, Looking Toward the Future
A strong prophetic dimension also emerges in the Rector Major’s message. It is not enough to respond to needs—we must do so with courage, vision, and shared responsibility.
“I invite you to look at the present with a vision of the future, strengthened by a charismatic awareness […] and with the courage to be present in a meaningful way today.”
This invitation extends to the entire Salesian social network: educators, staff, volunteers, and communities. It is a call not to shrink from challenges, but to embrace them as opportunities for mission.
“Organizing Hope”: A Journey Born from Local Communities
Within this framework, the participatory initiative “Organizing Hope” has taken shape—a journey involving the entire network in drafting the 2026–2029 Program Document.
It is not a slogan, but a concrete process of listening, dialogue, and shared responsibility. This journey places the most vulnerable young people at its center and promotes community participation as a tool for social justice.
The process, which has traveled across Italy, began in Turin with the Salesian Social Committee for Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta, continued in Milan with the Salesian Social Committee for Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna, and moved to the northeast in Mestre with the Salesian Social Committee – Northeast (Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Friuli Venezia Giulia). It then continued south to Bari with the Salesian Committee for Social Action – Southern Italy (Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, and Puglia).
The dialogue also extended to the regions of the Salesian Committee for Social Action – Central Italy (Tuscany, Umbria, Marche, Lazio, Sardinia, Abruzzo, and Liguria) and the Salesian Committee for Social Action – Sicily, creating a nationwide conversation.
At each stage, educators and staff reflected on five key areas—education, work, outreach, formation, and universal civil service—helping to build a shared vision for the future.
A Journey That Becomes a Collective Choice
“Organizing Hope” is, above all, a choice: coming together, shaping shared dreams, and transforming daily commitment into a unified project.
It is a journey rooted in listening to local communities and highlighting the daily work of Salesian institutions alongside the most vulnerable young people—minors, migrants, youth in difficult circumstances, and educational communities.
Here, the charism of Don Bosco becomes a lived reality: the ability to be present, create opportunities, and shape the future.
The 2026 National Assembly in Naples
This journey will culminate in Naples on June 5–7, 2026, at the Don Bosco Salesian Institute “E. Menechini”, located on Via Don Bosco 8.
It is there that the Ordinary National Assembly of the association network will approve the new 2026–2029 Program Document, the result of a truly participatory and shared process.
This is not simply a decision-making moment, but a communal journey in which the entire network recognizes itself, renews its commitment, and moves forward together.
A Network That Generates Hope
The Rector Major’s message captures the deepest meaning of this journey: a network that, in the name of Don Bosco, continues to generate hope.
A concrete, organized, and shared hope—one that takes shape in local communities, relationships, and educational services. A hope that sees the most vulnerable young people not as recipients, but as protagonists.
This is the strength of Salesians for Social: bringing together charism and action, vision and daily life, to be—today, with courage and responsibility—the living face of Don Bosco in Italy and throughout the world.