Dear Confreres,

Thank you for your commitment and dedication to the Salesian mission in our Province.  In our Provincial Council meetings after the January Province Assembly Days, we have reflected on what was shared by the local communities and by many of you, and we have begun to make decisions to ensure that the Salesians, the local communities, and our lay partners in the mission are working together.  We have also intentionally included Fr. Joe Nguyen, our newly appointed Provincial, in our Provincial Council meetings, and we look forward to his role of provincial leadership starting in August.

As we continue our shared mission of serving and accompanying young people, especially those most in need, I am writing to provide an update on the progress of the USA West Province and to outline the direction ahead. Over the past three years, we have been engaged in a significant effort to strengthen our Province and ensure the long-term vitality of our mission. We are now at an important leadership transition moment, and this work has been intentionally designed to provide continuity, stability, and clarity for the future.

We have come to realize that, as a team, we probably should have communicated regularly about our progress in developing and implementing our strategic plan.

Progress and Foundations Built (2022–2025)

Together, we have moved from primarily informal and personality-driven leadership practices to a more aligned, institutional, and sustainable model. With the collaboration of the Salesian Leadership Team (SLT: Provincial Council, Delegates, and Coordinators of Departments) and our Province leaders, we have built a strong foundation for long-term mission vitality. Together, our key accomplishments include:

• Establishing a shared leadership framework with clear roles, job descriptions, and performance reviews  
• Aligning leadership teams through quarterly planning and common goals  
• Embedding a growth mindset and coaching/accompaniment culture across leadership  
• Launching accountability systems and succession planning processes  
• Building a development and fundraising infrastructure to support sustainability  
• Strengthening the connection between mission impact and financial stewardship through our dual bottom line approach  

These changes position our Province to grow our mission while maintaining fidelity to our Salesian charism.

Five Strategic Priorities Guiding Our Work

Our progress is anchored in five strategic pillars that now guide leadership behavior, decision-making, and resource allocation across the Province:

1. Strengthening Salesian charismatic identity across all ministries  
2. Enriching and promoting Salesian vocations 
3. Enhancing formation for Salesians and lay leaders  
4. Driving accountability through clear goals, metrics, and evaluations  
5. Establishing a strong development infrastructure for long-term sustainability  

Significant shifts are already visible: identity is now operational and shared; vocation work is becoming more integrated across ministries; formation has become a structured system; accountability is measurable; and development efforts are strategic rather than reactive.

Where We Stand Today

We now have a stable leadership structure, shared language, embedded systems, and stronger alignment between mission and sustainability. Most importantly, we are building the capacity not only to maintain our work but to grow our impact responsibly and faithfully.

This fits well with our process of reshaping and redesigning the Province.

Looking Forward: 2026–2028

Our focus over the next three years is to institutionalize and scale what has been built. This includes:

• Strengthening and embedding coaching, evaluation, and accountability systems  
• Deepening formation and leadership development across the Province  
• Expanding development and financial sustainability efforts  
• Continuing to build a strong leadership bench for key SDB and lay positions  
• Ensuring that our culture, systems, and mission remain strong through leadership transitions  

Our goal is to create a Province that is less dependent on individual personalities and more grounded in enduring systems, shared culture, and faithful stewardship of our mission.

Gratitude and Continued Collaboration

I am deeply grateful for the Salesians in leadership roles for their commitment and collaboration, as well as our lay partners in the mission, during this important period. The progress we have made has only been possible through your dedication and shared vision. Together, we are strengthening the foundations that will support the mission of the Province for many years to come.

In the months ahead, we will continue to share updates, provide opportunities for engagement, and work together to ensure that our strategic priorities are lived out across all our works and communities.

Thank you for your continued support and service in the mission.  The spirit of Don Bosco is alive in our province.

With gratitude and hope,
Fr. Mel

Fr. Mel Trinidad, SDB
Provincial
Salesians of Don Bosco – USA West