(ANS – Rome) – Following the opening day dedicated to welcoming participants and offering greetings, on May 26–27, 2026, participants in the School for Provincial Youth Ministry (YM) Delegates began their program of in-depth study and formation.

The morning of May 26 was devoted to encountering the Word of God through Lectio Divina, led by Fr. Jerry Matsoumbou, a member of the Youth Ministry Sector. The session drew inspiration from the Gospel of John (15:1–16), in which Jesus presents Himself as the vine and the disciples as the branches called to bear fruit. The meditation helped participants understand how “in the life of the pastor, apostolic fruitfulness is the result of the centrality of Christ.”

Following this, the delegates celebrated the Eucharist, presided over by Fr. Oscar Lozano, Coordinator of the Education Office in the Youth Ministry Sector.

In the afternoon, Fr. Lozano led a reflection on the need to nurture the educational environment in Salesian works. His presentation highlighted the importance of environmental pedagogy in the style of Don Bosco, emphasizing the urgency of promoting an organic and systemic pastoral approach capable of generating fruitful educational environments. From this perspective, the Youth Ministry Delegate is called to refer to the model of the Preventive System, structured around four fundamental settings—home, school, playground, and parish—which together form a single educational ecosystem.

Taking this perspective seriously means remaining faithful to the Oratory model outlined in the Salesian Constitutions and further developed in the Framework for Salesian Youth Ministry for the various educational settings.

The second part of the afternoon was devoted to the topic of mental health care. Dr. Monica Ronchi and Dr. Antonella Sinagoga, together with Fr. Carlos Mendez, all members of the Youth Ministry Sector, explored the topic and highlighted the importance of the Delegate’s personal well-being. They emphasized how numerous responsibilities and the impact of digital culture can affect quality of life, making it necessary to promote healthier and more balanced lifestyles. The session was enriched by several group activities that encouraged personal awareness and concluded with practical suggestions for individual well-being.

On May 27, attention turned to key elements of pastoral theology and the condition of young people, led by Fr. Gustavo Cavagnari, theologian and professor at the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS).

Fr. Cavagnari began his reflection by recalling the experience of the Synod on Young People, which offered an in-depth analysis of contemporary youth realities through contributions from young people and experts from around the world. This process highlighted several significant challenges for the Church and the Salesian mission:

• The dimension of the body, affectivity, and sexuality;
• The relationship with truth, marked by the culture of post-truth;
• The impact of digital culture beyond technological tools alone;
• The crisis of trust in institutions and the search for new forms of participation;
• The difficulty of making decisions in the face of countless possibilities;
• The return of the sacred dimension in a post-secular context.

In the afternoon, Fr. Cavagnari led a session of personal reflection followed by group discussion, with the goal of identifying how these challenges are manifested in the various Salesian Provinces and Regions.

This theological reflection helps participants understand and explore the first chapter of the Framework for Salesian Youth Ministry, a key resource that shapes the model of Salesian youth ministry.

The day concluded with the celebration of the Eucharist in the Basilica, presided over by Fr. Cavagnari himself.