(ANS – Turin) – The second edition of the Advanced Program in Salesian Educational Leadership concluded at Valdocco on July 17, 2026. The program was promoted by the Pontifical Salesian University in collaboration with the Youth Ministry Sector of the Salesians of Don Bosco. It combined formation, dialogue, a return to the sources of the Salesian charism, and practical planning for the future of Salesian works.

The program began in February at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome and continued through online learning activities. Its final phase was the Summer School, held at Valdocco from July 6–17, 2026.

Salesians and laypeople with educational, pastoral, and organizational responsibilities, representing a variety of European settings and beyond, took part in a formation experience focused on leadership and management in Salesian works, transformative educational and pastoral planning, communication, change management, organizational climate, teamwork, and conflict management.

Leadership was presented not simply as the ability to organize and make decisions, but as service to the mission, the animation of people, and the building of Educative Pastoral Communities in which Salesians and laypeople share authentic responsibility.

Through collaborative learning methods, personal reflection, group work, and the sharing of experiences, participants explored practical tools they could apply in their own settings. The preparation and presentation of project work enabled them to translate the skills they had acquired into concrete formation initiatives, Salesian Educative Pastoral Plans, strategic processes, and practical proposals.

At the Sources of the Charism

Time spent at Valdocco and visits to places associated with Don Bosco gave the program a distinctive spiritual and charismatic depth. Returning to the places where the Salesian mission began helped participants reflect on their responsibilities in light of that mission and rediscover the deepest motivations behind their educational service.

For some, it was “a return to the origins”; for others, visiting the places connected with Don Bosco served as a powerful reminder of “why we do all this,” as participants shared in their concluding reflections.

Final evaluations showed that participants experienced the program not only as a professional development opportunity, but also as a human, vocational, and spiritual journey.

Among the aspects participants appreciated most were the family spirit, personal accompaniment, the sharing of experiences from different contexts, collaborative learning methods, and the opportunity to rediscover the connection between professional competence and charismatic identity.

For the formation team as well, the program reaffirmed the importance of a formation process that integrates charism, organizational skills, shared responsibility, and the accompaniment of ongoing processes. A Salesian house is not simply a structure to be managed, but a community called to educate, evangelize, and foster human growth.

Looking Ahead to the 2027 Edition

The conclusion of the program does not mark the end of the journey. The projects developed by the participants will now be shared, implemented, and evaluated within their Salesian works and Provinces.

Preparations for the 2027 edition of the program are already underway.