(ANS – Palermo) – The National Quinquennium Formation Week has come to a close in Palermo. From August 17 to 22, 2026, it brought together 54 Salesian confreres from all six Provinces in Italy. The event was marked by deep spiritual communion, fraternity, and study, centered on the guiding theme: “The beautiful witness” (1 Tim 6:13) “of charity.”

What Is the Quinquennium?

In the formation journey of the Salesians of Don Bosco, the Quinquennium represents a strategic and fruitful stage: it is the phase that accompanies confreres during their first five years of apostolic life, beginning with Perpetual Profession for Salesian Brothers or Priestly Ordination for priests. It is a crucial period in which the theory and ideals of Initial Formation take root in the practical reality of daily service among young people.

This year’s meeting saw a distinguished and diverse attendance:

• 54 confreres in total, including four Vice Provincials;
• Nine Salesian Brothers and 41 priests;
• Representatives from the whole of Salesian Italy (the INE, ILE, ICP, ICC, IME, and ISI Provinces).

In the Footsteps of the Witnesses: Puglisi and Livatino

The choice of Sicily—with the Convent and House of Spirituality in Baida, Palermo, serving as the logistical base—enabled the participants to enjoy an immersive experience in the company of figures who embodied “charity to the point of shedding one’s blood.”

Fr. Pino Puglisi: On Tuesday, August 18, following a visit to the Royal Palace and the Palatine Chapel, the confreres paused in prayer at Fr. Pino’s tomb in the Cathedral and met Fr. Antonio Mancuso. On Thursday, August 20, the group traveled directly to Brancaccio to visit Fr. Puglisi’s house-museum. A strong parallel emerged between Don Bosco’s method and that of Fr. Puglisi: taking young people off the streets and countering the criminal subculture through school, after-school programs, play, and fostering a love for Christ.

Blessed Rosario Livatino: On Wednesday, August 19, the Salesian group traveled to the Agrigento area. In Canicattì, the Salesians visited the home and grave of the “boy judge,” celebrating the Eucharist before reaching the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento—the place where, in 1993, St. John Paul II’s historic cry against the Mafia rang out.

Between Institutions, the Peripheries, and Beauty

The week was characterized by an ongoing dialogue between social action and the value of the rule of law.

Salesian Echoes: The Heart of the Message

1. The Meeting at the Court of Palermo: On Thursday, August 20, the young Salesians entered the Palace of Justice for a discussion with the Chief Prosecutor, emphasizing the decisive role of educational institutions in forming “good Christians and upright citizens.”
2. Charity Toward the Least Among Us: On the same day, a visit to Missione Speranza e Carità, featuring a testimony from Fr. Pino Vitrano, highlighted the warm and unconditional welcome extended to marginalized people.
3. Communion and Beauty: Key moments of fraternity took place at the Salesian Gesù Adolescente Institute and the Villa Ranchibile Don Bosco High School. On Friday, August 21, the solemn concelebration in Monreale Cathedral, under the gaze of Christ the Pantocrator, served as a reminder that history, though marked by suffering and injustice, is always a story of salvation. The afternoon in Mondello and the evening of reflection in Baida brought the journey to a joyful close.

The materials and reflections from the Quaderno del Quinquennium helped the 54 Salesians interpret today’s challenges in light of the Constitutions and the history of Don Bosco:

• Pastoral charity as being in love: “One cannot speak of Christ unless one is filled with love for him” (Fr. Puglisi). Don Bosco called this reality pastoral charity.
• Freeing people from fear: To educate means restoring dignity and rights, just as Don Bosco did when, in 1852, he signed the first apprenticeship contract to protect young workers.
• Expertise and passion: Don Bosco asked his Salesians to be well-prepared and to study in order to tackle the social complexities of the time.

A New Beginning for Salesian Italy

On Saturday, August 22, following the closing Mass and the farewells, the 54 confreres returned to their respective communities. They took with them the realization that the Quinquennium is not merely a formal obligation, but a time to courageously reaffirm their vocation to the service of young people, especially the poorest and those at risk.

Angelo Mereghetti, SDB