(ANS – Seoul – September 21, 2026) – An online and in-person meeting brought together Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) leaders from the Headquarters in Rome, SDB and FMA Provincial Coordinators, and SYM members. Meaningful steps of collaboration and solidarity have officially begun in preparation for Salesian Youth Day (SYD) 2027, a celebration where Salesian young people from around the world will gather in Seoul, South Korea, on August 4, 2027.
On the evening of September 18, 2026, a significant preparation meeting for the successful hosting of SYD 2027 was held at the Salesian Provincial House in Singil-dong, Seoul. Fr. Jose Lorbeth Vivo, commonly known as “Jobeth,” who is responsible for the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) within the Youth Ministry Department at the Headquarters in Rome, and his FMA collaborator, Sr. Wismary Kharbikhiew, attended in person.
Also present were Fr. Michael Jang Dong-hyun, Executive Director of the Seoul event, along with Youth Ministry Delegates and commission members from both provinces, who participated both online and in person to exchange ideas and discuss preparations.
The Dream of Colle Don Bosco in 2024 Continues in Seoul in 2027
The central theme of the meeting was undoubtedly the “Dreams of Youth.” In his keynote presentation, Fr. Jobeth expressed his strong determination to ensure that the powerful experience of the Salesian Youth Synod, held at Valdocco and Colle Don Bosco in 2024, would continue to bear fruit.
“During the Youth Synod, young people from all corners of the world brought their heartfelt dreams—‘A Christ-Centered Life,’ ‘Youth Agency,’ and ‘SYM as a Welcoming Home’—together in a declaration. The 2027 Seoul event must not simply involve planning another gathering. Rather, it must become a space that respects and builds upon the sacred dreams expressed by young people at that Synod.”
In response, the Organizing Committee, together with SYM youth groups around the world, is undertaking a three-step reflection process: “Remembering, Discerning, and Committing.” This process involves recalling past dreams, discerning the present in light of the theme of World Youth Day (WYD) 2027, “Take courage, I have conquered the world” (John 16:33), and inviting young people themselves to identify and respond to the concrete actions they will undertake through Salesian Youth Day.
Fr. Jobeth shared that he has already conducted online meetings with a youth core group representing various countries, including Australia, India, and Brazil. He plans to gather feedback from young people around the world by November to help establish the specific framework for the Seoul event.
From Participants to Protagonists in the Planning Process
Young people are already contributing creative ideas and meaningful reflections for Salesian Youth Day.
According to the youth who shared their perspectives during the meeting, they hope the SYM Forum will not simply be a place where adults deliver lectures, but rather “a place to recognize what God is doing within us and to draw out concrete commitments.”
They particularly expressed strong interest in opportunities for genuine “listening and accompaniment” with the Rector Major and the Mother General. They also envision a dynamic “SYM Festival” that brings together K-pop, vibrant faith testimonies from young people, and Korean cultural experiences.
One of the most significant features of the Seoul event is that young people will be involved in the planning process not as “passive attendees,” but as “active planners.” The SYM Forum preparation team will include two or three youth representatives alongside SDB and FMA members, allowing them to collaborate in shaping the event.
“Please Embrace the World in the Most Korean Way”
The meeting also included practical discussions on several important aspects of the event. These included establishing a registration platform, scheduled to open in November; coordinating forum participants at the national level; and making use of KBS Arena Hall and the accommodations at the Salesian Provincial House for the estimated 3,000 to 5,000 young people expected from around the world.
The participants also reviewed plans for effective communication with the Salesian Communications (SC) team, including ANS, which will be dispatched from Rome.
Sr. Wismary expressed her strong expectations for the Korean Province.
“The unique and beautiful history of Korean Catholicism, where the faith began through the voluntary search of young lay scholars rather than through the work of missionaries, is profoundly meaningful in itself. I sincerely hope that the Seoul event will not simply follow the ‘Roman way,’ but will unfold in the most natural ‘Korean way,’ deeply rooted in the magnificent history of the Korean Church.”
The meeting, which lasted approximately an hour and a half, became a warm moment of communion, united by Don Bosco’s heart for young people and transcending borders and languages.
As the Salesian Family looks ahead to Salesian Youth Day 2027, excitement continues to grow about how the sacred dreams of young people from around the world—dreams that took root in Colle Don Bosco in 2024—will blossom in Seoul in 2027.
Source: AustraLasia