(ANS – Rome – October 26, 2026) – The formation course for Salesian vice-provincials, held October 18–24, 2026, at the Salesian Central Office in Rome, was a very positive, enriching, and meaningful experience. It was characterized by a warm and generous welcome, meticulous logistical organization, and an atmosphere of fraternity, familiarity, and sharing.

The meeting was organized by the Vicar’s Secretariat and coordinated by Fr. Patrick Alexander, secretary to the Vicar of the Rector Major.

“Right from the start, we felt at home,” the participants commented, “among brothers, without any sense of being outsiders, but deeply experiencing the joy of belonging to the same Salesian Family.”

The visit and the opportunity to become more familiar with the places, people, and realities of the Congregation were particularly appreciated. Meeting one another, sharing experiences, and learning about the different provincial realities enabled participants to recognize the richness and familiarity of the Salesian charism beyond cultural and geographical differences. The charism is lived out in different contexts but united by the same passion for Don Bosco and the mission.

The course also offered valuable insights into the community dimension, the role of the laity, and the global vision of the Congregation. One particularly significant takeaway was understanding that the legal responsibilities of vice-provincials are not separate from the pastoral mission but must be carried out in a spirit of accompaniment, discernment, and fatherly care.

Gathering in this blessed place, in Don Bosco’s house, and meeting with the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, and his Vicar, Fr. Stefano Martoglio, made the experience even more special.

“We felt ourselves to be a living part of a universal Congregation,” the participants continued, “called to look back with gratitude on the journey we have made and to look forward with hope to future challenges, as attentive and responsible sentinels in the service of the Salesian mission.”

In summary, the course was a time of formation, communion, and renewal that helped strengthen fraternal bonds, broaden participants’ vision of the Congregation, and rediscover the beauty and richness of the Salesian charism in its many expressions.

“We set out afresh with grateful hearts, a deeper sense of fraternity, and a renewed willingness to serve the provinces and the entire Congregation in the spirit of Don Bosco,” the participants said.

Fr. Stefano Martoglio: The Closing Message

Fr. Stefano Martoglio, who chaired the session dedicated to sharing and summarizing the experience, expressed his appreciation in his closing message for the quality of fraternity that the participants had demonstrated and experienced despite linguistic, cultural, and geographical differences.

He also commended each participant for their openness and willingness to listen to experts and fellow Salesians. Furthermore, he encouraged everyone not only to address disciplinary cases within their provinces but also to care for every person seeking to live the Gospel in the Salesian way.

His closing message to each participant was an invitation to accompany their fellow Salesians on their journey as disciples rather than merely ensuring that disciplinary requirements are observed.

At the conclusion of the meeting, a closing Mass was celebrated in the Chapel of the Letter.