(ANS – Campo Grande) – Fr. Rafael Bejarano, General Councillor for Youth Ministry, began an Animation Visit to the St. Alphonsus Liguori Province in Campo Grande, Brazil (BCG), on Saturday, June 20, 2026, launching a full schedule of meetings and celebrations. His first stop was Cuiabá, the capital of Mato Grosso, where the Salesian mission first took root 132 years ago. Accompanied by the Provincial … Continue reading The General Councillor for Youth Ministry Begins His Visit to the Campo Grande Province

(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. … Continue reading “I Am the Vine, You Are the Branches”: Exploring Youth Experiences and Nurturing Educational Environments, the School for Youth Ministry Delegates Continues Its Work

(ANS – Mexicali) – The Provincial Oratory Festival (FIO, in Spanish) of the Guadalajara, Mexico Province (MEG) took place at the Don Bosco Oratory in Mexicali, Baja California, from April 30 to May 3, 2026. The event brought together approximately 480 young people and teenagers who participated in soccer, basketball, and volleyball competitions in both boys’ and girls’ divisions. The participants were accompanied by their … Continue reading 480 Young People Participate in the Oratory Festival of the Salesian Province of Guadalajara

(ANS – Lviv, May 5, 2026) – In a time marked by war, the visit of the Salesian Congregation’s General Councillor for Youth Ministry, Rafael Bejarano, to the Byzantine Rite Vice Province in Ukraine carried deep spiritual and educational significance. His presence served as a tangible sign of the closeness of the Rector Major and the General Council, offering support, encouragement, and fraternity to the … Continue reading Salesian Presence Alongside Young People in Time of War: Visit of the General Councillor for Youth Ministry to Lviv

(ANS – Brussels) – As a member of the European Alliance for Investing in Children, Don Bosco International (DBI) welcomes the adoption on February 12 by the European Parliament of the INI report on the development of a new EU strategy against poverty. The document places the protection of vulnerable children and adolescents at the heart of the European social and democratic project, alongside strengthened … Continue reading European Parliament Backs Concrete Investments to End Child Poverty

(ANS – Rome) – An online meeting of the Salesian continental networks in America was held on February 3, convened by the continental youth ministry team with the aim of initiating a process of reflection and shared work on the articulation and coordination of the networks, in line with the guidelines of General Chapter 29. Fr. Rafael Bejarano, General Councilor for Youth Ministry, was also … Continue reading Continental Meeting of Salesian Networks in America: A Shared Journey Toward Greater Coordination

(ANS – Rome) – On February 6, 2026, the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) Europe hosted a powerful online gathering titled “Bridges of Hope.” The event served as a digital sanctuary, connecting young people from Europe and the Middle East to share testimonies of faith, the reality of living through crisis, and the transformative impact of Salesian accompaniment. This encounter was initiated by Sr. Runita Borja, … Continue reading Bridges of Hope: A Cross-Continental Journey of Faith and Resilience

(ANS – Rome) — “Returning with a Salesian heart to the educational and pastoral value of sport” was the guiding theme of the reflection meeting held at Salesian Headquarters in Rome on Monday, February 2, 2026. Those present at the gathering included the President of the International Salesian Youth Sports Association (PGS-I), Georg Leibold; the General Councilors for Youth Ministry of the Daughters of Mary … Continue reading Returning with a Salesian Heart to the Educational and Pastoral Value of Sport

(ANS – Rome) – Gen Z finds itself caught between the desire to build its own future and widespread emotional vulnerability, marked by a disenchanted view of adults—who are no longer seen as role models—yet accompanied by a clear-eyed awareness of the world. This is the picture outlined by Salesiani per il Sociale, a network of associations committed to the care and protection of minors … Continue reading Launch of the “Let’s Not Leave the Most Vulnerable Children in the Dark” Campaign by Salesiani per il Sociale

(ANS – Rome) – On January 15, 2026, the Youth Ministry Sectors of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) began the new year with renewed enthusiasm and a shared commitment to young people, inspired by the profound love of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello for younger generations. During the afternoon, the two sectors took part in … Continue reading SDB and FMA Youth Ministry Sectors Reflect on Young People’s Dreams for the Salesian Youth Movement

(ANS – Rome) – From Friday, January 10, to Saturday, January 11, the Salesian Youth Ministry Assembly was held at the Salesian National Center, with the presence of the Councilor for the Mediterranean Region, Fr. Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy, in his role as President of the Conference of Salesian Provinces of Italy (CISI). In addition to the Provincials and Youth Ministry Delegates, the Presidents of … Continue reading Salesian Youth Ministry Assembly

(ANS – Guayaquil) – Fr. Rafael Bejarano, General Councilor for Youth Ministry, concluded his Animation Visit to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province of Ecuador (ECU) on Friday, January 9, 2026. During five intense days of visits, conferences, and conversations, Fr. Bejarano became closely acquainted with the educational environments and activities of the various Salesian centers. With rectors and leaders, he shared the Oratory Criterion—the … Continue reading Fr. Bejarano Concludes His Visit to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province

(Duaca, Venezuela) – November 2025 – The First National Meeting of Leaders in Oratories and Youth Centers in the Salesian Province of Venezuela (VEN) was held from November 28-30. The event, held at the Domingo Savio Youth Centre in Duaca, offered a space to strengthen the identity and mission of this Salesian youth network. Under the motto “Like the Father and Me, We are One, … Continue reading National Meeting of Salesian Youth Movement Leaders in Venezuela

(ANS – Bonn) – The new Handbook on Fair Supply Chains, developed within the Erasmus+ project From Chains to Bridges, addresses one of today’s most pressing global justice issues — how to make supply chains more just, sustainable, and respectful of human dignity. While the handbook takes a practical and educational approach, the topic deeply resonates with our Christian commitment to justice, solidarity, and care for our common … Continue reading New Handbook Empowers NGOs and Youth Organizations to Build Fair and Just Global Supply Chains

(ANS – Rome) – Two months have passed since the Jubilee of Youth 2025, an extraordinary gathering that brought together nearly 5,000 young people from the Salesian world in Rome from July 29 to August 3. These vibrant days remain etched in the hearts of the participants, who were guided by animators, Salesians, FMAs, and other members of the Salesian family. For the young people who … Continue reading Reminiscing the Jubilee of Youth: A Journey of Faith & Hope

(ANS – Rome) – The Salesian Congregation has taken a bold step toward championing ecological education and sustainability by appointing Fr. Savio Silveira, SDB, as the Coordinator for Integral Ecology in the Salesian Youth Ministry Sector for the term 2025–2031. This move underscores the Congregation’s commitment to realizing the vision of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ and forming young people as stewards of the planet. After completing a successful six-year tenure … Continue reading Fr. Savio Silveira Appointed Coordinator for Integral Ecology in Salesian Youth Ministry

(ANS – Jaramana) – A new chapter began for the Salesian mission in Syria on Tuesday, September 16, 2025: in Jaramana, a multicultural neighborhood of the capital Damascus, the second Don Bosco Center in Damascus was inaugurated, a concrete sign of hope and educational commitment to serving young people. The opening ceremony was attended by numerous young people, families and friends of the Salesian community. Fr Simon Zakarian, the … Continue reading Second Don Bosco Center Inaugurated in Damascus

(Central America – August 2025) – The Salesian School Network of Central America held the 2025 Young Leaders Meeting on Friday, August 29, via a virtual platform. The event brought together students from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, who participated in a space of formation, reflection and fraternity. Prior to the regional meeting, the young people had participated in local workshops … Continue reading CAM: Young Salesian leaders from Central America Meet for Formation, Reflection, and Fraternity

(ANS – Rome) – The Jubilee of Youth 2025 is just around the corner: starting next Monday, July 28, for an entire week, hundreds of thousands of young people from across the globe will once again fill the streets of Rome with joy and vibrant witness — exactly 25 years after the unforgettable Jubilee of 2000. The event’s grand finale on Saturday, August 2, and Sunday, … Continue reading Final Preparations Underway for the 2025 Jubilee of Youth: The Salesian Family Takes the Lead

(ANS – Vatican City) – Referred to as “the most anticipated moment” of the Holy Year, the Youth Jubilee will see Rome open itself to the world—including areas tragically marked by war. The goal is to create a space where every young person, through dialogue with peers, can feel “embraced” and renew their calling to be “sentinels of the morning,” as Saint John Paul II proclaimed 25 years ago. These themes … Continue reading Youth Jubilee: The World Comes to Rome for the “Most Anticipated Moment” of the Holy Year

(ANS – Rome) – Five days of intense dialogue, discernment, and planning marked an important moment for the Salesian Congregation’s Youth Ministry Department. This gathering signaled the beginning of a new phase of work, with eyes set on the journey from 2025 to 2030. A united team with a common goal Fr. Rafael Bejarano, General Councillor for Youth Ministry, brought together everyone involved in the department’s … Continue reading Meeting of the Youth Ministry Department: Five Days Looking Toward the Future

(ANS – Rome) – After several years of hiatus, the summer of 2025 marked the return of the Summer Camp ‘Estate Ragazzi’ program at Sacro Cuore in Rome. This initiative brought children and young people from the neighborhood together for an experience filled with fun, connection, and growth. Held from June 30 to July 11, the project involved 25 children, supported by several young volunteers from the Civil … Continue reading Summer Camp Returns to Sacro Cuore in Rome After Years of Pause

(ANS – Rome) – The Salesian Higher Education Institutions (IUS) will hold its 20th annual board meeting at Sacra Cuore, Via Marsala 42, the Salesian Headquarters in Rome, from July 21-22, 2025. Representatives from six global regions will gather to review current projects and outline new strategies aligned with the IUS identity and policy documents. This year’s meeting will also focus on preparations for the upcoming … Continue reading IUS to Hold 20th Board Meeting in Rome: Shaping the Future of Salesian Higher Education

(ANS – Dublin) – In line with the main objectives of the Youth Ministry Sector of the Salesian Congregation, Fr. Francisco Cervantes, member of the Youth Ministry Sector at the Salesian Generalate, recently visited the Irish Province on behalf of Fr. Rafael Bejarano, General Councillor for Youth Ministry. During his visit, Fr. Cervantes met with Fr. Cyril Odia, Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry, opening a fraternal … Continue reading Relaunching Youth Ministry with an Animation and Accompaniment Visit

(ANS – Rome) – Just one month to go until one of the most eagerly awaited appointments of this Holy Year of Hope: the Youth Jubilee (July 28-August 3, 2025). Thousands of boys and girls from all over the world, summoned by Pope Francis, are preparing to experience their Jubilee pilgrimage around Leo XIV, to rediscover together the reasons for their hope and to become sentinels … Continue reading One Month to the Youth Jubilee 2025: Expectations and Enthusiasm Grow

(ANS – Spain) – From April 17 to 20, the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Spain will organize their traditional Easter gatherings: a pastoral initiative aimed at teenagers and young adults connected to Salesian works. The program offers an opportunity to live the central days of Holy Week in an atmosphere of faith, community, and accompaniment, specially designed … Continue reading Salesian Houses Promote Various Easter Experiences for Young People

(ANS – Donetsk) – In the second stage of his reflection on the special features of Youth Ministry in time of war, Bishop Maksym Ryabukha, Auxiliary Bishop of the Greek-Catholic Exarchate of Donetsk, Ukraine, presents another “gift” to be discovered: that of a broken daily life and a suffering people, made of reasons to live and not only to survive. Below is his analysis, which was delivered to Note di Pastorale Giovanile. … Continue reading Youth Ministry in Time of War: The Gift of a Broken Daily Life and a People in Suffering

(ANS – Donetsk) – In the second stage of his reflection on the special features of Youth Ministry in time of war, Bishop Maksym Ryabukha, Auxiliary Bishop of the Greek-Catholic Exarchate of Donetsk, Ukraine, presents another “gift” to be discovered: that of a broken daily life and a suffering people, made of reasons to live and not only to survive. Below is his analysis, which was delivered to Note di Pastorale Giovanile. … Continue reading Youth Ministry in Time of War, Part II: The Gift of a Broken Daily Life and a People in Suffering

(ANS – Donetsk) – Bishop Maksym Ryabukha, Salesian of Don Bosco, born in the first Ukrainian Salesian parish of Lviv and now Auxiliary Bishop of the Greek-Catholic Exarchate of Donetsk, Ukraine, offered the magazine Note di Pastorale Giovanile Magazine his reflection on the special features of Youth Ministry in time of war. It is an interpretation coming from the perspective of the “gift,” and at the same time, it constitutes … Continue reading The Gifts of Youth Ministry in Time of War, Part I: Over to Bishop Maksym Ryabukha, SDB

(ANS – Rome) – In Valdocco and Colle Don Bosco, where so much Salesian history and fidelity has passed, the Salesian Youth Synod studied a proposal for the entire Salesian world. This was done by 375 people, mostly young people belonging to 94 nationalities, boys and girls of an average age of 23, from many nations, with different cultures and languages, but all with the same … Continue reading The Youth Ministry Sector Publishes the Final Document of the Salesian Youth Synod

(ANS – Rome) – About 300 young people from all over the Salesian world will gather in Valdocco and Colle Don Bosco from August 11 to 16 for a synodal experience of shared life, fun, dialogue and spiritual enrichment. The entire experience has been called “Salesian Youth Synod” and will be held on the occasion of the bicentennial of Don Bosco’s dream at Nine Years of … Continue reading Program for Synod of Young People

(ANS – Rome) – The entire Salesian Youth Ministry is oriented, by its very nature, to vocational discernment, since its ultimate goal is to help young people discover their own concrete path to realize the life plan to which God calls them. As 2024 well reminds us, the Dream at Nine Years of age was evoked by Don Bosco in the Memoirs of the Oratory, one … Continue reading A New “Flash” Aid to Think about Vocational Pedagogy: “Accompanying the First Vocational Dreams”

(ANS – Guadalajara) – As part of the celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the Salesian School in America (ESA, in Spanish), the 5th ESA Continental Meeting was held from 1 to 5 May at the Anáhuac Chapalita Institute in Guadalajara, State of Jalisco, Mexico, under the motto: “Together for the present and future of Salesian education”. The event was attended by around 237 people from 47 Provinces – including the … Continue reading 5th ESA Continental Meeting: Together for the Present and Future of Salesian Education

(ANS – Rome) – A series of pathways are presented to gain a deeper appreciation of the educational criteria proposed in the text “A youth ministry that educates to love” and strengthen some social and personal skills. The authors are General Councillor Fr Miguel Ángel García Morcuende, Antonella Sinagoga, psychotherapist and Monica Ronchi, psychologist. By educational pathway we mean a path of pedagogical activity, a structured … Continue reading The Youth Ministry Sector publishes “EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS” for a Youth Ministry that educates to love

(ANS – Rome) – In March, the Youth Ministry Sector promoted five webinars in 10 sessions with the aim of informing, raising awareness, and creating awareness on some mental health issues in young people: eating disorders, the mental health of migrants and refugees, youth depression, bullying, and suicide, and self-harm. Eight highly competent experts offered observations and concrete indications on these issues. These psychologists, psychiatrists, and … Continue reading Over 500 People Trained on Emerging Mental Health and Youth Issues

(ANS – Rome) – Setting up the mood for the Salesian Youth Synod, the song, “In the Shape of Your Dream” composed by Emanuel Geraci (ISI), was chosen as the official theme song by the Core Group of Salesian youth – Pablo Osorio (SSM), Marta Radic (CRO), Kasia Grabek (PLE), Kyle Portelli (MLT), Teaghan Dolan (AUL), Jennifer Lie (INA), Wendy Ponce (BOL), Santiago Roda Cano (COM), … Continue reading IN THE SHAPE OF YOUR DREAM, the Official Hymn of the Salesian Youth Synod 2024