By Bro. Reegan Ledet SDB
(Los Angeles, California) As a Salesian brother, I am dedicated to living out the mission of St. John Bosco, who always emphasized the importance of seeing the face of God in the young. This calling is not just a theoretical concept or something to admire from afar but something I experience deeply, especially during moments like a recent college trip to San Francisco with a group of young people from our works in Boyle Heights.
The trip was filled with excitement, curiosity, and a bit of nervousness. The teenagers were eager to explore, meet new people, and learn more about their future in college. It was the perfect setting for a Salesian to observe and engage with them in ways that might otherwise not be possible in the classroom or within the walls of our youth centers. At first, the vans were filled with a mix of talking, laughter, and energy. Some were excited, others unsure, but all were filled with life. I couldn’t help but notice how full of promise each of them was. Each face carried its own story, each smile reflected hope, and each question held the potential for growth. As we made our way to different destinations, I realized how much God’s presence was already at work within them.
As the trip continued, something deeper began to unfold. In the quiet moments during the journey, I started to realize something truly profound. As Salesians, we are formed to look for God in the ordinary, in the everyday lives of the young. And in this group of teens, God’s face was more evident than I could have imagined. Whether it was in how they looked at the college campus with awe or opened up about their dreams and fears, I saw God in them.
One moment stands out in my memory. As we walked through the streets and paths of Stanford University, one of the teens—quiet throughout the trip—began to share doubts about their future. They spoke about the pressures they felt to succeed, to meet expectations, and to find their path in a world full of uncertainty. As I listened, I couldn’t help but reflect on how often I had felt similar doubts and fears in my own life. At that moment, I realized God’s presence in that young person’s vulnerability. Their openness to share their concerns, their desire to be understood, and their search for meaning was a glimpse of God’s longing to be close to them. It was a powerful reminder that God speaks to us through simple, honest moments of life.
For many teens, college is not just a place to study; it’s a threshold to a new chapter of their lives. The excitement of learning new things, meeting new people, and building a future can be overwhelming. But it’s also when young people often search for deeper meaning and guidance. As a Salesian brother, I’ve come to understand that this search for purpose and identity is an expression of God’s presence within them. Throughout the trip, I witnessed a beautiful mix of joy, curiosity, confusion, and vulnerability, reflecting the human journey toward God. Even in their moments of uncertainty, the teens I spent time with revealed a beauty beyond surface-level appearances. I saw the beauty of searching, questioning, and growing and felt privileged to be part of that process.
Another powerful moment occurred during a long conversation with one of the teens. After talking for a while, the teen asked me about my faith journey. This question wasn’t just out of curiosity—it was a genuine attempt to understand the role of faith in my life. I saw this as a moment of openness, where the teen began recognizing God’s presence in their journey, even amidst their questions and struggles.
Throughout the trip, I also saw God’s face in the simple, everyday interactions. There were moments of joy, like a shared smile between friends or the laughter that echoed through the bus ride. There were also moments of compassion, such as when one teen comforted another feeling homesick. These were not just moments of fun or camaraderie; they were sacred moments where I witnessed the love of God reflected in their actions.
St. John Bosco often spoke about the “preventive system,” an approach to education based on reason, religion, and loving-kindness. It emphasizes the importance of being present, listening, and caring for the young. On this trip, I saw how this system works in real life. When we love, listen, and care for young people, we reflect God’s love for them, and in doing so, we help them encounter God in new and profound ways.
By the end of the trip, I had a deep sense of gratitude and awe. As a Salesian brother, I often feel called to witness God’s love in the lives of young people. But on this trip, I realized that the experience is mutual. Through these teens, I saw God’s face in more beautiful and profound ways than I could have imagined. Each teen I encountered showed me something new about God—whether it was their vulnerability, their dreams, or their strength. God was not distant or removed but present in every conversation, every moment of laughter, and every silent prayer.