By Victoria Figueroa, Salesian Youth Movement Coordinator

(Los Angeles, California) – On February 7-8, 2025, the Salesian Youth Leadership Conference (SYLC) 2025 Spirit Team met for the first time in Boyle Heights, CA. We gathered for a weekend of community building and conference preparation. The team comprises 15 young people and 17 adults, many traveling by car from Northern California. Two young people from Laredo flew to Southern California to also participate in this gathering. We spent the weekend in the Don Bosco Mission Center in Boyle Heights, where the hospitality and facility accommodations were perfect for our teamwork!

This year’s Spirit Team clicked immediately; seeing it was incredible! Under the leadership of the Spirit Team Coordinator, Gina Robles, the young people felt comfortable being themselves. Immediately after the young people’s arrival, the animating team welcomed them and toured them around the Mission Center and facilities. Throughout the weekend, we spent several moments getting to know each other through icebreakers, group sharing, and meal time. The dining room roared with laughter and conversation.

The team for this year’s Salesian Youth Leadership Conference is buzzing with excitement and fresh ideas. The young people are already leaders and animators in their Salesian site, but now they will be young leaders at a province-wide event. We spent this last weekend providing essential formation for the success of the SYLC. It was vital that this gathering bring everyone together as one team with one unified mission.

As a team, we are energized and have begun mobilizing to make SYLC 2025 an unforgettable experience for the upcoming participants. The team’s various committees have already started to put their planning into motion, ranging from prayer services to large-group icebreakers. These coming months will be filled with new ideas, work, and excitement. 

The young people’s first session at the gathering was a reflection given to them by CYM, Mr Adrian Fulay. The young people learned about the invitation from the Pope to be Pilgrims with their peers and to anchor themselves in hope. On the final gathering day, the team officially voted on the theme for SYLC 2025 based on ideas submitted by the young people. Through voting, pitches, and reflection, we came to an agreement as a team! Our theme for SYLC 2025 is “Anchor your Hearts, Chart your Course!” 

This year, SYLC 2025 is celebrating its 40th anniversary. With our innovative and creative team, it is bound to be a year of transformation, a true Jubilee year for our province. Young people are the protagonists of SYLC; their preparations and ideas are coming together, and they will take form this summer at Camp St Francis. We ask that our greater Salesian family keep the Spirit Team, our ministries, and our work in their prayers so that our Salesian Identity and Mission are lived out through SYLC!