By Judy Alvarez

(Los Angeles, California) – The 2025 Religious Education Congress, which will be held this week, February 21-23, at the Anaheim Convention Center, will be themed “Called to Compassion.” As Salesians, we will witness this compassion through our presence in the Salesians of Don Bosco – Salesian Family booths, where we will share the educational philosophy of St. John Bosco with all our visitors.

In our booth area, you’ll find Salesian experts known for their writings, classes, and retreats on the Preventive System. Fr. Alejandro Rodriguez, SDB, will join us from Don Bosco Hall and once again offer books in Spanish and English for educators and catechists that make the Preventive System accessible for their work. Sr. Mary Greenan will share new Salesian books from Don Bosco Publications UK and will also provide the Salesian Matrix, an assessment tool on living the Presentive System in school and family settings, available in English and Spanish. The conversations with these experts and other Salesians in the booth are formative moments for those seeking understanding and support in accompanying the young people in their lives and ministries.

This year, the Salesian Sisters are sponsoring a booth extension. They will offer insight into Salesian Youth Spirituality by sharing stories of Salesian saints and inviting visitors to offer their prayer intentions to Mary Help of Christians. Again this year, the Salesian Cooperators are sponsoring another booth extension to share their vocation as Salesians in the world. They will engage visitors with youthful trivia and offer a prayer card with a OR Code to lead visitors to further resources for living the Preventive System and discerning one’s vocation.

Finally, the booth will again welcome Diane Gihring from St. John Bosco High School, who will have a table promoting online Theology classes for high school students. There will also be other Salesian resources, brochures, and apparel for those wishing to connect with the Salesian Family.

If you are going to the RE Congress do come by your Salesian Family Booths. We can’t wait to see you there!