By Lisandro Albro, Jr., Salesian Youth Leader

(Los Angeles, California) – Every year, thousands of Catholics from around the world gather in Anaheim, California, for the Religious Education Congress (RE Congress). Organized by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the RE Congress is one of the largest annual gatherings of its kind in the United States. RE Congress is a space where catechists, educators, ministers, and young people come together to be renewed in faith, inspired by new ideas, and reminded of the mission that unites us all.

This year, at RE Congress 2025, I had the special opportunity to take part in something truly beautiful: witnessing how the many branches of the Salesian mission come together at our booth. For the first time, we launched a series of live interviews directly from the Salesian booth—conversations with people living out the mission in their unique ways. Whether it was Salesian Cooperators, youth ministers, educators, religious, or first-time attendees, each interview was a chance to highlight the different ways God is working through the Salesian spirit.

One of the interviews that continues to resonate is the one with my good friends, Ryan and Vanessa. They’re currently journeying through the diaconate program in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and their witness as a married couple discerning this path together is nothing short of inspiring. Their love for the Church and deep desire to serve is a reminder of how vocation takes many forms—and how beautiful it is when couples walk the journey of faith side by side.

👉 Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/JwLNAln9czs

Unfortunately, due to Facebook’s livestream settings, most videos were only available for 30 days, but this isn’t the end—it’s just the beginning.

These interviews were the first of what we hope becomes a long-term project, made possible by the launch of the Carlo Acutis Media Center at the Salesian Mission Center in Los Angeles. This new space is being built to empower young people to evangelize and share stories through modern media. It’s where creativity meets mission, allowing us to continue producing content like this all year long—not just during RE Congress weekend.

The goal moving forward is simple: to tell stories that speak to the hearts of young people—stories of Salesianity, vocation, faith, identity, and the real challenges and hopes that young people carry today. The energy we saw at RE Congress 2025 is something we want to keep alive—not just once a year but constantly.

Every young person has a story worth telling. And thanks to the Carlo Acutis Media Center, we will soon have a space where those stories can be heard.

Stay tuned, as this is only the beginning.