(Rome — March 2026) — The Project of the National Centre of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Italy was established to express and promote its identity and mission. The National Centre is not merely an organizational structure, but above all an educative and pastoral community that embodies a distinctive “place” of the Salesian heart in Italy and serves as a reference point for the entire Salesian Family in the country.
Fr. Elio Cesari, President of the National Centre and Secretary General of the Conference of Provincials, explains the need that led to the development of the project.
The Origins of the Project
The project arose from a profound need to clarify and consolidate the identity of the National Centre as a true pastoral entity, moving beyond the perception of it as simply an administrative or logistical structure or a “service center.” “We undertook a journey of communion that was necessary for Salesian Italy, repeatedly urged by the CISI Presidency,” Fr. Cesari notes. “As early as February 2023, we were invited to reflect on a shared vision for youth ministry, an encouragement later reiterated by the Regional Councillor in November 2023. Faced with rapid socio-cultural changes, we needed to move away from sectoral perspectives and regionalist approaches to embrace a more integrated national mindset.”
The Aim of the Project
The primary aim is to express and enhance the identity and mission of the National Centre, enabling it to function not only as an organizational base, but as a living Educative and Pastoral Community (EPC) and a “charismatic hub” serving as a reference point for the entire Salesian Congregation in Italy.
To achieve this, the project is structured around four strategic areas. “All of this converges toward a single purpose: to accompany young people toward an encounter with Jesus and toward human and Christian maturity,” explains Fr. Cesari.
- Reflection: Developing a profound and unified pedagogical and pastoral vision.
- Coordination: Building operational synergies across different areas, overcoming fragmentation.
- Formation: Strengthening educational communities by optimizing resources and promoting formation programs for both laypeople and Salesians.
- Representation: Communicating through a single, authoritative institutional voice, such as “Salesians Italy.”
Key Stages of the Process
Fr. Cesari describes the project as “a demanding journey of discernment, following a transformative approach lasting nearly a year and a half, characterized by listening and sharing, supported by Fr. Michal Vojtáš, a lecturer at the Pontifical Salesian University.”
The main stages included:
- Start of the 2023/24 Pastoral Year: At the urging of the Provincial of Central Italy and the Regional Councillor for the Mediterranean, the EPC Council (EPCC) of the Centre officially launched the work.
- September 2024: During a weekend of communal living in Genzano, the project took its first concrete form.
- May 2025: During Fr. Roberto Colameo’s provincial visitation, the project’s progress and completion were confirmed, emphasizing the importance of lay involvement.
- July 2025: The text was presented in detail to the CISI Presidency by the Secretary General, gathering suggestions to refine it.
- January 2026: The draft reached its final version, officially signed on the Feast of St. John Bosco.
Who the Project Serves
The project is aimed at the entirety of Salesian Italy, actively involving Salesians of Don Bosco, National Offices, provinces, associations, and the wider Salesian Family. Laypeople are given a central role, not as executors, but as active contributors to a shared pastoral vision.
The primary beneficiaries remain young people, with the National Centre seeking to act as a true “tailor of education,” capable of shaping and caring for their lives.
Integration with the Reshaping of Salesian Italy
Salesian Italy is currently undergoing a Reshaping process, requested by the previous Rector Major, to achieve greater pastoral impact. The National Centre project fits seamlessly into this effort. Its development began alongside the Redesign process, which followed the Joint Visit of the Mediterranean Region in October 2023—a catalyst for reflection.
The Centre is called to optimize resources across the territory, avoid duplication between provinces, and serve as a strategic hub connecting Provincial Educative and Pastoral Projects (SEPP) with broader planning at the regional and global level. The aim is to ensure that Salesian Italy grows sustainably, leaving no one behind.
Source: Don Bosco Italia