(ANS – Turin) – The final day of the Salesian Family World Advisory Council held at Valdocco in Turin brought to a close an intense journey of spirituality, reflection, and shared discernment. After exploring on the second day the prophetic relevance of the Preventive System in the third millennium through the reflection of Fr. Rossano Sala, and examining its value in animation and governance through the presentation by Fr. Michal Vojtaš, participants concluded their work by once again allowing themselves to be challenged by the Word of God and the voice of the Rector Major.

The day began at 7 a.m. with Morning Prayer led by the Testimoni del Risorto and Canção Nova, followed by breakfast and the plenary assembly. The highlight of the morning was the address by the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, who offered a profound reflection on Salesian charismatic identity.

Among the key points of his address, he strongly emphasized that it is not enough simply to love Don Bosco; rather, it is essential to understand his spiritual journey, recognizing him as a man of the Spirit and a true saint.

The Rector Major invited everyone to enter into the lives of young people of every age so as to become signs and bearers not of their own words, but of the Word of God rooted in the heart. He encouraged participants to keep their gaze fixed on Jesus without allowing themselves to be paralyzed by difficulties, instead viewing challenges as opportunities for growth.

“We have before us a path of educational holiness,” he stated, to be lived as authentic pastoral charity. Education, he explained, is the proclamation of the Good News, and young people today can no longer tolerate superficiality. The Salesian identity, he emphasized, remains that of educators and evangelizers.

Referring to the Preventive System, Fr. Attard reiterated that it is not merely a method, but Don Bosco’s style and way of life—the path that led him to holiness and that makes holiness possible in every place and state of life.

Following the Rector Major’s address, participants continued with group discussions and subsequent sharing in the assembly. Announcements then followed from the Secretariat and the Postulation Office.

Fr. Joan Lluís Playà, the Rector Major’s Delegate for the Salesian Family, presented updates on regional meetings and the Days of Spirituality. Fr. Eugenio Vargas, Spiritual Animator of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), outlined new formation opportunities. Fr. Manolo Jiménez, Ecclesiastical Assistant to the Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB), spoke about the Ratio Fundamentalis, while Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni, Postulator General for the Causes of the Saints of the Salesian Family, recalled the witness of the Blessed Polish Salesian martyrs. Additional updates were also shared by other groups within the Salesian Family.

At the conclusion of the morning, the Eucharistic Celebration, presided over by the Rector Major and animated by the Community of the Mission of Don Bosco (CMB) and the Past Pupils of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (EXA-FMA), represented the spiritual high point of the entire Advisory Council.

In his homily, Fr. Attard returned to the Gospel phrase that had accompanied the gathering throughout the week: “Follow me.”

While in the Gospel the first “follow me” means “look at me and walk with me,” today Jesus repeats the invitation forcefully, calling His followers not to waste their energy, lose their focus, or become distracted by comparisons with others.

The invitation was clear: to focus on what is essential, to live in community, to be nourished by the Word and the Eucharist, and not to waste energy on superficial matters. During these days, participants fixed their gaze on the face of the charism and the heart of the Preventive System; now, in the spirit of Pentecost, they are called to bear fruit through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The World Advisory Council concluded in an atmosphere of gratitude and celebration on the eve of the Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians. Returning to their educational and pastoral settings, participants carried with them a renewed commitment to live the Salesian charism authentically, allowing themselves to be guided by the Spirit so as to become credible signs of God’s love among young people.