(ANS – Rome) – The meeting of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) of the Americas took place online on Saturday, July 11, 2026, bringing together representatives from every country and the various Salesian provinces across the continent. The virtual gathering was attended by Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), and young representatives and leaders of the Salesian Youth Movement, creating a meaningful opportunity for dialogue and collaboration.
The initiative grew out of a desire to continue strengthening communion and collaboration among the various groups within the Salesian Youth Movement of the Americas, providing a space for mutual listening, discernment, and shared planning. In particular, the meeting enabled provincial leaders and the young people in attendance to discuss the current state of the SYM in their different contexts and identify practical priorities for its development at both the regional and continental levels.
The gathering was inspired by the dreams and vision outlined in the Final Document of the 2024 Salesian Youth Synod, which calls for building an increasingly global Salesian Youth Movement capable of fostering the exchange of experiences and the joint development of shared initiatives. At the same time, participants reaffirmed the importance of a SYM that is increasingly present and visible in the life of the Church—one that is open to encounters among different cultures and strengthens young people’s sense of belonging to the Salesian Family.
A concrete sign of this spirit of communion was the collaborative preparation for the meeting, led jointly by Sr. Herlinda Palomino, FMAy Fr. Carlos Mendez, SDB, representing the Councilors for Youth Ministry and the global leaders of the Salesian Youth Movement from the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and the Salesians of Don Bosco. Through this shared effort, collaboration between the two institutions in service to young people and the Salesian Youth Movement was further strengthened. In this context, the SYM continues to emerge as a privileged space for co-responsibility, communion, and participation, fostering a Salesian Family that is increasingly united and attentive to the voices of younger generations.
During the discussion, participants shared the principal strengths and challenges present in their respective national contexts. Their reflections highlighted the Movement’s vitality throughout the Americas while also acknowledging the challenges involved in educational and pastoral ministry with young people in today’s world.
The meeting concluded with the identification of several common priorities for future collaboration. Among these was a strong emphasis on strengthening the relationships among the various groups, representatives, and organizations that make up the Salesian Youth Movement across the Americas, fostering a stronger and more stable network. Participants also expressed a desire to create more opportunities for regional and continental gatherings, exchanges, and collaborative initiatives so that the Movement may continue to grow in communion, participation, and its ability to respond collectively to the challenges facing young people.
The meeting marked another important step in strengthening the Salesian Youth Movement of the Americas, reaffirming the shared commitment to building a pastoral project that is increasingly coordinated, missionary, and firmly rooted in the charism of St. John Bosco y St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello.