(ANS – Catania) – On Sunday, August 30, 2026, the Provincial Center on Via Cifali in Catania hosted the launch of the 2026–2027 pastoral year for all the Educative and Pastoral Communities (EPCs) of the Salesians in Sicily. The gathering brought together consecrated members, lay people, and young people from across the island who share responsibility for the mission. The event marked the conclusion of a three-year period dedicated to rediscovering the theological virtues. Following programs focused on hope and faith, charity now becomes the driving force behind the educational and evangelizing mission, guided by the theme: “Signs of Your Love – Active in Charity.”
The day began with a welcome and a greeting from the Provincial, Fr. Domenico Saraniti, who highlighted the profound meaning of being active in charity, reflecting on the progress made and outlining the direction for the coming months. At the heart of the Salesian mission remains the prevenient love of God incarnate in the Son—a living fatherhood to be received and passed on to younger generations, especially those living in situations of greater vulnerability and disorientation.
The pedagogical and theoretical focus of the morning was provided by a lecture from Prof. Filippone el St. John Bosco’s 1877 booklet, The Preventive System in the Education of Youth. Tracing the post-unification context marked by the Coppino Law and the progressive secularization of education, the presentation clarified the meaning of Don Bosco’s statement that “only a Christian can successfully apply the Preventive System.” This was not a claim of exclusivity or ideological closed-mindedness, but rather an indication of the very source of educational action: theological charity, which transcends utilitarian logic to become a direct sharing in God’s love for young people. Together with reason and religion, Salesian charity thus translates into authentic relational empathy (“it is not enough for young people to be loved; they must know that they are loved”) and an educational fatherhood open to the generous gift of self, even in the face of hardships and contemporary spiritual indifference.
The afternoon session featured the official presentation of the 2026–2027 pastoral plan and the final document of the Synod, enriched by video testimonies from summer missionary experiences, followed by the solemn concluding Eucharistic celebration. The meeting also provided an opportunity to outline the province’s new operational initiatives, including the handover of responsibilities in various local leadership roles and the establishment of a new cross-functional planning and development office. The office is designed to coordinate the various pastoral sectors and respond promptly and effectively to the signs of the times and the needs of the Sicilian region.