(ANS – Rome – November 13, 2026) – From November 9–12, 2026, the Salesian Youth Ministry Global Team met at the Sacred Heart Community in Rome, coordinated by the General Councilor for Youth Ministry, Fr. Rafael Bejarano. The four-day meeting brought together leaders from the various offices and areas of the Sector with the aim of sharing guidelines, strengthening coordination, clarifying operational procedures, and developing the Youth Ministry Team Manual.
Fr. Bejarano opened the meeting with a reflection on the Sector’s orientations and the prospects for Youth Ministry in the six-year period that has just begun. One of the highlights of his presentation was defining the framework for preparing the work of updating the Framework of Reference for Youth Ministry. On the first day, particular emphasis was placed on the dialogue with the Rector Major, who recalled what the General Chapter requires of the pastoral team: to have a credible and authentic personality; to improve their skills through study and in-depth study; and to embark on a journey of collaboration based on the synodal method and style. These moments, along with the shared Eucharistic celebration, offered the team the opportunity to discuss the challenges of the Salesian mission among young people and their expectations for the future.
Throughout the days, participants worked in groups and plenary sessions to analyze the procedures of the various offices, identify the necessary coordination points, and share the processes initiated in the various regions of the world. A significant moment was the meeting with the continental coordinators of Youth Ministry, who presented the results of the recent meetings with the Youth Ministry Delegates of the Salesian regions, highlighting the main experiences achieved in their respective contexts, and highlighting emerging needs and opportunities for support.
A significant portion of the work was devoted to drafting the Team Manual, a tool designed to strengthen the Sector’s identity, processes, and operating methods. Through workshops and harmonization sessions, team members defined content, responsibilities, and procedures, with the goal of providing a common framework for pastoral ministry worldwide.
The meeting also addressed some emerging priorities of the Salesian mission, including safeguarding, advocacy, and integral ecology. The discussion fostered the identification of potential synergies with other Salesian organizations and entities, particularly in the areas of protection, formation, and social engagement.
The final day saw the participation of representatives from the Communications, Finance, Formation, and Salesian Family Sectors, and related organizations, such as VIS, the Don Bosco Nel Mondo Foundation, Don Bosco Network, and DBTech Europe, with the aim of identifying shared paths and new forms of collaboration. The working groups explored topics such as Vocation Ministry, Salesian Formation, the Salesian Youth Movement, work with DBTech Worldwide, and project sustainability. Among the expected and shared outcomes of the meeting were greater clarity regarding the responsibilities of the various offices, better identification of coordination points between sectors, and the definition of key intersectoral priorities for the coming years.
The meeting concluded with a speech by Fr. Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major, who offered some final reflections, assuring that “this way of working is always a way of renewing the charism,” provided we do not forget for whom we do this work. At the end of the meetings, the team thanked Fr. Rafael Bejarano for this experience and reaffirmed its commitment to promoting an increasingly coordinated, synodal, and youth-focused Youth Ministry, in harmony with the Congregation’s priorities and the challenges of the contemporary world.