Walking Together as One Salesian Family

Looking Towards 2027

The gathering also looked towards the future through the proposed Action Plan 2027.

The various Salesian Family associations are encouraged to become more systematically organized within their respective communities. The goal is to work towards a Congress or gathering by the end of 2027, creating greater opportunities for formation, accompaniment, sharing and collaboration.

This forward-looking vision reminds us that communion is not merely an ideal—it must become a concrete way of living and working together.

A Time to Listen, Share and Reflect

The gathering concluded with an activity followed by personal sharing and reflection. Participants expressed their insights and experiences and reflected on their own responsibility towards the Salesian mission.

The sharing made one truth increasingly clear: the mission belongs to all of us. Each person has a role to play in keeping the Salesian charism alive and relevant for today's world.

A Heartfelt Thank You

Tokens of gratitude were presented to Sr. Meenakshi and Fr. Clive in appreciation of their presence, guidance and support.

Heartfelt gratitude was also expressed to Sr. Priscilla Travaso and Sr. Rosy Mascarihas for their warm hospitality and thoughtful arrangements.

Special appreciation was extended to Sr. Leslie Sandigo Ortega, Sr. Carmen Lucrecia and Sr. Sangitha Rani for their valuable presence, contribution and support. Their presence enriched the gathering with a beautiful experience of international communion and fraternity.

The food, accommodation and overall arrangements were also appreciated by all.

Walking Forward with Hope

The Salesian Family Meeting was much more than a day of formation. It was an invitation to rediscover who we are, whose mission we share and how we are called to walk together.

The interactive methodology—stories, songs, puzzles, videos, group activities, sharing and reflection—made the experience engaging and meaningful. More importantly, it enabled participants to connect the Salesian charism with the realities of today's world.

The meeting left us with a renewed conviction:

We are different, but we belong together.
We have different vocations, but one mission.
We have different gifts, but one charism.
We walk different paths, but towards one common horizon—young people.

As we move forward, may we continue to walk together as one Salesian Family, listening more deeply, trusting more generously, serving more selflessly and bringing hope wherever we are.

For, in the spirit of Don Bosco, the future of the mission is not built by one person, but by a family that walks together.

“Together we inspire, serve and grow.”

“Together we inspire, serve and grow.”

The Salesian Family Meeting held on 26 August 2026 was a grace-filled and enriching experience of prayer, formation, communion and shared mission. Bringing together members of the Salesian Family, the gathering became an opportunity to rediscover our common Salesian identity, celebrate our diversity and renew our commitment to the mission of Don Bosco—especially our mission with and for young people.

Beginning with the Spirit

The gathering began with a meaningful prayer service conducted by Miss Sherley, accompanied by a hymn invoking the Holy Spirit. Entrusting the day's proceedings to the guidance of the Spirit created an atmosphere of openness, participation and joyful fellowship.

The presence of our distinguished guests added special significance to the occasion. Sr. Maria Shirsath warmly welcomed Sr. Meenakshi D’Silva, Provincial of the Mumbai Province, while Sr. Hilda presented her with a potted plant as a symbol of welcome and growth. Sr. Antennonete welcomed Fr. Clive Tellis, Provincial of the Panjim-Kokan Province, and Sr. Sarita presented him with a potted plant.

Remaining Faithful to the Salesian Charism

In her message, Sr. Meenakshi D’Silva reminded us that the gathering was an initiative of the Salesian Family of Rome and invited everyone to live their vocation faithfully as members of the Salesian Family.

She particularly highlighted the role of Past Pupils in becoming honest citizens and good human beings, carrying forward the values received through the Salesian educational tradition. Their lives and contributions to society can become a living testimony to the educational legacy of Don Bosco. She encouraged everyone to remain united, strengthen communion and become credible witnesses of the Salesian spirit in the Church and in society.

Going Upstream: Understanding Young People

One of the most thought-provoking moments of the gathering was the reflection offered by Fr. Clive Tellis.

Through the story of a river and a rescue team, he illustrated a profound dimension of the Salesian mission. A rescue team may save people who are being swept away by a river, but the deeper question is: Why are people falling into the river in the first place?

Don Bosco and the Founders did not merely become a rescue team. They went “upstream” to understand the needs and struggles of young people and to address them at their roots. This vision gave birth to the Preventive System.

Fr. Clive reminded us that today's young people live in a rapidly changing and technologically driven world. They are connected, informed, creative and capable of multitasking. The challenge before us is to understand their world, walk with them and accompany them with patience and love.

He left us with two deeply challenging questions:

“Do our young people love us? Do they feel loved by us?”

These questions invite every Salesian to examine not merely what we do for young people, but how we make them feel in our presence.

In a world often filled with negativity, fear and uncertainty, our mission is to become bearers of hope, helping young people discover faith in God and confidence in their own future.

A Joyful International Presence

The gathering was further enriched by the presence of Sr. Leslie Sandigo Ortega, Sr. Carmen Lucrecia and Sr. Sangitha Rani, who had arrived from Italy. Sr. Shiny warmly welcomed them.

Their presence added an international dimension to the gathering and beautifully expressed the unity and universality of the Salesian Family. Though coming from different cultures and contexts, we remain united by one charism and one mission.

Every Piece Matters

An engaging group dynamics activity conducted by Sr. Sangeeta Rani brought the theme of communion to life through a puzzle.

Each participant became a piece of the puzzle, symbolizing the truth that every person has a unique and indispensable place in the Salesian Family.

No single piece can complete the picture on its own. Each gift, personality, talent and vocation contributes to the beauty of the whole.

The activity reminded us that our differences do not divide us; rather, when embraced with respect and openness, our diversity completes the picture.

One Charism, One Mission

Sr. Carmen Lucrecia led the participants into a deeper reflection on communion, synergy and shared mission.

Although the members of the Salesian Family belong to different vocations and groups, we share one common purpose: the salvation and integral well-being of young people.

We are called to walk together, respect one another's identities and express the Salesian charism according to our own vocation.

Her reflective question remained with the participants:

“Did anything change in me after this formation?”

The question transformed the gathering from a programme we attended into an experience that calls for personal conversion and concrete action.

Diversity: Our Strength, Not Our Weakness

The participants were introduced to the different groups that form the Salesian Family. The four groups founded by Don Bosco—the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) and Salesian Cooperators—stand at the heart of this great spiritual family.

The other groups, while having their own identity and specific mission, share the same Salesian charism.

The charism is not something to be possessed; it is a gift from God to be shared. Our different vocations, identities and gifts become a source of richness when placed at the service of the common mission.

Collecting the Stars: Working Together

The movie “Collecting the Stars” further reinforced the message of unity and collaboration. Through its powerful presentation, participants were reminded that a common mission becomes fruitful when people learn to listen, accept differences, appreciate one another's contribution and work together.

The message was simple yet profound: we shine more brightly when we work together.

From Division to Communion: A Synodal Journey

The reflection on communion and synodality brought the participants face to face with the realities of our society.

Religious divisions, competition, corruption, individualism, social media influence, inequality and injustice continue to challenge communion. In such a context, synodality invites us to choose another way—the way of listening, dialogue, participation and collaboration.

To be synodal is to listen to one another, to listen to the world around us and, above all, to listen to God.

It calls us to step beyond our comfort zones and allow ourselves to be transformed so that we can walk together more authentically.

From Control to Trust, From Power to Service

The session by Sr. Leslie on “Shared Mission in a Charismatic Key” offered a practical and inspiring vision of collaboration.

Rooted in the Salesian Preventive System of Reason, Religion and Loving-Kindness, shared mission calls us to make a profound shift in our way of relating and working with one another:

From control to trust.
From individualism to community.
From power to service.
From possession to gift.

Listening, trust, dialogue, participation, formation, hope and mutual accompaniment become the foundations for building a Salesian Family that truly walks together.