Rome (Italy). On 29 July 2024, the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Father and Center of Unity of the Salesian Family, at the end of the summer plenary session of the General Council announced the theme of the Strenna for the year 2025:
“Anchored in hope, pilgrims with young people”
The theme was chosen by the Rector Major in collaboration with his Vicar, Fr. Stefano Martoglio, who beginning on 17 August will assume the government of the Congregation until General Chapter 29 (16 February – 12 April 2025).
The presentation, launched as usual in July to give an orientation “to those who must plan the new pastoral educative year from September,” is therefore written “with four hands”. Later on, Fr. Martoglio “will prepare and develop the text of the commentary on the Strenna, which he will present to the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and the entire Salesian Family.”
“Hope” is the theme at the center of a journey that the Salesian Family will take with young people during 2025. The basics that helped identify the theme are two important anniversaries planned for next year: the Church’s Ordinary Jubilee for the Year 2025, which the Holy Father Pope Francis called with his Bull Spes Non Confundit (Hope does not disappoint, Rom 5: 5); and the 150th anniversary of the first Salesian Missionary Expedition, sent by Don Bosco to Argentina.
Among the various ideas offered, the text speaks of the dreams of young people, carried forward with “authentic hope” and loaded with the future. “Young people have the right to dream of a better tomorrow. They have in their hands the possibility of being born again and always starting over, studying and working, to build a future rich in humanity and hope.”
As an example, some of them are presented with this invitation:
“Like them, day after day, we must continue our daily pilgrimage, following a path that leads young people to live in hope, because young people know that it is possible to dream, convinced that when dreams are guaranteed by the Lord who sustains them, they will become reality.”
