Rome (Italy). On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Don Bosco’s Dream at nine years, the Youth Ministry Sector is promoting the celebration of the Salesian Youth Synod (SYS), which will be held from 11 to 16 August 2024, in Turin-Valdocco and Colle Don Bosco.
The SYS aims to involve and bring together young people from the Salesian Provinces around the world, to value and deepen Don Bosco’s Dream, rediscovering its meaning for spirituality, discernment, and the realization of one’s vocation.
A maximum of two young people – between 18 and 30 years old – were invited to the event from each Province of the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, involved in pastoral animation in local and Province realities and in the activities of the Salesian Youth Movement. Together with them, two Salesians and two Daughters of Mary Help of Christians will participate for each Region.
More than 370 people are expected (187 women and 185 men), coming from 83 countries, of which 293 are young people, representing the diversity of cultures and territorial youth realities, who will have the right to vote in the assembly. 14 of them are members of the Core Group, the Secretariat of the Synod,
The Rector Major, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime; 41 SDB, 18 FMA, 15 musicians, and 5 lay people from the technical staff will participate in the Synod, without the right to vote. Among the FMA are Sister Lolia Annie Pfozhumai, collaborator of the Youth Ministry Sector of the FMA Institute and referent for the SYM, and the other collaborators of the Sector.
The event is organized in three phases. The first preparatory phase, of listening and dialogue, took place in each Province. The participation of all was activated through consultation in the process of preparing the Synod, in order to bring together all the voices that are an expression of the youth of the world. For this reason, a preliminary questionnaire was proposed for each Province, with the aim of drafting the Instrumentum Laboris.
The second phase is the celebratory one at Colle Don Bosco, with the synodal methodology, in a spiritual climate and taking care of the moments of the small linguistic groups (Minor Circles) of discussion on the Instrumentum Laboris, to ensure greater participation, which culminates in the Plenary Assembly. The last phase of action includes the work on the final document. To carry forward the organizational work of the Youth Synod, working commissions have been set up, of which the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians are also a part.
To follow the event:
