Greece – The ecclesiastical context of the Salesian mission in the country

In March this year, the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr Fabio Attard, with the consent of the other members of the General Council, entrusted the new Salesian presence on the Greek island of Syros to the Salesian Province of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Slovenia (SLO), based in Ljubljana. The new Salesian community, comprising four missionary religious, has thus become an integral part of the SLO province.

The Provincial of SLO, Fr Peter Končan, had already visited his confreres in Greece since March. And in the first week of June, the entire Provincial Council of SLO, including the Provincial Secretary, travelled to Greece to make a fraternal visit aimed at getting to know the community and providing spiritual guidance.

Specifically, on Tuesday 2 June 2026, the Slovenian Salesian Province signed a cooperation agreement with the Diocese of Syros, formally signed by the Provincial of SLO, Fr Peter Končan, and the Apostolic Administrator of the diocese, Bishop Sevastainos Rossolatos. The signing ceremony was also attended by the Economer General of the Salesian Congregation, Fr Gabriel Stawowy; the General Councillor for the Missions, Fr Jorge Mario Crisafulli; the members of the SLO Provincial Council and their missionary confreres in Syros, led by the Community Rector, Fr Oscar Tuscano.

Under the terms of the agreement, three parishes have been entrusted to Salesian care.

Thus begins officially the new pioneering Salesian mission on the Greek island of Syros, which, in addition to carrying out parish pastoral work, will also seek to open up new prospects for the development of the Salesian charism in this country, for the good of young people and the Church.