Confreres of the New Rochelle Province (SUE) assembled at the Don Bosco Retreat Center in Haverstraw, N.Y., on May 1, 2026, either in person or online. Fr. Dominic Tran, provincial, presided.
In the first session, Matthew Schmerber of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) explained its mission to form young leaders to evangelize on college campuses and in parishes through Bible study groups, retreats, international mission trips, summer projects, and an annual conference. Over 1,000 missionaries are currently active at 259 locations. Some Salesians have already assisted in some programs. FOCUS and the Salesians are considering a deeper Salesian involvement based on a shared charism of evangelizing the young in the spirit of St. Francis de Sales.
In the second session, Fr. Tran presented to the confreres the present state of the province’s futuring plans. This means responding to God’s invitation by drawing closer to him and to the young, accomplished most effectively through the Eucharist. We have established four priorities: evangelization and mission; vocations; caring for the confreres; and a lay project (forming SDBs and lay people to work together for the mission).
By Fr. Mike Mendl, SDB
