This year, ‘SEEK’ took place simultaneously in several locations, including Denver, Colorado, and Texas, allowing the Salesian Family to extend its presence and accompaniment to young people from different regions.

Day Zero: Presence Before Programs

The Salesian Family’s journey to SEEK began even before the official opening of the conference. Day zero was marked by arrival, preparation, fraternity, and prayer. As Salesians of Don Bosco, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and committed lay collaborators, the Salesian Family gathered with a clear intention: to be present. The mission was simple: to listen, welcome, and create spaces where young people could speak freely about their lives, their questions, their wounds, and their dreams.

Day One: Listening, Accompanying, and Inviting

The first official day of SEEK provided an opportunity to interact with dozens of young people. Throughout the day, the Salesian presence focused on promoting Don Bosco’s mission through sincere conversations: listening to young people’s concerns, discovering their dreams, and helping them reflect on their desire to serve and give meaning to their lives. The day ended with the celebration of the Eucharist, reminding those present that all vocational ministry springs from Christ and returns to Him.

The Salesian Province of the Western United States was actively present at the Denver conference thanks to a team representing key areas of the provincial mission. Juan Carlos Montenegro, Delegate for Mission Animation, Fr Fabián Cárdenas, Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry, Fr Itchan Lago, Provincial Delegate for Formation, and Luis Chacón, Coordinator of the Salesian Missionary Volunteer Program, were present.

Not only Denver. The Salesians also accompanied the young people in Texas. Under the guidance of Fr Marcos Castillo and Salesian Reegan Ledet, the young people were guided and listened to, in the spirit of Don Bosco.

SEEK came to an end on 5 January, and these days represented a privileged time of grace and vocational discernment. ‘In a world searching for meaning, we trust that God will continue to call generous hearts to serve young people with joy, courage, and hope,’ wrote the Salesians present at the event. ‘May Don Bosco, Mary Help of Christians, and Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati intercede for us, so that many young people may discover that they are not simply called to exist, but to live fully, looking to the heights where God awaits them.’