A Rich and Representative Participation

The meeting was attended by 29 Provincials in office from as many Provinces: 13 from the Mediterranean Region and 16 from the Central and Northern Europe Region. They were joined by four Provincials-designate awaiting installation (Spain–St James Major, Slovakia, Czechia, and Poland–Piła), as well as the Provincial Delegate for Belarus within the Poland–Warsaw (PLE) Province.

About a dozen other Salesian figures also contributed by presenting and deepening various topics discussed during the sessions. Notably present were many members of the General Council of the Congregation, beginning with the Rector Major, Fr Fabio Attard, along with his Vicar, Fr Stefano Martoglio; the General Councilor for Formation, Fr Silvio Roggia; the General Councilor for the Missions, Fr Jorge Mario Crisafulli; the Economer General, Fr Gabriel Stawowy; and the Regional Councilors for Europe: Fr Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy (Mediterranean) and Fr Roman Jachimowicz (Central and Northern Europe).

Opening Address of the Rector Major

In his introductory greeting, the Rector Major delivered a wide-ranging address linked to the distinctive developments of the 29th General Chapter (GC29), held in Valdocco one year ago. On that occasion, Salesians were urged to be passionate about God and dedicated to young people—two expressions that remain timely and demanding for Salesians in Europe today.

As “passionate” men, Salesians “do not accept standing still. Rather, we want to be people who, with great freedom, live a path of human, spiritual, and charismatic growth, convinced that our example and witness are the most significant and sought-after gift we can offer.” To live truly “dedicated” to the young, the Sons of Don Bosco are called to carry forward their mission as a broad and integrated community—“men and women, young and adults, lay people and priests”—renewing the light that shone in 19th-century Valdocco and which Don Juan Edmundo Vecchi recognized as the forge of “a new culture, not in an academic sense, but in the direction of new internal relationships between young people and educators, between lay people and priests, between artisans and students—a relationship that influenced the life of the neighborhood and the city.”

Reading the Signs of the Times

The Rector Major also referred to three recent public interventions from 2026: by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney; by Mario Draghi, former President of the European Central Bank; and by Pope Leo XIV. Through their words, Fr Attard highlighted the depth of the change underway in contemporary society: a change described as “a rupture, not a transition” (Carney), and “a passage from this order to what will come after, which will not be easy for Europe” (Draghi). Above all, he emphasized the consequences of this transformation, where a true “short circuit” of human rights is occurring and where “only the earthly city seems to exist, enclosed within its own boundaries,” because “our time appears inclined to deny ‘citizenship rights’ to the City of God” (Pope Leo XIV).

In this context, the 11th Successor of Don Bosco urged the Provincials of Europe to COMMIT themselves through reflection, study, listening, and sharing to renew the prophetic dimension of the Salesian presence, without merely repeating what is already known; to CONNECT with today’s young people by living the Salesian sacrament of presence with continuous and coherent witness; and to COMMUNICATE, through words and above all through actions and lifestyle, the joy of the Gospel. “The Salesian Congregation of the coming decades is built by us, together, and in moments like these, with hearts open to the Spirit and ears attentive to the search of the young,” he concluded.

The First Day’s Program

Following the Rector Major’s address, the work continued with the presentation of the new Ratio, led by Fr Silvio Roggia, General Councilor for Formation, and Fr Guido Errico, his collaborator in the Formation Sector, who offered an in-depth reflection on elements particularly relevant to life and mission in the European context. After dialogue and sharing in the assembly, the first day concluded with the Eucharist presided over by Fr Fabio Attard.

Comment by Fr Roman Jachimowicz

At the end of the first day, the Regional Councilor for Central and Northern Europe, Fr Roman Jachimowicz, commented: “We have gathered here in Valdocco from all over Europe because we are convinced that in this epochal change the Salesian charism still has much to say and to give. The challenges are many, but if our charism is to remain relevant, we must be able to offer new responses for new times. With Don Bosco and Mary Help of Christians, under the guidance of our Rector Major, we look ahead with confidence, ever more passionate about Jesus Christ and dedicated to our young people today.”

{gallery}Italia – Incontro Isp Europa 2026{/gallery}