Centered on the theme “Do whatever He tells you,” the pilgrimage was experienced as a renewed call to place Christ at the heart of the educational and pastoral mission, rediscovering Mary as a guiding and accompanying presence who leads believers to Jesus.
Presentation of the Rector Major’s 2026 Strenna
A distinctive element of this year’s gathering was the presentation of the Rector Major’s 2026 Strenna: “Do whatever He tells you. Believers, free to serve.” Normally presented in January, adverse weather conditions earlier in the year led to its inclusion in the Fátima program, allowing the Salesian Family to reflect together on its pastoral significance.
During the opening session on Saturday morning at the Paul VI Pastoral Center, Fr. Tarcízio Morais, Provincial of the Salesians in Portugal, introduced the Strenna as an invitation to understand faith not as an abstract idea but as a lived experience that shapes life and mission. Faith, he emphasized, is not decorative or distant, but a flame that illuminates one’s entire existence.
Drawing from the Gospel episode of the Wedding at Cana, where Mary tells the servants, “Do whatever He tells you,” the reflection highlighted four essential attitudes for the Salesian Family today: seeing, listening, choosing and acting. Fr. Morais underlined that authentic Salesian education does not consist in providing ready-made answers but in helping young people to listen to Jesus. Mary was presented as a model of accompaniment and freedom.
The reflection also posed concrete challenges: to educate for mature faith, to form young people for true freedom, and to accompany them with courage, closeness and hope. The session included musical animation by the Salesians of Porto, who performed the hymn linked to the Strenna theme. Sr. Deolinda Teixeira, Provincial of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), offered a presentation on St. Maria Troncatti, further enriching the spiritual dimension of the gathering.
The pilgrimage also marked the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Salesian Cooperators, highlighted as a living expression of Don Bosco’s dream: a vast network of laypeople committed to sanctifying the world through education and service to the young.
National SYM Day: A Courtyard of Joy and Mission
Alongside the pilgrimage, the National Day of the Salesian Youth Movement transformed Fátima into a vibrant Salesian courtyard. The day began with welcoming activities and prayer, followed by a creative dynamic titled “Saints in Fátima,” inspired by the Parable of the Talents.
Younger participants moved through twenty activity stations, each associated with a saint and a particular gift. As they completed the challenges, they received symbolic face paintings representing the talents discovered and shared. By the end of the morning, their painted faces became visible signs of the gifts entrusted to them.
Older youth engaged in testimonies and formation sessions, including contributions from Francisca Opinião, the Corrêa d’Oliveira family and Henrique Gonçalves. A missionary roundtable featuring Sr. Marisa and Miguel Cabral Silva provided further inspiration. The program intentionally created spaces where faith, culture, friendship and discernment met in an authentically Salesian way.
“Saltimbanco”: A Dream that becomes a Journey
One of the most anticipated moments was the staging of the musical “Saltimbanco,” performed in two sessions. Directed artistically by Matilde Trocado, with musical direction by Carlos Meireles and acting direction by João Duarte Costa, the production featured 23 young performers from various Salesian artistic groups.
More than a musical, it was an educational and artistic experience deeply rooted in the Salesian spirit. The story follows Luca, a creative and restless young man who feels called to journey toward Valdocco—the symbolic birthplace of Don Bosco’s dream. Guided in his dreams by the mysterious Maria Argentina, Luca encounters people marked by exclusion and longing for belonging. Together they become “saltimbancos,” a community of friendship and hope in motion.
The musical conveyed a powerful message: where there is a dream, there is always a path—and the most beautiful part of the journey is those who walk it with us.
Mary at the Heart of the Pilgrimage
On 16 May, Saturday afternoon, participants gathered at the Chapel of the Apparitions for a Marian greeting. This simple yet profound moment of prayer before Our Lady of Fátima renewed the central call of the pilgrimage: to listen to Mary in order to reach Christ.
The day concluded with the celebration of the Eucharist in the Basilica of the Holy Trinity, presided over by Fr. Tarcízio Morais. In his homily, he reflected on the meaning of the Ascension, not as Christ’s departure but as the beginning of the Church’s mission. Echoing Don Bosco’s educational vision, he reminded the faithful that Christians live with “feet on the ground and hearts in heaven.” He encouraged all not to remain gazing nostalgically at the sky but to descend into the courtyards of the world, where young people await words of life.
A Pilgrimage that Continues
In his closing message, Fr. Artur Pereira, Provincial Delegate, emphasized that pilgrimage is more than physical movement; it is a journey of transformation and renewal. Inspired by Salesian and Marian spirituality, participants were invited to return to their communities as living signs of hope and educational presence.
The 74th National Salesian Family Pilgrimage once again affirmed itself as one of the most significant annual gatherings of the Salesian movement in Portugal—bringing together different generations around faith, education and a shared commitment to young people.
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