Turin-Valdocco will host the Salesian Family Spirituality Days from January 16 to 19. This is an event that is celebrated annually and brings together members and friends of the Salesian Family from all over the world. In 2025 it reaches its 43rd edition, being a valuable opportunity to deepen the message of the Strenna for 2025, entitled “Anchored in hope, pilgrims with the young”, as well as to celebrate Salesian spirituality, share the charismas and strengthen the fraternal ties between the participants.
Bonus and Jubilee Year
The thematic axis of the 2025 Conference will be “Anchored in hope, pilgrims with young people”, inspired by the message of the Strenna for 2025 and the Jubilee Year proposed by the Pope Francis. This theme highlights the fundamental values of the Salesian Family: hope in Christ as the anchor of life and the path shared with young people, following the example of Don Bosco.
The year 2025 also marks the 150th anniversary of the first Salesian Missionary Expedition, an event that continues to inspire the apostolic and missionary passion of the Salesian Family. During the Conference, the approximately three hundred participants, belonging to the 32 groups of the Salesian Family, will be invited to reflect on how to embody the missionary spirit of Don Bosco today, bringing hope and support to young people around the world.
Event program
The program of the Salesian Family Spirituality Days includes moments of spirituality, reflection and fraternal encounter. Main events include:
This Thursday, January 16, there will be the reception, the presentation of the Spirituality Days and an inaugural prayer; There will be a screening of the video of the Strenna with commentary by the vicar of the Rector Major, Stefano Martogliofollowed by the celebration of the Eucharist and a nighttime moment of prayer and reflection on the theme “Mary, joyful and pilgrim.”
On Friday, January 17, it will begin with a reflection on the Aguinaldo 2025 with the intervention of Cristiana Freni (from the Salesian Pontifical University), a meeting of groups by language, the pilgrimage to the cathedral of Turin and the mass presided over by the auxiliary bishop, Monsignor Alessandro Giraudo; They will also feature the presentation of the figure of youthful and Turinese holiness of Pier Giorgio Frassati (whose remains rest in the cathedral and will be canonized on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at the end of the Youth Jubilee) and a musical evening of meditation and prayer.
One day later, on Saturday, January 18, the opening mass of the day will begin, presided over by Cardinal Monsignor Christopher Lopezarchbishop of Rabat; a round table with young people from the Salesian Youth Movement who participated in the Synod, free visits to Salesian places in Turin; dialogue with Cardinal López on the topic “Missionary expeditions of yesterday – Apostles on mission today”; testimonies and workshops representative of various groups of the Salesian Family and different countries, including a contribution from Ecuador about the blessed Maria Troncatticlose to his canonization.
The last day, Sunday, January 19, will celebrate the closing with the celebration of the Eucharist, reflection groups on the experience, synthesis of what was lived and shared, and a farewell lunch that will seal this experience of communion.
Grace and communion
The Salesian Family Spirituality Days 2025 promise to be an event of grace and communion in which the deep sense of belonging to a great spiritual family will be expressed: sharing hope in Christ, living moments of prayer and reflection, and strengthening ties between the various groups.
In this sense, the Days represent the first stage of a spiritual pilgrimage that will continue throughout the year, in harmony with the jubilee journey of the universal Church. Participants are invited to prepare spiritually, following the guidelines of the Strenna and reflecting on their apostolic and missionary commitment. Furthermore, the jubilee framework will enrich the value of the event, allowing participants to live with renewed intensity the experience of faith and communion, not only during the Days, but also afterwards, applying what they experienced in their local contexts.
Follow it live
For those who cannot physically attend, some sessions will be streamed and available on the website through the ANSChannel YouTube channel, thus providing the possibility of following the events remotely.
For more information, you can visit the official website of the Salesian Family at www.famigliasalesiana.org
