(ANS – Rome) – Around three hundred and fifty people, coming from all over the world and belonging to dozens of the thirty-two groups of the Salesian Family, are preparing to live in Valdocco the experience of the XLIII Spirituality Days of the Salesian Family (GSFS2025). This edition, which will take place in the atmosphere of the Jubilee and in the memory and impulse of the 150th anniversary of the First Salesian Missionary Expedition, will serve to cultivate the life, mission and communion shared between the various groups, in the light of the message of the Strenna for 2025: “Anchored in hope, pilgrims with the young.”
The JEFS program is detailed below:
Thursday, January 16: “Pilgrims in Valdocco”
– 09:00: Reception;
– 3:00 p.m.: JEFS 2025 inaugural session (streamed via YouTube);
Presentation of the days and prayer:
Video and commentary of the Strenna by Father Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major;
– 6:30 p.m.: Celebration of the Eucharist in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, presided over by Father Martoglio (transmitted via YouTube);
– 9:00 p.m.: Moment of prayer in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, titled “Joyful and Pilgrim Mary,” followed by “Good night” (transmission via YouTube);
Friday, January 17: “Anchored in Hope”
– 08:30: Community prayer and screening of the video “Pilgrims on the Road” (transmission via YouTube);
– 09:00: Deepening of the Strenna: “Anchored in the hope that does not disappoint”, presentation by Cristiana Freni, from the Salesian Pontifical University (transmission via YouTube);
– 11:30: Meeting by linguistic groups;
– 1:00 p.m.: Lunch break;
– 2:15 p.m.: Free visits to some Salesian places;
– 15:30: Pilgrimage to the Duomo of Turin, starting from the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians;
– 17:10: Reception at the Duomo;
– 17:30: Celebration of the Eucharist in the Duomo, presided over by Monsignor Alessandro Giraudo, auxiliary bishop of Turin and Susa;
– 18:30: Presentation of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati;
– 7:30 p.m.: Return to Valdocco and dinner;
– 9:00 p.m.: Moment of prayer with music, meditation and silence in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians: “In-canto per Gesù”followed by “Good night”;
Saturday, January 18: “Pilgrims with the young people”
– 08:30: Personal prayer;
– 09:00: Celebration of the Eucharist in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, presided over by Cardinal Cristóbal López, SDB, Archbishop of Rabat (transmission via YouTube);
– 10:00: Official photo of the JEFS 2025;
– 10:25: Listening to young people: round table with young participants of the Salesian Synod of Youth (transmission via YouTube);
– 11:45: Dialogue with the young people at the round table;
– 1:00 p.m.: Lunch break;
– 2:15 p.m.: Free visits to some Salesian places;
– 15:30: “Missionary expeditions of yesterday – Apostles of mission today”: meeting with Cardinal Cristóbal López, SDB, archbishop of Rabat (transmission via YouTube);
– 16:30: Workshops on the mission in some countries dreamed of by Don Bosco, with testimonies from Patagonia, Uruguay, Japan (Miyazaki), Ecuador (about the future Saint María Troncatti), Brazil, northeast Africa, the Africa Project and the Don Bosco Mission Community;
– 7:30 p.m.: Dinner;
– 9:00 p.m.: Fraternal night;
Sunday, January 19: “The pilgrimage continues: we walk together with the young people”
– 09:00: Personal prayer;
– 09:30: Celebration of the Sunday Eucharist in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, presided over by Father Martoglio (transmission via YouTube);
– 11:00: Meeting by membership groups;
– 12:00: Closing session (transmission via YouTube).
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.
For more information, you can visit the official website of the Salesian Family at www.famigliasalesiana.org.
