“I want the leaders of this movement to be outstanding for their loyalty and quality, and their faithfulness to Jesus, faithfulness to our Salesian charism and to the quality of the educational service we offer. The SYM is about much more than entertainment. It is a vision and a way of life. It calls for cheerfulness, kindness, closeness, presence, and devotion to Mary as our mother."
The festival was celebrated on 23 and 24 July at the Leon XIII Salesian College in the city of Bogotá. About 280 young people of SYM came together to begin the vigil for the 40th anniversary of the SYM in Colombia. The celebration of the Eucharist was presided over by Father Jaime Enrique Morales, SDB, Provincial and founder of the SYM. In it he outlined the commitment to continue working so that the SYM will continue to be alive, taking into account the basic document of the SYM in Colombia, which was presented to the young people. The Eucharist concluded with the presentation of awards to the founders and co-founders of the movement.
After the celebration, supper was served. It began with the screening of an interview which Fr Jaime Enrique Morales, founder of the movement, gave to Sister Marta Díaz, FMA and Sister Elizabeth Guerrero, FMA. Finally the message of the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, was conveyed. He exhorted the members to "continue the good journey" and asked the young people "to make the SYM in Colombia another Valdocco, another Mornese, marked by the Salesian Spirit."
