The first week of the programme takes place at Valdocco. After a day of introduction, the participants will visit locations in and around Valdocco to trace the historical development of the Salesian Spirituality as lived out and developed by Don Bosco. In the second week, which is also Holy Week, they will shift to Colle Don Bosco and begin their personal silent, guided retreat.

During the third week, the participants of the SSA will visit more places associated with the life and spirituality of Don Bosco, tracing the early influences. The fourth week will consist of inputs on spiritual accompaniment. And in the final week, the participants will have an opportunity to put into practice the Salesian style of spiritual accompaniment in groups of three.

The English programme had to be postponed twice since 2020 on account of COVID-19. The Spanish and Italian version of the programme was held in August-September 2021. A video documentary (15’ – accessible from this hyperlink) contains testimonies of some of the Salesians who participated.

The SSA is one of the ways of implementing the recommendations contained in Young Salesians and Accompaniment: Orientations and Guidelines, as also the 4th point of the Rector Major’s guidelines for the Congregation after GC28. The urgent need for the formation of spiritual guides had been expressed in the worldwide survey on Salesian Personal Accompaniment conducted in 2016, in which 4000 Salesians participated.

The programme is being facilitated by a team of 5 Salesians led by Bro. Raymond Callo of the Formation Sector. Several facilitators – Salesians, other religious and lay persons – will give their contributions over shorter periods.

The Formation sector hopes to offer the SSA annually in English and in Italian-Spanish, with second and third modules that could be conducted in the different regions.

All communities and confreres are invited to accompany the School with prayer.

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