The work of the International Congress continued on Saturday, October 1, maintaining the usual layout already used on the previous two days. In the morning, the meditative journey closed on the episode of the resurrection of the son of the widow of Nain. "By raising the young man from the dead, the family is restored, reestablishing the bonds of communication between mother and son (...). This is the great miracle of this resurrection story, the presence of a God who accompanies His people, who restores hope and life to people, who generates unity in families and society (...). As a Salesian Congregation, we are daily witnesses of how Jesus continues to resurrect thousands of young people and families," were some of the insights offered by the two guides of the Lectio Divina, Fr. Rafael Bejarano, Reference Person for Social Works within the Youth Ministry Department and coordinator of the Congress, and Mr. Javier Carabaño Rodriguez, a specialist in communication and identity and linked to the Salesian environment.

Next, Carlos Ballesteros, Director of the Chair of Social Impact at the Pontifical University of Comillas, in Madrid, gave the day's keynote address on "The Footprint We Leave. Challenges and opportunities for measuring the impact we generate." In his talk, Dr. Ballestreros began by highlighting the difference between achieving a particular result or success and the deeper meaning of generating impacts in social work. He then offered key questions to ask oneself to succeed in taking action to generate effective impact and also presented techniques, guidelines, and tools for achieving effective evaluation of the change generated. His detailed and timely talk touched on many concrete points inherent in the management and direction of ordinary works and social services and concluded by pointing everyone to the many commitments of the Sustainable Development Goals promoted by the United Nations, an opportunity also for the Church to participate in building "a better, more fraternal, clean, just, free and charitable world."

The day continued with the dialogue session among the young on the role of Salesian Past Pupils in social works, and with the various participants attending, divided into groups, the third phase of the morning mini-courses and the afternoon good practices they had chosen.

On Sunday, October 2, the activities, limited to the morning only, restarted with the last session of mini-courses and culminated with the final conclusions offered by Fr. García Morcuende. In his articulate speech, these started first, from some identified EVIDENCE, to then indicate a series of CONVICTIONS placed at the basis of the Congress, to finally outline some PROPOSALS for the FUTURE.

In the area of EVIDENCE, he pointed out the changes induced by socioeconomic globalization and cultural globalization, as well as the Salesian preferential option of service to the least, the need for coordination mechanisms such that the action of OSSS in the Provinces is not left isolated, and the richness constituted by the great Salesian experience in the field and the diversity of initiatives carried out in the world.

On CONVICTIONS, the General Councilor for Youth Ministry indicated several paths for OSSS to be always meaningful, that is, "battles to be won, to pursue dreams and educate people." It is about moving "from the trap of 'retreat' to mobilization in unknown territories"; from fragmentation to networks and interdependence; from a functional relationship to an approach that knows how to manifest Salesian concern; from simple aspirations to authentic respect for Human Rights, understood as a guarantee of respect for human dignity; from the paradigm of efficiency to an approach based on responsibility; from the pursuit of linear paths to accompaniment along individualized and holistic development processes; and all this by working on all fronts, that of politics, human development and denunciation of unjust realities.

Finally, Fr. García Morcuende gave those present a detailed list of 20 PROPOSALS for the FUTURE, proposals that can be put into practice at the local, provincial or national, and Regional or Congregational levels: he emphasized the search for synergies and collaborations at various levels, innovations to be made already in initial formation, in enhancing the digital dimension, in diversifying the sources of livelihood of the works, in training staff and volunteers, in adopting or refining advocacy activities; he also offered suggestions for work in some preferred areas of Salesian social action, such as with migrants and refugees or in Vocational Training; and proposed working toward measuring the impacts generated, developing a global map of OSSSs and an agenda of causes to be advocated globally.

Finally, the International Congress of Salesian Works and Social Services concluded with Mass presided over by the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime.

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