Italy – A webinar on life in common between Salesians and young people

26 April 2023
Italy – A webinar on life in common between Salesians and young people

(ANS - Rome) - For some years now, the experiences of Life in Common of the Salesians with young people have been spreading in the homes of the Central Italy Circumscription (ICC), as a special occasion of fraternity and family spirit among adolescents and young people with Religious Communities and Pastoral Educational Communities, expressing the desire to harmoniously join the spirituality of daily life and the word of God, faith and life. This is a journey, a simple sign of the times that the Church has accepted and that for several years already has been querying many dioceses, many territories and sees various experiences that revitalize its domestic soul, called to be with Jesus.

In the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Christus vivit of Pope Francis, there is a powerful encouragement to follow with determination this direction that young people themselves are asking of us.

For this reason, this past pastoral year, the Salesians of Don Bosco in Central Italy organized two Consultations to further explore this theme through the experiences already present in their homes. Subsequently, the reflection led to the drafting of a document on these experiences, entitled "A House Annexed to the Oratory. Life with and for young people." The document is to be presented on this occasion.

Here are some quotes from the document:

"'A House attached to the Oratory' is the story of a current experience but with an ancient flavor that for more than a decade some houses of our Salesian reality have been living. To be able to retrace the resulting story is a true exercise of wise reading of the reality inhabited and guided by the gift of the Holy Spirit." (...)

"To the question of a young man who asked if projects of common life were possible in all Salesian houses, Fr. Ángel Fernandez Artime, Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation, wanted to answer 'yes,' adding that the essential thing, aside from possibilities and logistics, is to make each Salesian house another Valdocco; sometimes it will be possible to establish cohabitations of young people within Salesian communities; in other cases, moments of prayer can be shared... What matters is the willingness to live life with young people, making the moments of sharing meaningful.

It is truly uplifting to see the gratitude young people feel for being part of new projects that smell of ancient and authenticity. Being part of a story that precedes us and that will follow us, is the most beautiful way to get involved in life, because it allows for a concrete experience of inhabiting a home, being part of a family, being important to someone, being together on a journey... happy in time and in eternity!"

The presentation of the text during the webinar includes talks by Fr. Rossano Sala, editor of the magazine Note di pastorale giovanile, member of the Centro Nazionale Opere Salesiane d'Italia, former Special Secretary of the XV General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme "Young people, faith and vocational discernment"; and by Fr. Samuele Marelli, parochial vicar in Seregno, Author of the book "Fare casa - giovani e vita comune", former Director and President of the Fondazione Oratori Milanesi (FOM), as well as head of the oratories of the Lombardy dioceses and ecclesiastical consultant of the Milan committee of the Italian Sports Center.

The webinar, aimed primarily at youth group educators and all interested young people, will take place on Thursday, April 27, 2023 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (UTC+2), and can be watched live on the ICC's YouTube channel.

For more information, contact Fr. Francesco De Ruvo, ICC Delegate for Vocation Ministry, at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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