The theme of the SFSD 2025 is “Anchored in hope, pilgrims with young people”, inspired by the Strenna message for 2025 and the Jubilee proposed by Pope Francis. This theme recalls the fundamental values of the Salesian Family: hope in Christ as the anchor of life and the journey shared with young people, following the example of Don Bosco.
The year 2025 also marks the 150th anniversary of the first Salesian missionary expedition, an event that continues to inspire the apostolic and missionary passion of the Salesian Family. During the Days, the approximately 300 representatives expected, representatives of the 32 Groups of the Salesian Family, will be invited to reflect on how to embody the missionary spirit of Don Bosco today, bringing hope and support to young people around the world.
The SFSD program will be full of moments of spirituality, deepening and fraternal encounter. Key events include:
Thursday 16 January: Reception, presentation of the Days and opening prayer, screening of the Strenna video with commentary by the Vicar of the Rector Major, Fr Stefano Martoglio, followed by the Eucharistic Celebration and an evening moment of prayer and reflection on the theme "Joyful and Pilgrim Mary".
Friday, 17 January: Exploring the Strenna 2025 by Cristiana Freni (Pontifical Salesian University), sharing in language groups, a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Turin and the Mass presided over by the Auxiliary Bishop Alessandro Giraudo, the presentation of the figure of youth and holiness in Turin, in Pier Giorgio Frassati (whose remains rest in the Cathedral and who will be canonised on Sunday, 3 August 2025, at the end of the Youth Jubilee) and, finally, a musical evening of meditation and prayer.
Saturday, 18 January: The opening Mass of the day, celebrated by Card. Cristóbal López, SDB, Archbishop of Rabat, a round table with young participants at the Synod of the Salesian Youth Movement, the free visit to some Salesian places in Turin, the meeting and exchange with Card. López on the theme "Missionary Expeditions of Yesteryear – Apostles on Mission Today", and various testimonies/workshops representing different groups of the Salesian Family and various countries – including a contribution from Ecuador, on Blessed Maria Troncatti, close to Canonisation. A fraternal evening will conclude the third day.
Sunday, 19 January: On the last day, the concluding celebration with the Eucharist, the groups sharing the experience, a summary of what has been experienced and shared and a farewell lunch, which will seal the experience of communion lived during the Days.
For those who cannot be physically present, some sessions will be streamed and made available on the website through ANSChannel, the ANS YouTube Channel, thus offering everyone the opportunity to follow the events even at a distance. For detailed knowledge of the sessions available on streaming, please refer to the program attached at the bottom of the page.
At the same time Fr Joan Lluís Playà, SDB, Delegate of the Rector Major for the Salesian Family, has also urged the Provinces of the Salesians of Don Bosco and the different local circumscriptions of the different groups to collaborate together to organise parallel online programmes, adapting the materials of the Days to the needs of their territories.
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: sharing hope in Christ, experiencing moments of prayer and exploring and strengthening the bonds between the various groups.
In this sense, the SFSD2025 represent the first stage of a spiritual pilgrimage that will continue throughout the year, in tune with the Jubilee journey of the universal Church. Participants, in person and online, are required to prepare spiritually, following the instructions of the Strenna and reflecting on their apostolic and missionary commitment. In addition, the Jubilee will enrich the value of the event, allowing participants to live the experience of faith and communion with renewed intensity, both during the Days and afterwards, treasuring what has been experienced in their local scene
For more information, you can visit the official website of the Salesian Family at www.famigliasalesiana.org.
