The in-depth segment, titled "The Salesian Family at the Service of Youth Education," aired on Belgium’s public broadcaster RTBF as part of the program "En Quête de Sens" ("In Search of Meaning").
For this special feature on Don Bosco, two reports were produced—one in Liège and the other in Brussels. In Liège, Belgian television visited the "Bosco Games" event, an afternoon of games held at the Don Bosco Institute. On this occasion, Salesian Fr. Pierre Verger highlighted the importance of trust in St. John Bosco’s educational method. "He used to say that without affection, there is no trust, and without trust, there is no education," he emphasized.
In Brussels, the focus was on the Don Bosco Institute in Ganshoren, which provides support to 80 young people aged 6 to 21, even though it is not a traditional school.
Reflecting on the Salesian presence in Belgium over the years, Fr. Xavier recalled the words Don Bosco heard in his Dream of the Nine Years: "Not with blows, but with kindness and charity, you must win over these friends of yours."
Sr. Delafon, in turn, emphasized what she called "the family spirit." Speaking about her community, she explained, "At the heart of this house lies our family, the six sisters, and our dedicated volunteers who connect us to the outside world." She continued, "All our structures are called ‘houses’ for a reason."
The broadcast also addressed key educational challenges and the vulnerabilities of today’s youth. Fr. Xavier and Sr. Delafon discussed issues such as violence, addiction, and the risks associated with Artificial Intelligence. Sr. Delafon reminded listeners that across every continent, the Salesian Family’s priority remains unwavering: caring for young people and their education.
The episode, which offers an excellent overview of the legacy of St. John Bosco and St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello, is available on the CathoBel YouTube channel.
