Participants deepen commitment to ongoing education for youth.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY (July 15, 2025) Salesian missionaries with the Province of St. Lucas in Venezuela* were able to provide training on the “Bosco Way Walking with Don Bosco Toward the Salesian Identity” thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The project sought to provide pastoral and educational staff with a deeper understanding of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. Nearly 500 people participated in the five regional training meetings.
In addition to learning more about the life of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello, participants deepened their vocational commitment, enhanced their capacity for comprehensive emotional and spiritual support, and acquired tools for leading youth groups with creativity and adaptability. Training sessions fostered teamwork, co-responsibility and a shared Salesian identity among lay people and Salesians.
A Salesian noted, “The experience promoted ongoing education and enriched the Salesian Youth Ministry with renewed energy, fraternity, and a stronger pastoral mission, enabling teachers to more effectively support the integral growth of young people.”
Jesmary, a Salesian animator and advisor at the Miguel Magone Oratory in Sarria, said, “For me to know the life of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello helps me to improve my service, to know deeply what they did and how their life can be a testimony for me to teach young people to be a little like them.”
Sister Sandra García, a daughter of the Divine Savior in the community of El Tostao, Barquisimeto, explained, “Each young person has a different process and applying the preventive system that leads them to a change of life. Each one shows it in a different way, some get closer to God, others get closer to their family, and others are more integrated into the community. I feel fortunate and at the same time with a great commitment because being part of the Salesian family requires loving young people, first feeling loved by God to be able to love young people.”
Salesian missionaries have been living and working in Venezuela long before the country’s political and economic crisis began. They operate schools, youth centers, and other programs that support youth in need and their families. An estimated 87% of the population is currently living in poverty, and essential goods such as food and medicine are scarce.
*Any goods, services or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.
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About Salesian Missions USA
Salesian Missions is headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, and is part of the Don Bosco Network—a worldwide federation of Salesian NGOs. The mission of the U.S.-based nonprofit Catholic organization is to raise funds for international programs that serve youth and families in poor communities around the globe. The Salesian missionaries are made up of priests, brothers and sisters, as well as laypeople—all dedicated to caring for poor children throughout the world in more than 130 countries and helping young people become self-sufficient by learning a trade that will help them gain employment. To date, more than 3 million youth have received services funded by Salesian Missions. These services and programs are provided to children regardless of race or religion. For more information, go to SalesianMissions.org.