40th Year for Chile, First Year for the USA
By Francis Mijares & Karen Salmeron
As we embraced one another after an incredible past few days and said our last goodbyes, we realized why we were there. At the surface, young Salesians from USA’s Eastern Province, Argentina, Mexico, and Chile gathered to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Salesian Youth Movement, which originated in Chile and has now spread throughout the world. It became clear, however, that we were celebrating the Salesian Youth Movement as a whole, not just in Chile. We gathered to celebrate, strengthen, and renew a movement, which has been so influential in the lives of so many youth over the years.
While we were in Chile, one day was dedicated to the history of the SYM and included a panel of original founders, who shared their direct contribution in igniting the movement. They were truly inspiring, making us realizes that even though the SYM is recently developing in the USA -- other countries have gone through the same trials to get to where they are now. Through workshops and meals, we were able to speak to members of the SYM, learning from them and sharing ideas with them.
The gathering of the young Salesian groups represented something Don Bosco would have smiled upon. It included the union of Salesian priests, sisters & cooperators, as well as lay people and recent alumni. For us in the US we gathered to continue to develop a plan where we will enable recent alumni from Salesian schools and parishes to continue living as disciples of Jesus in the spirit of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. It has become our goal to keep as many young adults close to the Church and the Salesian family during their transition from Salesian environments into college-life and beyond.
Having been a few weeks since our return, we have felt close to the Salesian family despite being on a campus of thousands of students, where likely only ten of them recognize the name Don Bosco. We know that fellow young adults all throughout the Americas, and the world, join us, in our efforts to live out Don Bosco’s vision of joy and holiness for the youth. It is an empowering feeling to know we are not individuals in this effort, but instead members of a family unified in making this dream of youthful holiness a reality for all the youth, including ourselves!
While we were in Chile, one day was dedicated to the history of the SYM and included a panel of original founders, who shared their direct contribution in igniting the movement. They were truly inspiring, making us realizes that even though the SYM is recently developing in the USA -- other countries have gone through the same trials to get to where they are now. Through workshops and meals, we were able to speak to members of the SYM, learning from them and sharing ideas with them.
The gathering of the young Salesian groups represented something Don Bosco would have smiled upon. It included the union of Salesian priests, sisters & cooperators, as well as lay people and recent alumni. For us in the US we gathered to continue to develop a plan where we will enable recent alumni from Salesian schools and parishes to continue living as disciples of Jesus in the spirit of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. It has become our goal to keep as many young adults close to the Church and the Salesian family during their transition from Salesian environments into college-life and beyond.
Having been a few weeks since our return, we have felt close to the Salesian family despite being on a campus of thousands of students, where likely only ten of them recognize the name Don Bosco. We know that fellow young adults all throughout the Americas, and the world, join us, in our efforts to live out Don Bosco’s vision of joy and holiness for the youth. It is an empowering feeling to know we are not individuals in this effort, but instead members of a family unified in making this dream of youthful holiness a reality for all the youth, including ourselves!