Presiding over the closing celebration of the General Chapter in Turin, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, the former Rector Major, along with his predecessor, Fr. Pascual Chávez Villanueva, and successor, Fr. Fabio Attard, invited his fellow Salesians during the Eucharist, to be new Don Boscos for today’s world: “missionaries in love, captivated by Christ, and compelled to share the love that transformed their lives.”

The Mass, a historic first in the Congregation’s history, brings together three Rectors Major concelebrating in the global heart of Salesian spirituality. “A very meaningful celebration,” Cardinal Artime called it. “Everything takes us back to the origins of this precious adventure and reality, where our Father heard what God was asking of him and where everything began. Vocationally and charismatically, we were all born here. Today is a beautiful moment to thank the Lord for the many signs of the Holy Spirit at the end of this Chapter.”

During the homily, Cardinal Artime emphasized once more: “How could we not bless and thank the Lord for the grace, mercy, and love with which He cares for and watches over Don Bosco’s Family—especially his Salesian sons and daughters today?”

Cardinal Artime highlighted Don Bosco’s greatness. Citing Pope Francis several times—both in his message to GC29 and his recent encyclical Dilexit Nos on the Sacred Heart of Jesus—Cardinal Artime highlighted Don Bosco’s ability to be moved, to let his heart be pierced by the suffering of abandoned youth, and to respond selflessly by dedicating his life entirely to their well-being.

He reminded them that Salesians are not masters of anything, least of all young people—they are servants in the name of the Lord. He warned against the temptations of power and comfort, calling for a renewed passion for Christ, which fuels total dedication to today’s youth. Every Salesian, he said, should be able to tell young people sincerely: “You can count on us. We exist for you, and we will never abandon you.”

He also returned to a familiar theme from his ten years as Rector Major: the non-negotiable importance of fraternity. “It is not optional or accidental,” he said. “It is essential to our charism. When lived authentically, it becomes a powerful source of attraction—a true ‘magnetism.’”

Courtesy: ANS Turin

In a moving gesture of spiritual significance on the day of departure from the 29th General Chapter (GC29), the Rector Major, Rev. Fr. Fabio Attard, on April 9, 2025 presented the “Medal of Mary” to the Provincial, Rev. Fr. Sebastian Kuricheal, and the two delegates of GC29, Rev. Fr. Joy Kachappilly and Rev. Fr. Nicodim Aind, along with the Regional Councillor for South Asia, Rev. Fr. Biju Michael.

What makes the medal profoundly meaningful is its origin — it had spent a night at Colle Don Bosco, precisely in the place where St. John Bosco was born. “This is not a pious gesture,” said Fr. Attard, addressing the assembly with heartfelt sincerity, “but a real act of entrustment to our Mother.”

Reflecting on the spiritual depth of the past weeks, Fr. Attard added, “I’ve only just arrived, two weeks ago, while you have been here for eight weeks… carry the joy and treasures of the GC29 back to the provinces with courage and hope.”

As the General Chapter drew to a close, the chapter members returned home with more than just a document. They bore in their hearts a renewed spiritual fervor — a shared desire to deepen their relationship with Christ and to live by the Marian invitation that echoed throughout the assembly: “Do whatever He tells you.”

This phrase, spoken by Mary at the wedding at Cana, served as the guiding inspiration during days of prayer, discernment, and fraternal dialogue. The Medal of Mary thus becomes both a memento and a mission — a call to entrust the future of the Congregation to the loving care of the Mother of God and to walk forward in faith, united in purpose.

With recollected minds and hearts, the members of the General Chapter (GC 29) entered through the Holy Door and, reverentially bowing towards the Altar of the Chair at St. Peter’s Basilica, settled among the pews to take part in the concelebrated Eucharist presided over by Fr. Fabio Attard, the Rector Major on Friday, April 11.

The Eucharist was solemnized by a celestial choir and well attended by Religious and other ordinary folk who came to the Basilica to spiritually benefit from the jubilee year.

In his homily, the Rector Major, quoting the Jesuit Theologian Henri de Lubac, insisted on the faithful and silent living of our Christian and Salesian vocation even in the context of persecution, in imitation of our Lord, who continued to do good even when he was falsely accused and persecuted.

After the well-participated Eucharist, the members scouted around the Basilica, whispering prayers and taking photos to keep their memories alive. After lunch, some participants visited important places in Rome connected with Don Bosco.

Courtesy: BIS

The 29th General Chapter of the Salesian Congregation concluded with the Eucharistic celebration on April 12 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Rome. The Rector Major Fr. Fabio expressed profound gratitude for the experience lived during the General Chapter, describing it as a moment of Salesian Pentecost. He highlighted how the Holy Spirit guided every phase of the Chapter through the method of conversation in the Spirit, and he invited the entire Congregation to continue on this path of listening and discernment.

The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, together with the members of the General Chapter and more than 300 Salesians concelebrating the Mass. Many Salesians from various communities in Rome, members of the FMA General Council, led by the Mother General, Sr. Chiara Cazzuola, numerous Salesian Sisters from FMA communities, and several civil authorities gathered to celebrate the culmination of this pivotal moment in the life of the Salesian Congregation.

Key Points from Fr. Fabio’s Address

The Presence of the Holy Spirit:
The Chapter experienced a moment of Pentecost, in which the Holy Spirit was constantly invoked and perceived, guiding the Salesians in their discernment.

The Chapter as a Milestone:
Fr. Fabio described the Chapter as a milestone that ensures continuity with the journey begun in Valdocco, which is now renewed with the same spirit of commitment and dedication.

The Final Document:
The Chapter concluded with the approval of a Final Document, which will guide the Congregation from 2025 to 2031. However, Fr. Fabio emphasized that the value of this document will depend on the Salesians’ ability to maintain the spirit of listening, openness, and accompaniment by the Holy Spirit.

Personal Conversion:
Fr. Fabio stressed the importance of personal conversion, emphasizing that every pastoral renewal must start with a profound and authentic change in each Salesian’s heart. Personal conversion, he said, is not an intimate experience but the foundation for renewed pastoral and spiritual care.

Knowing Don Bosco:
It is not enough to love Don Bosco; it is necessary to know him deeply. Fr. Fabio warned against a superficial knowledge of the Salesian charism, which risks reducing the mission to mere superficial activities. He urged Salesians to study Don Bosco seriously to embody his spirit in today’s contexts.

A Sign of Hope in a Fragmented World:
In a world marked by conflicts, wars, and ideologies that strip young people of dignity, Fr. Fabio reminded the Salesians that they must be a sacrament of hope, offering young people spaces for growth, welcome, and a future.

Courage and Authenticity:
He called on the Salesians to grow in fidelity and prophecy, emphasizing that these virtues form the foundation of the Salesian mission. The courage shown during the Chapter must serve as the basis for tackling future challenges without being paralyzed by fear.

New Challenges:
He identified two areas of focus for the future:
. Artificial intelligence (AI) is seen as a new frontier for the Salesian mission. Fr. Fabio reminded us that while AI can be a helpful tool, it can never replace the human and pastoral touch that defines the Salesian charism.
. Integral ecology requires a change in mindset and an educational commitment to fostering a healthy relationship with creation.

The Vision of the Valdocco Oratory:
Fr. Fabio reiterated that the model of the Valdocco Oratory—a home, a parish, a school, and a playground—must remain the permanent criterion for discerning and renewing every Salesian activity.

Words of Gratitude
At the end of his speech, Fr. Fabio expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Fr. Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major, for his contribution in guiding the Congregation during the Chapter preparation. He also expressed his appreciation to Fr. Alphonse Owoudou, moderator of the Chapter, for his dedication in coordinating the work. He thanked Fr. Pascual Chávez for his valuable contribution during the Chapter and for agreeing to prepare reflections that would be useful for implementing the directives of the Chapter. Then, the moderator, Fr. Alphonse Owoudou, officially declared the 29th General Chapter closed.

At the conclusion, the Chapter members, turning to the famous painting of Mary Help of Christians, entrusted the fruits of the General Chapter to the Blessed Mother and renewed their commitment to live Don Bosco’s charism with authenticity, singing and praying the Marian hymn.

Courtesy: BIS

In recent years, the Salesian Congregation has gradually embraced a broader and more contemporary understanding of the concept of “mission.” This theological and pastoral evolution has led to a re-reading of the traditional notion of mission in light of new socio-cultural, ecclesial, and digital challenges.

Today, speaking of “missions” no longer means only thinking of geographically distant lands or so-called “mission territories.” Rather, it recognizes that the call to evangelize crosses cultural, social, and even digital boundaries of today’s world. The mission takes place wherever there is a need to proclaim the Gospel—including in countries with a long Christian tradition, which now call for a new evangelization, as highlighted in Evangelii Gaudium (no. 14).

This shift in perspective has been taking root in the life of the Congregation for decades: Salesian missionaries now come from all continents and are sent all over the world, bearing witness to an intercultural and universal vision of the missionary charism.

Even the Special General Chapter (GC20) acknowledged this development:
“Re-proclaiming the Gospel and reestablishing the Church in de-Christianized areas is also missionary action” (GC20, no. 465).

During GC29, this renewed vision was formally adopted as a shared heritage of the Congregation. Through a process of deep discernment and dialogue, the Chapter approved a revision of Article 30 of the Salesian Constitutions, which will now be submitted to the Holy See for approval.

The proposed new version of the article reads:
“People not yet evangelized have always been the focus of Don Bosco’s apostolic zeal and concern. They continue to inspire and sustain our missionary fervor: we see missionary work as an essential characteristic of our Congregation. Through missionary action, we carry out a patient work of evangelization, the establishment of the Church within a human group, and the revitalization of faith even in countries with an ancient Christian tradition…”

“It is especially meaningful that, in this 150th anniversary year of the first missionary expedition, we have approved the updating of the concept of mission in our Constitutions,” emphasized the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard.

ANS – Rome