(ANS – Ciudad del Vaticano) – +Last Monday, 12 January 2026, some of the highest authorities of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), their university institutions and the Dicastery of the Holy See responsible for culture and education, met in the Vatican for a moment of listening and shared reflection on the meaning and prospects of the Salesian educational mission in the current context. The meeting was presided over by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education.
Representing the Salesian Family were the Vicar of the Rector Major, Fr Stefano Martoglio, SDB; and the Vicar of the Mother General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Sister María del Rosario García Ribas; alongside them were the heads of the two main university institutions of the Salesian Family: for the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS), the Rector Magnificus, Fr Andrea Bozzolo, together with the Dean of the UPS educational area, Fr Antonio Dellagiulia, SDB; and for the FMA university area, the Dean of the ‘Auxilium’ Faculty, Sister Piera Ruffinatto, accompanied by the Vice-Dean, Sister Martha Séïde; also present were the two General Councillors for youth ministry: for the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Sister Runita Borja; and for the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr Rafael Bejarano.
The discussion focused on the educational and charismatic mission that the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians carry out together, particularly in the field of higher education, schools, and vocational formation centres. There was a strong awareness that this mission stems from the charism received from St John Bosco and St Mary Domenica Mazzarello, and that it continues to be oriented preferentially towards the service of the poorest and most vulnerable boys and girls.
The participants recognised that one of the main challenges of the present time is to faithfully preserve the Salesian charism, without losing its prophetic force, and at the same time to carefully nurture the institutional nature of educational and academic works. This attention is necessary to guarantee the quality of the educational programme and to maintain a credible and fruitful dialogue with the cultural, social and ecclesial realities of the different countries and continents where the Salesian Family is present.
In the dialogue with Cardinal Tolentino de Mendonça, it was emphasised that Salesian educational institutions, especially universities, are called to contribute to the integral development of the human person and to the transformation of culture, promoting a vision inspired by the Gospel and oriented towards the building of the Kingdom of God. Education, lived in the Salesian style, was recognised as a privileged space for the encounter between faith and culture, capable of generating hope, social responsibility and commitment to the common good.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continue the journey of collaboration between the various Salesian realities, strengthening existing synergies and enhancing the common educational and charismatic heritage, so that university, school and formation works can respond with renewed creativity to the challenges of the contemporary world, remaining faithful to their origins and their mission in the service of young people.
Fuente: ANS – “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana”