“Do Whatever He Tells You”: The Rector Major Presents the Strenna 2026 to the Salesian Family

In the presence of the Mother General of the FMA, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, the Councillors of the General Council of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and representatives of the various Groups of the Salesian Family, Fr Fabio Attard, 11th Successor of Don Bosco, officially presented the Strenna 2026, entitled ‘Do whatever he tells you – Believers, free to serve’, together with the Strenna video produced by the Social Communication Sector in collaboration with IME Comunications.

The auditorium witnessed the participation of numerous distinguished guests, including the Vicar of the Rector Major, Fr Stefano Martoglio; the General Councillor for Social Communication, Fr Fidel Orendain; Central Delegate of the Rector Major for the Secretariat for the Salesian Family, Fr Joan Lluis Playà;  the Superior of the Vice-Province ‘Mary Seat of Wisdom’, Fr Josè Anibal Milhais Mendonça Pinto; the World Coordinator of the Association of Salesian Cooperators, Antonio Boccia; and the Mother General of the Salesian Oblates of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mother Graziella Maria Benghini.

The evening was opened by Sr Leslie Sandigo, FMA General Councillor for the Salesian Family, who warmly welcomed those present and those connected via live streaming. In her introductory words, she emphasised the value of the Strenna as a gift from the Rector Major and as a sign of unity for the whole Salesian Family, recalling the heart of the message: to accept Mary’s invitation to the wedding at Cana with the same willingness and freedom as the servants, rediscovering our identity as servants of the Lord at the service of young people.

This was followed by an intense introductory prayer, inspired by the Gospel passage of the wedding at Cana, animated by the singing of the Salesian novices. During the prayer, five amphorae were brought onto the stage, symbolising the great areas of Salesian life and mission – living faith, educational passion, fraternal communion, prophecy, co-responsibility. The last amphora was carried together by the Rector Major, the Mother General and the World Coordinator of the Salesian Cooperators, signifying the shared and co-responsible dimension of the Salesian charism.

At the end of the prayer, the video presentation of the Strenna 2026 was screened in a world premiere, offering a current and engaging reading of the theme starting from the Gospel scene at Cana. The video highlighted how Mary’s invitation – ‘Do whatever he tells you’ – opens up a process of faith, freedom and service, which today can be translated into a concrete journey marked by four verbs: look, listen, choose, act. A journey that challenges the Salesian Family not to remain spectators, but to be protagonists of God’s action in history, especially alongside young people and those who ‘have no more wine’.

After watching the video, Sr Ausilia De Siena, FMA General Councillor for Communication, led a moment of dialogue and discussion, involving Marta Rossi, Salesian Cooperator, Alice Ferrigno, student at Auxilium, and Fr Fabio Attard himself. The dialogue, enriched by some interventions from the audience, allowed for a deeper understanding of the pastoral meaning of the Strenna and its concrete implications for the daily life of educational communities.

In response to questions that emerged from the dialogue, about why young people should follow Christ, it was reiterated that faith comes from an encounter and not from a duty, when authentic experiences and credible witnesses open up freedom. On how to bring back the ‘good wine’ in a distracted world, the need for an empathetic gaze, capable of entering into reality without judging, was emphasised. Regarding the Strenna methodology, it was clarified that it is not about techniques, but about processes that arise from being rooted in Christ. To the question of distance from young people, the answer was the creation of credible environments where questions can emerge. On how to go beyond first impressions, it emerged that authentic communities open paths, while the fears of adults risk blocking processes.

On the question of accompaniment, Mary was pointed to as a model of discreet and trusting presence. On the “new wine” for Salesian Cooperators, there was a call to return to Don Bosco’s original vision and to the co-responsibility of the laity. With regard to technological distraction, it was stated that this is a global challenge to be addressed with humanising relationships. On the role of the servants in the story of the wedding at Cana, it was highlighted that they are not mere executors, but people entrusted with a responsibility: they listen to the word of Jesus, they trust, they take risks and become an active part of the miracle, an image of a Salesian Family called to serve with freedom, co-responsibility and trust in God’s action. Finally, on the witness of faith, it was recalled that the Holy Spirit converts and that believers are asked to sow with fidelity and joy.

At the end of the dialogue, there was a concluding message by Mother Chiara Cazzuola, who expressed her heartfelt thanks to the Rector Major for the spiritual depth and richness of content of the Strenna 2026, emphasising how it represents a timely and prophetic call to live a faith rooted in Christ, capable of generating authentic freedom and joyful service, in full fidelity to Don Bosco’s charism. As a symbolic gesture of gratitude, the Mother General offered a  significant gift to the Rector Major: an icon of the Good Shepherd, a sign of communion, entrustment and shared pastoral responsibility.

The evening ended with the singing of the Magnificat, in an atmosphere of gratitude, communion and renewed commitment, entrusting the Salesian Family throughout the world with the Strenna 2026 as a spiritual and pastoral compass for the coming year.