GOA, September 25, 2026:
Young Salesians Reflect on Youth Ministry and Mission at Two-Day Animation in Goa
28 September 2026
News reported by: Austin Fernandes SDB INP
Don Bosco Provincial House, Odxel, Goa, hosted a two-day animation programme for Young Salesians on September 24–25, based on the Frame of Reference for Salesian Youth Ministry.
Organised by Don Bosco Youth Animation–South Asia (DBYA-SA), the programme brought together 14 participants from Chennai, Trichy, Bengaluru and Panjim for reflection, formation and practical engagement in youth ministry.
The programme began with Holy Mass celebrated by the Rector of the Provincial House, Fr Joel DeSouza. In his welcome address, Fr DeSouza briefly traced the Provincial House's development and encouraged the Young Salesians to “learn from the best and for the best” as they prepared for more effective service to young people.
The first day featured a series of sessions focusing on the Salesian approach to youth ministry. Fr Patrick Lepcha SDB, Director of DBYA-SA, opened the formation sessions with an overview of the situation of young people in the Indian subcontinent. He highlighted the opportunities and challenges confronting today's youth and explored creative, effective Salesian responses.
Fr John Christy SDB led the second and third sessions, offering an in-depth presentation of the Frame of Reference. He focused on the fundamentals of Salesian Youth Ministry, the concept of the Educative Pastoral Community (EPC), and the Salesian Educative Pastoral Plan (SEPP).
A subsequent session examined the roles and responsibilities of the Youth Ministry Delegate, Salesian Youth Movement Director and Youth Services Coordinators. Fr Patrick stressed their importance in linking different sectors of the Salesian mission and ensuring effective coordination in accordance with the SEPP. Drawing from practical experiences and examples, he described these ministry leaders as “master weavers” and key points of coordination in the Salesian mission.
Fr Austin Fernandes SDB, Director of Don Bosco Youth Services (INP), led the day's final session. Drawing parallels between the journey to Emmaus and Salesian Youth Ministry, he invited the participants to walk, listen, ask, share and lead young people towards Christ. He stressed that accompaniment is a defining characteristic of Salesian Youth Ministry and must first be experienced personally before being offered to others.
The second day began with Holy Mass celebrated by Fr Patrick Lepcha, who reflected on the day's readings and the life and spirituality of Blessed Fulton J. Sheen. He encouraged the Young Salesians to take up their responsibility to lead young people towards Christ and pursue their own path to holiness. Referring to Sheen's emphasis on spending “an hour of companionship” with Jesus in Eucharistic adoration, he noted that this spirituality could be meaningfully adapted to young people within the Salesian charism.
Fr John Christy subsequently explored the four dimensions of Salesian Youth Ministry in relation to the SEPP and the Salesian Youth Movement. He encouraged participants to understand their respective provinces’ vision, work collaboratively to build communities of disciples, and integrate their learning for deeper, lasting impact. The sessions emphasised the goal of enabling young people to become protagonists of their own development and agents of change through the Salesian style of animation articulated in the Frame of Reference.
A practical session on developing the Educative Pastoral Community and SEPP followed. Participants were divided into three groups and tasked with preparing an SEPP through discussion and consensus. During the group presentations, feedback and corrections were offered, with emphasis on greater commitment, collaboration and harmony among all members of the pastoral community in carrying forward its mission.
The final session, led by Fr Stalin Dhanaraj SDB, SYM Delegate of the Province of Bangalore (INM), focused on “Youth Ministry and Safeguarding Policies Legally and Canonically: Practical Case Studies.” Drawing on Church teaching, legal provisions and practical case studies, Fr Stalin addressed safeguarding within Salesian Youth Ministry in India, with particular reference to civil law and the Code of Canon Law. The interactive session highlighted the need for transparency, vigilance, responsible Salesian presence and collaboration within the community and, when necessary, with competent legal authorities.
The two-day programme concluded with an evaluation and a shared commitment by the Young Salesians to respond creatively to changing times while remaining faithful to Don Bosco's original spirit. The programme ended on this note, offering a clear and focused close.
The participants expressed their gratitude to the host province for its warm hospitality, care and support throughout the programme. Their appreciation brought the programme to a gracious close.
