Itajaí (Brazil). On 3 and 4 October 2025, at the Salesian Colégio of Itajaí (Saint Catarina), the 18th Congress on the Preventive System of Don Bosco was held, with the participation of over 260 members of the Salesian Family, including Salesians of Don Bosco, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, educators, and young people from different states of Brazil, such as Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Sao Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, and the Federal District.
The event promoted by the SDB Province of San Pio (BPA) of Porto Alegre and the FMA Province of Our Lady Aparecida (BAP of San Paolo. The theme was, “Building a future of hope” and with the motto, “From dream to mission: to Thank, Re-think, and Relaunch” to reaffirm the importance of the Preventive System, the educational method developed by Saint John Bosco based on reason, religion, and loving-kindness as a path for the integral formation of youth.
After the reception, the Congress opened with the Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Fr. Ademir Ricardo Cwendrych, BPA Provincial, who underlined the importance of the event and its history in the 17 previous editions. A central spiritual moment was also the consecration to Mary Help of Christians. The celebration was followed by a festive performance by the Musical Band of the Opera Sociale Parque Don Bosco of Itajaí
In the first conference – “From Dream to Mission: Thanking – Missio Dei – Missio Ecclesiae” – Sister Alaíde Deretti, Provincial of the BAP Province, invited those present to make grateful memory of Salesian history, underlining the need to renew the missionary spirit, inspired by the dreams of Don Bosco and of the 150th of the first Salesian missionary expedition:
“We are living in a time of Kairos in our Salesian presences. We are fruits of Don Bosco’s dreams, sons and daughters of dreamers who believed in youth. The proclamation of the Gospel is and will always be our starting and arriving point. We proclaim because it is in our DNA.”
In the second conference – “Salesian Education: mission, formation, and transformation” – Fr. Agnaldo Soares Lima, SDB of Pindamonhangaba, São Paulo, took up Don Bosco’s famous phrase, “Education is a thing of the heart,” and underlined that the Preventive System goes beyond the simple transmission of content, requiring an emotional connection between educators and students. He also strengthened the role of the educator as father/mother, teacher, and friend of young people, highlighting the importance of close, positive, and stimulating care.
During the Congress, the artistic performances of the Dance Group of the Opera Sociale Parque Dom Bosco and the musical, “Dream that makes us dream” of the Salesian College of Itajaí enriched the environment with cultural expressions in Salesian style. (Photo Flickr BAP – 1st day)
On the second day, the Eucharistic Celebration was presided over by the Provincial Vicar, Fr. Sérgio Ramos de Souza, who underlined that the mission belongs to God and that the educators are His collaborators. The celebrant recalled four important moments in Don Bosco’s life in which the Saint of young people was moved and cried, urging the participants to keep sensitivity and love alive in the educational mission.
In the conference, “Salesian Mission: a call to hope”, Fr. Assis Moser highlighted the Oratory as a Salesian charismatic legacy, symbol of a space in which young people feel loved and welcomed. Fr. Assis underlined that the spirituality of hope must guide the mission of the Salesian Family, so that it continues to evangelize with dynamism and faith.
In the Round Table, the young missionary volunteers shared their experiences, talking about Volunteering as a lifestyle, inspired by Salesian spirituality, which accompanies them from school to adulthood.
Through thematic workshops, Missionary Volunteering was delved into and the first SDB missionary expedition was recalled, encouraging the participants to be “missionaries of hope” today.
The Congress concluded with a moment of prayer in the courtyard of the School, a privileged place for the Salesian Charism, with the solemn entry of the statue of Mary Help of Christians, followed by sharing, blessings of young people to the congress participants, and the performance of the Musical Band of Parque Dom Bosco, renewing in everyone the commitment to “Building a future of hope”, moving “From Dream to Mission”, since it is necessary “To Thank, Rethink, and Relaunch”. (Photo Flickr BAP – 2nd day)
