Lamezia Terme (Italy). On 24 January 2026, near the Feast of Saint John Bosco, the regional vigil of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) took place in the Parish of Saint Raphael the Archangel in Lamezia Terme (CZ), bringing together approximately 300 young people from various Salesian houses in Calabria, accompanied by the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, in an atmosphere of intense participation, prayer, and communion.
The theme of the vigil – “Don Bosco will never turn you away” – served as the guiding thread for a spiritual journey inspired by the famous episode in Don Bosco’s life that recounts the welcoming of the first orphan at Valdocco: a poor, cold, and insecure boy to whom Don Bosco opened the door of his home and his heart. This story continues to resonate today, becoming a concrete image of the many young people who seek listening, trust, and a place where they feel welcomed.
The journey proposed during the evening revolved around three symbolic images – bricks, a blanket, and fire – which recalled three central verbs of the Salesian charism: welcoming, healing, and loving. Through the Word of God, symbols, silence, and prayer, the young people were invited to recognize their own vulnerabilities not as a limitation, but as a place where they could allow themselves to be reached by God’s love and, in turn, become a home for others.
Particularly significant was the intervention of the Provincial of Blessed Michael Rua Southern Province (IME), Father Gianpaolo Roma, who emphasized how every true encounter requires the courage to set aside one’s own certainties, break down resistance, and not be ashamed to seek Jesus. He issued a strong invitation to young people to allow themselves to be touched and seen, because only what truly touches the heart becomes a life experience and generates hope.
The testimonies made the message of the vigil even more concrete. A young Salesian youth leader recounted how education and daily presence in the oratory, characterized by listening, responsibility, and simplicity, can become tangible signs of love for young people, capable of building authentic relationships and a better future.
Another testimony recounted a personal and professional journey marked by choices, changes, and new beginnings, accompanied by the strength of a community that supports and never abandons. Equally powerful was the vocational testimony of a young FMA (Daughter of Mary Help of Christians) from Our Lady of Good Counsel Province (IMR), who shared how a profound encounter with God’s love, experienced amidst personal suffering, became the source of healing and a choice of total dedication to young people.
The Vigil was an event that once again confirmed the vitality of the Salesian Youth Movement in Calabria, a reality capable of speaking to the hearts of young people and bearing witness, in the style of Don Bosco, that there is always an open door and a heart ready to welcome every young person.
