Ciudad Guadalupe (Mexico). From 1 to 6 February 2026, the 27th Meeting of Provincial Education Coordinators of the CIMAC/NAC-Mesoamerica Region took place in Ciudad Guadalupe-Monterrey, at the headquarters of the Mother of the Church Province (MMO) of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
The event brought together the provincial education leaders from the Americas – Mexico, the Antilles, Haiti, Central America North, Central America South, and North America – around the theme, “Towards a meaningful, sustainable, and transformative Salesian education,” with the aim of creating a space for reflection, dialogue, and shared development to strengthen the Salesian identity and significance in schools, ensuring a sustainable and transformative education centered on young people and supported by the Preventive System.
The meeting was attended by 20 people, representing 11 provinces of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the Salesians of Don Bosco, and the Daughters of the Divine Savior, as well as members of the Salesian Family present in 13 Countries, involved in the animation of numerous educational centers serving children, adolescents, and young people.
Hospitality and the ecclesial horizon
The first day opened with welcoming remarks to the participants from Sister Graciela Castaño Galindo, FMA; Juana Martina García Ojeda, Father Carlos Alberto Montoya, SDB, and Sister Eva Doris Meza, FMA, regional representatives of CIMAC/NAC–Mesoamerica.
Subsequently, the General Councilor for Youth Ministry, Sister Runita Borja, connected online to offer greetings, emphasizing the role of the provincial leaders as bridges of communion and coordination between the educational Institutions of the various provinces.
In her presentation, she referred to the Jubilee of the Educational World and to Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Letter, “Drawing New Maps of Hope,” in which the Pope proposes the image of the “educational constellation,” a living and plural network in which each Institution, starting from its own identity, contributes to charting a common path, making unity a prophetic force.
On behalf of the MMO Provincial, Sister María del Socorro Hernández, the Provincial Vicar, Sister Ana Cristina Sáenz Chavira then spoke, reflecting on the importance of being together, valuing the experience of encounter, sharing, and creating synergies.
The formation journey and conferences
The formative session was coordinated by the representatives of the Salesian School of America (ESA): Sister Ivone Goulart Lopes, FMA, collaborator of the Youth Ministry Sector, and José Luis Jiménez, from the SDB Youth Ministry Department, who thanked the organizers and guided the process according to the established program.
Among the main contributions:
- Mtra. Annie Elizondo, with the presentation “Holistic Care and Emotional Well-being,” followed by a group activity in which the importance of self-care in order to care for others was discussed.
- Sister Ivone Goulart Lopes, who presented the theme “ESA Educational Constellation: hope in the American continent – Global Educational Pact,” offering a synodal and continental perspective.
- José Luis Jiménez (SDB), with the theme “Convergences between the six-year plan of Fr. Fabio Attard, the Apostolic Letter of Leo XIV, and Pope Francis’ Global Educational Pact.”
- Johann Weigend, from Tecnológico de Monterrey, who offered a reflection on future scenarios, helping to understand educational challenges from a forward-looking perspective.
Good practices, visits, and educational experiences
A key element of the meeting was the direct contact with good educational practices and significant initiatives, which allowed the participants to engage with innovative educational models in dialogue with the Salesian tradition.:
- Visit to Excélsior School and dinner with the Sisters of the community.
- Cultural events presented by students from the three schools in Monterrey. (Instituto Excélsior, Colegio Excélsior e Colegio Independencia).
- Visit to the Tecnológico di Monterrey, including a campus tour, a conference on innovation, and an experience at the Expedition Department, an innovation center that connects research, business, academia, and industry.
- Visit to the Instituto Excélsior di Monterrey and dinner with the Sisters of the community.
- Visit to Colegio Independencia di Monterrey, to the Basilica of Guadalupe, to the Cathedral of Monterrey and dinner with the Sisters of the community.
- Lunch with the Salesian community of Monterrey.
Liturgy, spirituality, and Salesian life
Each day was accompanied by moments of prayer and the Eucharistic Celebration, presided over by different priests, representing the various provincial realities.
The traditional Salesian Goodnight moments were also present, animated in turn by various participants – from Sister Maria Luisa Miranda and the three Provinces of Central America (CAN, CAR and HDS) – as a sign of communion, fraternity, and shared spirituality.
Particularly significant was the visit to the Basilica of Guadalupe in Guadalupe-Monterrey, experienced as an act of entrustment and dedication of the entire educational journey to the Mother, guide, and support of the Salesian mission.
Towards the future
The meeting in Monterrey represented an intense period of discernment, formation, and communion, strengthening the sense of belonging to the continental Salesian educational network and renewing the shared commitment to an authentically meaningful, sustainable, and transformative education, capable of responding to the challenges of the present with our gaze towards the future of young people.
To address the challenges related to the future of Salesian schools and propose concrete actions, network meetings were held with the aim of gaining a deeper understanding of the reality of each Congregation and the networks present in the Region, and to continue the reflection based on the evaluation of the Strategic Plan.
