Monaco di Munich, Germany). On 8 and on 9 November 2025, the VIII General Assembly of PGS International (PGS-I) took place in Munich, at the Salesianum of the San Bonifacio Observatory (GER) of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The delegations of Austria, Germany, Belgium, Croatia, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain participated in the event.
The Assembly opened with an initial greeting from the General Councilor for Youth Ministry of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Sister Runita Galve Borja, read by Sister Francesca Scibetta, FMA, delegate for the PG Sector. Sister Runita emphasized how, “since their inception, the Salesian Youth Sports Clubs have always cared about the integral growth and maturation of children and young people through sport.
In recent years, PGS-I has promoted International Games in which teams from different countries, mostly European, have competed in various categories and sports disciplines. These Games represented for young people, for their coaches and companions, an opportunity to meet and learn about different cultures in a spirit of friendship and camaraderie. Generations and generations of young people have enriched their lives thanks to the opportunities offered by this Association. [….] When we offer integral formation through sports, we are able to create a healthy sport oriented towards the joy and well-being of young people. Let us remember that one of the pillars of the Salesian Education System is precisely the ‘playground’. [….] Through sport, we can promote joy and optimism, creativity, courage, perseverance, humility, teamwork, and cooperation.
All these aspects are necessary for the growth of young people and for the creation of a more just and human society. On the occasion of the Jubilee of Sport, Pope Leo XIV stated that sport can help us meet God because it stimulates us to relate to others, not only externally, but also and above all, internally. ‘Sport is more than just physical performance. It requires athletes to dedicate themselves to others, for our personal improvement, for our supporters, for our loved ones, our coaches and colleagues, for the general public and even for our opponents’.”
Also present at the Assembly was Father Jerry Matsoumbou, SDB, Delegate of the Youth Pastoral Sector. Sister Francesca and Fr. Jerry will work together to ensure charismatic support within the Association, as well as the support and promotion of its activities and values by the FMA and SDB Youth Ministry.
The Assembly was also an important opportunity to share the history of PGS-I with new participants, also providing space for a broad moment of reflection, analysis, and proposal for concrete actions to reiterate and revive the importance of sport in Salesian pastoral animation.
At the end of the voting, the new PGS-I Administrative Council was constituted as follows:
Presidential Committee:
President: Georg Leibold (Germany)
Vice President: Tibor Reimer SDB (Slovakia)
Vice President: Ingrid De Geyndt (Belgium)
Treasurer: Josef Szigeti SDB (Austria)
Segretary General:
Sr. Francesca Scibetta FMA (Italy)
Best wishes for the newly elected representatives are for a new mandate filled with blessings, intense collaboration, and a fruitful mission for the good of young people, as Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello wanted.
