Bogotá (Colombia). From 12 to 15 September 2024 in Bogotá, at the Salesian School Leo XIII of St. Peter Claver Province (COB) of the Salesians of Don Bosco, on the occasion of the Bicentenary of Johnny Bosco’s Dream at 9 years of age, the III Congress of Spirituality of the Salesian Family was held with the theme: “Dream at 9 years: Salesian mission of the origins, mission of today”.
The event, with about 320 participants from all over the Country, brought together members of the various Salesian Family Groups: Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Salesians of Don Bosco, Association of Devotees of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), Salesian Cooperators, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Past Pupils, and Don Bosco Volunteers, as well as young people in formation of the FMA and SDB, and young people of the Salesian Youth Movement.
The Congress was animated by the passionate words of Fr. Luis Timossi, SDB of the Salesian Center for Ongoing Formation America who brought his rich experience of study with Fr. Fernando Peraza in Quito, Ecuador. He shared with the assembly the great love for Don Bosco and for the Salesian vocation, inviting everyone to deepen, live, and share the beautiful and ever-present charism that springs from the dream of Johnny, more alive today than ever.
The participants lived the four days in an atmosphere of fraternity, reflection, and spirituality, deepening their knowledge of the Salesian mission from its origins to today. Engaging conferences and workshops were offered in which ideas to renew the Salesian mission in the current scenario were shared. All this was possible thanks to the joint work of the Provincial Center for Salesian Spirituality and the Inter-provincial Commission for Joint Formation, which organized both the logistics and the formative contents of the Congress.
The last day was dedicated to a reflection assembly, in which each Province made concrete commitments to continue promoting the Salesian mission in their respective regions. The meeting not only served to strengthen the bonds between members of the Salesian Family, but also renewed the commitment to bring the spirit of Don Bosco to the neediest young people.
In celebrating the 200th anniversary of St. John Bosco’s most significant dream, the need to continue his legacy through formation and shared mission as a Salesian Family in today’s world was reaffirmed.
