Junín de los Andes (Argentina). From’1 to 6 November 2025, 41 young people and FMA from Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina gathered at the Mary Help of Christians Spirituality House in Junín de los Andes, of Laura Vicuña Province (ARG), to live the experience of the Missionary Spirituality Project PEM Youth, with the motto, “Keep it alive!”.
The Project aims to return to the missionary origins of the Salesian Family, to celebrate and thank for the gift of the Charism that crosses the ocean with young lives, passionate about Christ, and to rekindle that fire in each of the young people, so that the missionary flame does not go out, but grows and expands throughout the world.
As part of the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first SDB expedition (11 November 1875) and toward the 150th of the arrival of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians on the American continent (1877), the group experienced days full of enthusiasm and emotions in contact with the missionary history that has unfolded since the beginning of the Institute.
The encounter was also attended by the General Councilor for the Salesian Family, Sister Leslie Sándigo Ortega, who gave the Goodnight about Saint Maria Troncatti, and the Provincial of the ARG Province, Sister Silvia Boullosa; while the General Councilors for the Missions, Sister Ruth del Pilar Mora; and for Youth Ministry, Sister Runita Borja, spoke online.
At the end of the first day, the Superior General of the FMA Institute, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, also expressed closeness to the young people through a video greeting:
“I pray for you because I know it will be a muy hermosa (very beautiful) experience. It will involve you totally in following the path of Laurita and Ceferino who lived in this blessed land and left their imprints of holiness.
Your commitment keeps alive the fire of missionary ardor, of the missionary vocation, a commitment for all of us. But I think it will be much more for you in this particular time when you leave room for the voice of the Lord to reflect on the missionary experience. So, it will be an experience of listening to the voice of God, but also of listening to the voice of people who have left us a message of holiness.
May your heart and mind be totally concentrated in this beautiful adventure; may you live well, with enthusiasm and passion to be missionaries, starting with your friends, with your schoolmates, in your family.
I follow you with great affection. I assure you of the prayer that accompanies you on this special itinerary and also on your return to your communities. Therefore, I entrust you to Mary, Mother and Teacher. The Teacher for Don Bosco in his dream at nine years of age. May She truly be the Guide and Teacher in our lives too.”
In the encounter with the first FMA community – Sister Angela Vallese, Sister Teresa Gedda, Sister Angela De Negri, Sister Angela Casullo, Sister Teresa Mazzarello, and Sister Giovanna Borgna – as young as the participants, they were able to discover how to live with courage their being Christians and Salesians. Their names and lives have thus become familiar to young people in these days.
In contact with the lives of Laura Vicuña and Ceferino Namuncurá, whose stories are linked to these Patagonian lands, they instead discovered in the Sisters and Salesians who accompanied them, the importance of a community animated by missionary fire to bear the fruit of holiness.
There was no lack of mission experience in a community in the heart of the Andes, in Ruca Choroi, where the FMA work with the brethren of one of the country’s largest original peoples, the Mapuche.
Lastly, in light of the experience lived, the young people developed a message, a manifesto with convictions, challenges, and commitments that they wish to transmit to the entire Institute, inviting us to spread, from north to south, from east to west, this missionary flame that is rekindled in the land dreamed of by Don Bosco, his beloved Patagonia!
Keeping that first fire alive is first and foremost desire, challenge, and commitment, and all the participants concluded this extraordinary experience determined to keep their hearts burning to joyfully announce the good news of Jesus to the ends of the world. “Time to rekindle the fire!”
Instagram: pemjoven2025
Gracias Mercedes.Espero que estés bien.Vivimos momentos muy lindo dos con Laura V. Ceferino N. Y nuestras primeras hermanas, También la misión de Ruca donde están los mapuches.
ENHORABUENA PEN JOVEN. CONTINUAMOS ESTANDO CON VOSOTRAS/OS. ¡ADELANTE¡ SOMOS MISION.