Turin (Italy). On 16 and 17 April 2026, the first national gathering of student representatives from the Italian upper secondary schools run by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians took place in Valdocco, Turin, organized by CIOFS School FMA ETS Italy. A firsthand account of the experience follows:
It is evening; we are in Piazza Maria Ausiliatrice in Turin, and a group of young people are embracing, there must be about thirty of them, roughly around eighteen years old. They are not from the same class; their accents give them away, revealing that they come from various parts of Italy.
They seem to have known each other for weeks or at least to have shared a week-long camp together. In reality, however, they have known one another for just over twenty-four hours. They arrived in Turin to delve into the very roots of their experience within the FMA schools, seeking to grow in their participation in and responsibility for the Salesian spirit of animation and style in their interactions with their peers. The experience they underwent at Valdocco left a profound impression on them, and they allowed themselves to be challenged by it.
A precious, intense, and enriching experience that saw students step up and collaborate, forging bonds that foreshadow friendship, commitment, and a desire to serve and to share the enthusiasm they breathed in Turin. Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello have something important to say!
Riccardo states with conviction that he was struck by how closely the various participants bonded; the ice was broken quickly, and the activities unfolded as if everyone were longtime friends. Alvise says he is taking home new acquaintances who quickly blossomed into friendships, and that the experience allowed him to discover the Salesian style in a fresh way, something he had sometimes risked taking for granted.
Before arriving in Turin for the gathering, the various student groups had to interview young people from FMA schools in different parts of the world, in order to experience firsthand what characterizes “Salesianity.” Watching videos from students in San Salvador, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Albania, or Spain, to name just a few, allowed them to realize that they are part of a global network striving to “make a difference” through education.
Sofia states, “I was struck by the fact that we, both here in Italy and around the world, share things in common, and that we managed to rediscover the Salesian spirit and the desire to take action in every school; this gives me hope.”
Benedetta shares, “I had low expectations. I thought it would be boring and demanding. Instead, they immediately got us involved; we really bonded as a group, and no one drew back.”
On the afternoon of 16 April, the students visited ‘Casa Don Bosco’ Museum in Valdocco and several sites in Turin linked to the early days of the Oratory, guided by Fr. Mike Pace, SDB. The following morning, they had the opportunity to attend Holy Mass right inside Don Bosco’s own rooms. Linda shares, “Valdocco really struck me, both the place itself and the history of Don Bosco. The Mass in his rooms was beautiful, deeply engaging, and meaningful; in his homily, Fr. Alberto spoke incisively to our hearts.”
Angela states that she was astonished by the way she put herself out there, opened up, and shared, something she usually finds very difficult to do. She adds, “I was moved to tears during Mass, particularly by the words of the final hymn; ‘If you look around, there is someone giving their life for you, right up to their very last breath.’ It is an experience that has shaped me on a personal, social, and spiritual level.”
We thank the two schools in Turin, Mary Help of Christians Institute, which also hosted the various activities, and Mother Mazzarello Institute, for their warm welcome and the care taken in making all the necessary arrangements.
