On that memorable day, Don Bosco addressed Carlo and his friends, asking them to stay with him and the Salesians. Don Bosco showed his past students the need for them even more than when they were his boys at the Oratory and proposed a revolutionary idea. Don Bosco invited them to be part of the Salesian Family, to create a group of alumni, an organization to help each other, and to help the Salesians. From that moment began the history of the Past Pupils as an active group of the Salesian Family, when Don Bosco asked them to give back some of what they had received and to share it with others.
"We are called to give back from the gift of the education and formation that we have received by living the Salesian charism in our families, at work, and in our communities. We are called to live the values that we learned in our Salesian educational experience by embracing the Salesian Educative and Pastoral Spirituality," Mr. Magro, the World Confederation’s President, said.
Today, indeed, the World Confederation launches its strategic plan for 2022-2027.
"Our vision for the next six years, " Mr. Magro continues, "is based on four dimensions: Journeying Together (Synodality), Spirituality, Mission, and Solidarity. We invite you to read and reflect on the meaning of our new Strategic Plan. The Presidency decided to extend the period of consultation by a further one month to give Federations and its members more time to reflect upon this Strategic Plan."
Finally, Mr. Magro concludes, "Our worldwide movement is alive and active. During the last six months since my election as World President, I have come to realize more about the commitment and the potential of our organization on a global level. As a Presidency team, we are committed to animate more groups of past pupils and friends of Don Bosco to reach our vision, our mission and live the Salesian spirituality. Our organization is not about nostalgic and sentimental meetings but a commitment to reach out to each other and to the young especially those who are poor and excluded. To reach this aim, and to remain relevant and vibrant in today's world, we need to embark on a journey together where we seek to understand and learn from our roots, to discern the present, and to shape our future."
The new Strategic Plan of the Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco is available at the bottom of the page in Italian, English, Spanish, and French.
