The day began with the Eucharistic Celebration, an eloquent sign of the unity of the Salesian Family and its roots in faith in Christ. The Holy Mass was presided over by Fr Simon Zakarian, Superior of the Salesian Province of the Middle East (MOR), and concelebrated by several Salesians from the community. The Eucharist was the foundation of the entire day's journey, reminding everyone that every educational and pastoral mission arises from a personal encounter with Christ and from listening to his Word.
At the end of the celebration, Fr Simon Zakarian led a presentation and discussion of the Strenna 2026. The Provincial offered a detailed reflection on the pastoral orientation for the year, starting from the theme: ‘Do whatever he tells you - Believers, free to serve’.
Meditating on the Gospel episode of the Wedding at Cana, it was emphasised that Mary's words do not invite passive obedience, but free, conscious and responsible listening to the Word of Christ. A listening that generates a living faith, capable of freeing the person from turning in on themselves and orienting them towards generous and concrete service, especially in favour of young people who today ‘lack the wine of hope’.
The meeting took the form of a strong appeal to all members of the Salesian Family – consecrated and lay people in Lebanon – to live an incarnate, creative and co-responsible faith, capable of reading reality and responding to the educational and pastoral challenges of our time in a spirit of communion.
Numerous entities and groups of the Salesian Family took part in the day, including:
- the Confraternity of the Good Shepherd (the community of young Iraqis)
- the teachers of the Angels of Peace School (School for displaced Iraqis and Syrians)
- the Oratory of El Houssoun
- the Salesian Cooperators of El Houssoun
- the Salesian Cooperators of Kahale
- the management and teaching staff of the ‘Don Bosco’ Technical Institute in Fidar
- the young people of Kahale and El Houssoun
- the Sisters of Cordoba and Kfaryassine
- the Salesians of Lebanon
The day ended in an atmosphere of joy and celebration, with moments of dancing and fraternal sharing, an authentic expression of Salesian joy: a simple and profound joy that comes from the awareness of belonging to God's plan and walking together, in the footsteps of Don Bosco, in the service of young people.
