(ANS – Rome) – The Salesians 2025 project, produced by the Social Communication Sector of the Salesian Congregation, is a rich and engaging video documentary that offers a panoramic view of the life and mission of the Salesians across the world. More than a report, it is a carefully crafted visual narrative that captures stories, events, faces, and experiences, allowing the viewer to enter into the heart of the Salesian reality.
Structured in three interconnected parts, the documentary gathers an impressive 267 news items from across the globe, presented through a dynamic and accessible format. Each section offers a broad yet cohesive synthesis of the Congregation’s journey during the year.
Part I includes 78 news items and runs for 35 minutes,
Part II presents 95 news items over 36 minutes, and
Part III brings together 94 news items in a 37-minute segment.
Together, the three parts form a comprehensive audiovisual chronicle that reflects the vitality, diversity, and missionary breadth of the Salesian world.
The complete documentary is now available on the ANS YouTube Channel in five languages — English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and French — making it accessible to a truly global audience.
Part One: The Heart of the Congregation – Identity, Leadership and Spiritual Life
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The first part of the documentary takes the viewer to the heart of the Salesian Congregation, presenting the key moments that shape its identity and direction. Central to this section is the 29th General Chapter in Valdocco, where Salesians from around the world gather in an atmosphere of prayer, discernment, and fraternity. Through powerful visuals and moments of encounter, the viewer witnesses a Congregation united in its mission and renewed in its commitment to young people.
This part also brings to life the animation visits of the Rector Major across different countries, offering glimpses of vibrant communities, encounters with young people, and celebrations of significant milestones. Important events such as the canonization of Sister Maria Troncatti and the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the first missionary expedition are presented not only as historical milestones but as living expressions of holiness and missionary zeal.
Through scenes of formation programs, jubilees, and gatherings of the Salesian Family, the viewer perceives a strong sense of communion and continuity. The Jubilee Year 2025 provides a unifying backdrop, showing Salesians and young people participating in the wider journey of the Church. This first part helps the audience grasp the spiritual depth, global unity, and leadership of the Salesian world.
Part Two: Young People at the Center – The Living Experience of the Mission
The second part shifts the focus directly to young people, placing them at the center of the narrative. Here, the documentary becomes particularly vibrant and dynamic, filled with scenes of youth gatherings, camps, celebrations, and moments of prayer. Across continents, viewers encounter young people who are growing, discovering their talents, and taking on leadership roles within their communities.
Through these images, it becomes clear that young people are not passive recipients but active protagonists of the mission. The documentary captures their energy, creativity, and faith, showing how the Salesian environment allows them to flourish. Events of the Salesian Youth Movement, leadership programs, and missionary experiences highlight a pedagogy that is both engaging and transformative.
Special attention is given to sports, music, art, and theatre, which come alive on screen as powerful tools of education and evangelization. These scenes reveal the joy and relational style that characterize the Salesian approach, rooted in Don Bosco’s preventive system. This part enables the viewer to experience firsthand how the mission is lived daily, forming young people in a holistic way and inspiring them to become agents of hope in society.
Part Three: Expansion, Impact and Solidarity – A Mission without Borders
The third part broadens the horizon, presenting the global reach and impact of the Salesian mission. Through images of newly inaugurated centers, schools, and missions, the viewer sees a Congregation that continues to expand and respond to emerging needs. These new beginnings are concrete signs of a living charism that is constantly seeking new ways to serve the young.
The documentary also highlights the worldwide celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the first missionary expedition, showing how this historical event continues to inspire missionary commitment today. At the same time, scenes of ecological initiatives reflect a growing awareness of care for creation, involving young people in building a more sustainable future.
Particularly moving are the segments dedicated to moments of solidarity. In situations of natural disasters, conflict, and social crises, the documentary shows Salesians and collaborators reaching out to those in need with compassion and practical support. These images powerfully communicate a mission that is not only active but deeply human and responsive to suffering.
Recognition and awards received by Salesian institutions are also presented, reinforcing the credibility and impact of their work. This final part leaves the viewer with a strong impression of a mission that is both globally expansive and deeply rooted in service to the most vulnerable.
A Living Chronicle of the Salesian Mission
Taken as a whole, Salesians 2025 is a compelling visual testimony of a charism that continues to transform lives across the world. Moving from the heart of the Congregation, to the lived experiences of young people, and finally to the global impact of the mission, the documentary offers a complete and inspiring picture of the Salesian reality today.
More than informing, it invites the viewer to see, feel, and understand the immense good being carried out every day by Salesians, members of the Salesian Family, collaborators, and benefactors. It shows that Don Bosco’s dream is not a story of the past, but a living reality that continues to grow, adapt, and bear fruit.
This documentary testifies, that across 136+ countries, through schools, parishes, youth centres, missions, refugee camps, vocational institutes, sports fields, and digital platforms, the Salesian mission continues to live, as a vibrant, global, and concrete response to the needs of today’s young people.
