(ANS - Turin) - On the afternoon of Tuesday 11 November 2025, in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco, the beating heart of Don Bosco's charism, the celebration of the missionary mandate of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) took place on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the First Salesian Missionary Expedition.

The Eucharistic celebration, presided over by the Rector Major, Fr Fabio Attard, and concelebrated by several General Councillors, numerous missionaries, Provincials and Provincial Delegates for Mission Animation (PDMA), also saw the presence of the Superior General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, accompanied by some of her Councillors and a representation of FMA sisters, a sign of a living and missionary communion between the two religious families.

A memory that becomes mission

In his introduction to the celebration, Fr Michele Viviano, Rector of the Basilica, recalled with emotion the evening of11 November 1875, when Don Bosco bid farewell to the first ten missionaries leaving for Argentina: 'Who knows that this departure and this little are not like a seed from which a great plant will arise?', said Don Bosco between tears and hope.

'Today, after 150 years,' continued Fr Viviano, 'we want to give thanks, rethink and relaunch:

• Give thanks for the 10,700 missionaries who, in this century and a half, have brought the Salesian charism to137 countries around the world;
• Rethink mission in multi-religious and secularised contexts;
• Relaunch a renewed missionary zeal, close to the young poor and to those who have lost the meaning of life.

'And as then,' he concluded, 'today too the "inde gloria mea" resounds: my glory goes hence! - the glory of Mary Help of Christians, the glory of God, the glory of Don Bosco and his Congregations.'

'We are useless servants': the Gospel's invitation to be rooted in Christ

In his homily, inspired by the Gospel of Luke 17, 7-10 ('We are useless servants, we have done what we had to do'), Fr Attard linked that moment 150 years ago to today's mandate, offering three keys to spiritual interpretation:

1. The centrality of Christ - 'Don Bosco did not send officials or administrators, but apostles. Everything is born and finds meaning only in Christ: without him we can do nothing, but with him we can do everything.'
2. Fidelity to the charism - 'Knowing Don Bosco and living his spirit means letting oneself be shaped by the educational love, fraternity and evangelical joy that make the mission credible.'
3. Service to the poor - 'Serving the poor means choosing evangelical poverty as the way to freedom and authenticity; only a poor and moderate community becomes a living Gospel'.

He then concluded, 'May the Lord give us the strength of his Spirit so that, like Don Bosco, we may live and transmit the beauty of the Gospel, rooted in Christ, faithful to the charism and servants of the poor'.

Handing over the missionary crosses

After the homily, the General Councillor for the Missions, Fr Jorge Crisafulli, approached the ambo to proclaim the names of the new SDB missionaries of the 156th SDB Expedition. One by one, each missionary stood up, emotionally pronounced his 'Here I am!', and approached the altar.

Immediately afterwards, the General Councillor for the Missions of the FMA, Sr Ruth del Pilar Mora Velazco, read out the names of the new FMA missionaries of the 148th SDB Expedition, who were also greeted by 'Here I am!' together, a proclamation of confidence and availability.

The most touching moment was the handing over of the missionary crosses:

the Rector Major placed the missionary cross around the necks of the departing Salesians, while the Mother General, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, placed the missionary cross around the necks of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, a sign of unity in the same missionary call and in the consecration ad vitam.

The SDB missionaries of the 156th expedition

The new destinations include Bangladesh, Mozambique, Brazil, Mongolia, Greece, Turkey, Romania, Thailand and other countries.

Alongside them, some missionaries from previous expeditions, already working in different regions of the world, have renewed their mandate.

The FMA missionaries of the 148th expedition

Coming from Vietnam, India, South Korea and Italy, the new FMA missionaries are leaving for the communities that await them in various continents, to be a sign of consolation, trust and evangelical hope among the young.

A mandate in the sign of gratitude

The celebration ended with a heartfelt thanksgiving pronounced by one of the missionaries on behalf of all those leaving, who expressed gratitude to the Lord, to the Salesian Family and to those who accompany and support the mission with prayer.

At the end of Mass, the new SDB and FMA missionaries, together with their superiors, went in silence and prayer to Don Bosco's tomb, to entrust their mission to him and ask for his paternal blessing. There, amidst recollection and songs, they raised a short prayer for the young people who await them in every part of the world and for all the Salesian missionaries who have gone before them. The gesture ended with a group photo, a sign of communion and continuity in the missionary history that began 150 years ago from that very same house.

In front of the altar of Mary Help of Christians and Don Bosco's tomb, Valdocco once again renewed its 'yes' to the mission: a mandate that, for 150 years, has continued to make evangelical hope and the Salesian dream of being 'signs and bearers of God's love to the young' flourish in the world.

Below is a copy of the Homily of the Rector Major