This past weekend, a group of five aspiring Salesian Lay Missioners gathered in Port Chester, NY, for a Discernment Weekend filled with prayer, learning, and reflection. Hosted at the Salesian community, the retreat offered participants an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Salesian charism and explore their call to mission.
The weekend began on Friday evening with a warm welcome, dinner, and an introduction to St. John Bosco’s legacy, led by Fr. Gabriel Stawowy, SDB. His reflections set the tone for the weekend, reminding everyone of Don Bosco’s passion for serving youth with joy and faith.
Saturday was packed with formation sessions, beginning with Mass and morning prayer. Sr. Rachel Lauritsen, FMA, led a session on discernment, helping attendees reflect on God’s call in their lives. Afterward, Sr. Natasha Roig, FMA, spoke on the Oratory criteria — a key aspect of Salesian ministry. Later in the afternoon, Adam Rudin, SLM Director, provided insights into the Salesian Lay Missioner Program, followed by site descriptions and one-on-one discussions with program staff. The day concluded with a panel featuring returned SLMs, who shared their experiences from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Bolivia, offering valuable wisdom and encouragement.
On Sunday, the group participated in Holy Mass with the tight-knit Brazilian community, followed by a Q&A session and final reflections. After a weekend of prayer, discussion, and fellowship, attendees left with a deeper understanding of the Salesian mission and a clearer sense of their own call to serve.
We continue to pray for all those discerning their next steps and look forward to welcoming new SLMs into the mission field!
