Infinite Love Made Known: Salesian Family at NCYC 2025

By Candidate Rowan Pham

Dear Salesian Family,

Christ promised us He will be with us until the end of time (Matthew 28:20). He has also sent us out to proclaim His infinite presence among us, “You will tell them: ‘I AM has sent me to you,’”(Exodus 3:14b). This promise has already been fulfilled. It continues to be fulfilled to this very day (e.g., the Eucharist, the Scriptures, Divine Providence, etc.). However, there is still a need to proclaim His presence among us. Yet we are comforted in an extraordinary way of encountering Christ that is particularly powerful among young people: by attending and being a part of the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC).

A joint squad of representatives that included SDBs and FMAs had the privilege of working together to host an exhibit booth at NCYC to show young people that, in addition to their biological family, another family they could call their own: the Salesian Family. I had the privilege of both attending the conference and working the booth, as well as accompanying young people in their encounter with the Good Shepherd. In this opportunity of being present to youth in this way, I noticed a profound zeal and vivacity among young people in their search for the Lord. I was joyfully struck by their eagerness to know Christ.

Their profound and refreshing eagerness caused me to reflect on this conference, especially on how the NCYC helps young people encounter Jesus and how it relates to the Salesian style. I firmly believe the reason why these kinds of youth-centered events have a real impact is because young people are truly enabled somewhat to grasp the infinite love of the Good Shepherd, which is made manifest by the familial aspect of the first mark of the Catholic Church: we are one. The NCYC provides young people with a great sense of unity within community, which is something they long for, and and young Catholics can see Jesus Christ’s love manifested in others through joy, prayer, and family—very similar to our Salesian spirituality as viewed through the lens of Don Bosco. As Don Bosco wrote in his letter to Rome, “It is not enough that the youngsters should be loved, but that they themselves should know that they are loved.” NCYC has set up a program that accomplishes this well.

Due to this NCYC experience, which is actually a miracle of God's grace, many have been beckoned by Mary Help of Christians and Mother of the Church to renew their dedication to her Son and to pronounce a significant trust in Him. Their cups overflow with the love of Christ, and they are sent back to be missionaries to their peers, zealots for souls in their parishes, and apostles of joy to the whole Church. The Lord and His graces are so wonderful! These conferences are truly a work of Mary our Mother, and Don Bosco, I suspect, loves every fruit they bear.

Let us pray for our young people in the Church, that they find their rest in Christ the Cornerstone, and that many young people respond to God calling them to apostolic life.

Finally, let us pray that young people will forever be reminded, as our Holy Father proclaimed to us at NCYC, “You are not only the future of the Church, you are the present!”