Salesian FOCUS Trip to Brazil

By Fr. Steve DeMaio, SDB, Province Vocation Director

(New Rochelle, NY – April 2) – From Saturday, March 22, to Saturday, March 29, I had the opportunity to travel to Petropolis, Brazil with a group of 15 university students and 6 FOCUS missionaries. As a group, and with the help of 8 local young adults who guided us and translated from Portuguese to English, we visited local families, a high school, a homeless rehabilitation center, and a few local monasteries. We even had the chance to attend a priestly ordination in the cathedral.

It was another experience where I was really able to really live out the vocation of a Salesian working, praying, eating, reflecting and serving side by side with young people. We had Mass and a holy hour every day, along with opportunities for formation talks and small group reflection.

Over the past four years, I’ve been able to participate in four trips to four different countries. Each one has been unique, but all of them have helped renew my Salesian vocation and my desire to be close to the young.

If you are interested in experiencing one of these trips, please let me know at vocations@salesians.org, and we can organize something for next year.