Salesian Renewal in Rome

By Fr. Rich Alejunas, SDB, Provincial Economer/Treasurer

(New Rochelle, NY – January 7) – In the evening on Christmas Day, five SDBs began a ten-day pilgrimage to Rome, Italy (December 25, 2025 - January 3, 2026) for the concluding days of the Jubilee Year. The SDBs came from five local communities: Marrero (Fr. Steve Ryan), New Rochelle (Fr. Rich Alejunas), Orange (Fr. Dieunel Victor), Ramsey (Fr. Jim McKenna), and Tampa (Fr. Rich Crager). Nevertheless, they carried the prayers and special intentions of all their brother Salesians from Canada and the Eastern USA with them. They were pilgrims of hope, determined to renew their missionary zeal.

Each day offered new adventures in spiritual renewal and, at times, challenges to physical stamina, as the SDB pilgrims’ average age was 64. They were a stalwart cohort! Together, these SDBs passed through Holy Doors at papal basilicas, celebrated Holy Mass at the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle, climbed the Holy Stairs from the palace of Pontius Pilate, travelled to Umbria to venerate the tombs and relics of Sts. Francis of Assisi and Carlo Acutis, descended into the Catacombs of St. Callistus to honor the holy Roman martyrs, greeted Pope Leo XIV at the last general audience of 2025, prayed the Angelus with the Pope on New Year’s Day 2026, and so much more.

This Jubilee Year graced these “young” SDBs further, because they were gifted hospitality by the Congregation at its Sede Centrale/Ospita at 42 Via Marsala, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. From the first night they were welcomed by the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard (11th successor of St. John Bosco), into the fraternal life of the international local community and cared for by their “Roman brothers.” Among many blessings received there, they were privileged to celebrate Mass at the place, now a chapel, where Don Bosco wrote his famous “Letter from Rome, 1884.”

The pilgrimage was animated by the SUE provincial economer, Fr. Rich Alejunas, and hosted by the SDB economer general, Fr. Gabriel Stawowy, and his team in Rome.