EUROPE/ITALY - A Mission focused on young people: 120 years of Salesian presence in Asia

Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Don Bosco had expressed his desire to go as a missionary to Asia and Oceania. His dream became a reality when the first Salesian missionaries arrived in Asia about 120 years ago. Founded in 1859 in Turin, the Salesian Society of St. John Bosco has been carrying out its mission in Asia since 1906. Since then, its presence has steadily expanded. Today, they are present in every country in mainland Asia, except Singapore, as well as in several Pacific nations. Specifically, the East Asia-Oceania (AEO) Region, which stretches from Mongolia in the north to Australia in the south, encompassing 23 countries between Asia and the Pacific, is one of the most dynamic and culturally diverse in the Salesian world. It includes countries such as South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Pakistan, China, Hong Kong, and many Pacific nations.

Adding to the rich cultural diversity of each community and ethnic group is the fact that Asia is the world's most populous continent, with a large number of young people—a reality that, for the Salesians, translates into both an opportunity and a responsibility. “Where there are young people, there are Salesians,” affirms William Matthews, councilor for the AEO Region, who, in a note sent to Fides, emphasizes that, far from being culturally homogeneous, the AEO Region is characterized by extraordinary diversity. Amid demographic challenges, ethnic diversity, and social complexity, the Salesians remain committed to walking alongside young people, educating them, evangelizing them, and accompanying them toward a future of dignity and hope. Throughout the Region, Salesian youth ministry serves schools, secondary schools, technical and vocational training centers, parishes, oratories, and programs for children and young people with special needs. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 1/4/2026)

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