Presiding over the Holy Mass, Fr. Silveira issued a heartfelt call for introspection, urging the Salesians to assess whether they are truly present among the young. “Have we, perhaps unknowingly, distanced ourselves from them?” he asked.

Reflecting on a personal episode from his tenure as Rector in Baroda, he recalled encountering families from a nearby slum who refrained from sending their children to the adjacent Don Bosco school. Their reason was stark and painful: “We are poor people. We can’t even set foot on that campus.” The incident, he said, compelled him to rethink what it means to be genuinely inclusive and faithful to Don Bosco’s mission.

Drawing on the Gospel, Fr. Silveira reminded the assembly that Christ not only called his disciples but also sent them out on a mission. “Don Bosco, too, was called and sent to serve the young, particularly those who are poor and abandoned. His dream was filled with struggle—and so is our mission.”

The homily centred around two key challenges:
1. Excellence: “Are we striving for excellence that alienates?” Fr. Silveira asked. “Have we created institutions that, in their pursuit of quality, are excluding the very young people they were meant to serve?”
2. Financial Sustainability: He cautioned that while financial stability is essential, it must not come at the cost of neglecting the poor. “Are we building institutions that are economically secure but spiritually and missionally bankrupt?”

Reiterating that the Salesian path must align with God’s path, he urged the assembly to move away from convenience-driven apostolates and recommit to walking with the young, especially the most marginalized.
Fr. Silveira concluded with a prayerful invitation for reflection: “Lord, am I doing what You want me to do?”

The powerful message, echoing the call to “Go to the Salesians,” served as a reminder of the congregation’s founding charism—to be signs and bearers of God’s love to the young, especially the poor.