Preaching to nearly a hundred confreres in view of the Province’s centenary Jubilee in 2026, Fr. Chávez emphasized that true Christian mysticism is not a withdrawal from the world but a transformative encounter with God that leads to loving service, especially among the young and marginalized. “Mysticism,” he noted, “is not isolation but an ecstasy of action — a love that unites prayer and mission.”

Drawing inspiration from Pope Francis’ call for a synodal and outward-looking Church, Fr. Chávez urged Salesians to renew their charism through creative fidelity—remaining faithful to Don Bosco’s spirit while engaging the realities of today’s youth in a changing global context. His message resonated deeply with the Province’s desire to realign its mission with the needs of the poor, the excluded, and those on society’s peripheries.

The retreats also highlighted the integration of care for creation, intercultural dialogue, and universal brotherhood within the Salesian mission. Fr. Chávez envisioned a spirituality that unites interior life with action, fostering harmony between prayer, community life, and service. “Salesians must be both men of God and men for others,” he said in his Goodnight talk, inviting the Province to “cherish a golden history and rewrite it in faith and mission.”

As the Kolkata Province—founded in 1926 and the first in India—approaches its centenary, Fr. Chávez proposed five pathways for renewal: reigniting mysticism, embracing creative fidelity, prioritizing the peripheries, deepening fraternity and synodality, and integrating care for creation. His call offers the Salesian family a roadmap for a renewed missionary future rooted in spiritual depth, unity, and love for the young.