Silver Jubilee of the Salesian Presence in Mongolia

“Past with Gratitude, Present with Optimism, Future with Courage.” Guided by this motto, the Salesian Delegation of Mongolia—which has accompanied poor and marginalized young people across the vast high plains and urban centers for the past 25 years—celebrated its Silver Jubilee (25th Anniversary of Salesian Presence in Mongolia) with a deeply meaningful two-day event on 23 and 24 October 2026.

Mindful of the local social context in Mongolia, where public religious expressions require sensitivity due to the historical legacy of the post-communist era, the celebration was organized in two distinct parts: a social and non-religious ceremony on 23 October, followed by a spiritual celebration including Mass on 24 October.

The Silver Jubilee was graced by the presence of distinguished guests from near and far, including Fr. William Matthews, SDB, Regional Councillor for East Asia-Oceania (EAO); Fr. Marcello Baek, SDB, Provincial of the South Korea Province; Fr. Joseph Kim Khánh, SDB, Vice-Provincial of the Vietnam Province, which laid the initial foundations for the Mongolian mission prior to its integration into the South Korea Province; and Fr. Joseph Toth, SDB, a pioneer missionary from Slovakia who first arrived 25 years ago and is currently serving in Yakutsk, Siberia. Together, they shared in the joy and thanksgiving for two and a half decades of grace.

23 October: Gratitude and Unity Shared with Mongolian Society

The celebrations commenced on 23 October in the gymnasium of the Don Bosco Erdem Technical School in Ulaanbaatar. Around 450 guests gathered, including benefactors, educators, staff, and students from the technical school, the Day Care Center, and the Caring Center.

The program opened with the Mongolian National Anthem, followed by traditional artistic performances featuring the Morin Khuur (horsehead fiddle) and Urtyn Duu (long song). Representatives from various Salesian centers presented the 25-year history and apostolic work in Mongolia. Awards and plaques of appreciation were presented to long-term staff members who have dedicated years of service to young people. The day concluded with a ceremonial anniversary cake-cutting.

A poignant moment of the day was the powerful testimony of Salesian preventive education in action. Mr. Enkhjargal (Mark), a graduate of Don Bosco Erdem Technical School who now serves as an instructor at his alma mater, took the stage as the alumni representative. In society, Mark exemplifies the “Upright Citizen” as a respected and beloved teacher at school, as well as a dedicated father creating a harmonious home with his wife—an employee at the Cathedral—and their three children. Furthermore, he truly embodies the “Good Christian” within the faith community: beyond faithfully attending Sunday Mass, he and his entire family actively serve the Mongolian Catholic Church through altar ministry and choir. He expressed his profound gratitude to the Salesians for shaping not only his professional path but also his life and faith.

Following his speech, the local Mongolian community paid an emotional tribute to the Salesians. Residents and young people—traditionally reserved in expressing emotion due to the harsh environment and nomadic culture—invited the foreign Salesian missionaries onto the stage one by one. Wearing colorful traditional Mongolian deels out of respect for local culture, the Salesians were met with warm applause, tears, and heartfelt gratitude from the people they have served for 25 years.

24 October: Salesian Family United in Praise at St. Peter and Paul Cathedral

On 24 October, over 300 members of the Salesian Family—including SDB members, the Polish Ambassador to Mongolia, priests and religious of the Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar, lay faithful, Salesian Sisters (FMA), Salesian Cooperators, and members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA)—packed Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral. Fr. William Matthews, SDB, presided over the solemn Feast Day Mass of St. John Bosco.

Opening the second day, Fr. Timothy Choi, SDB, Delegate of Mongolia, shared a moving story about Fr. Carlo Maria Savio De Ocampo Villegas, SDB, the first Salesian missionary to arrive in Mongolia in 2001, originally from the Philippines. After 17 years of dedicated service, Fr. Carlo suffered a stroke while celebrating Easter Mass in Darkhan, resulting in hemiplegia (one-sided paralysis) and necessitating his return to the Philippines.

For this 25th Anniversary, Fr. Carlo entrusted Fr. Timothy with his cherished Medal of Mary Help of Christians—a medal he had constantly worn and prayed with since the beginning of his mission in 2001, entrusting his intentions for the Mongolian mission to Our Lady. Fr. Timothy presented the medal to the congregation, relaying Fr. Carlo’s testimony of how Mary Help of Christians constantly interceded and provided aid in critical moments throughout all trials.

After Mass, the celebration moved to the gymnasium for a festive gathering. Young people, catechists, and staff members from various parishes and centers presented diverse performances. Despite the historical sensitivities surrounding religious expression in public spaces, the performers proudly integrated profound elements of faith into their performances. Demonstrating the true Salesian Family spirit, parish priests, catechists, and staff members joined the youth on stage, singing and dancing together in the spirit of Don Bosco’s preventive system.

The emotional peak of the event arrived when the Salesian confreres sang the popular Mongolian song “Migratory Bird” (Nutgiin Shuvuud) as a response to the people. The song beautifully intertwined the hardships and deeply rooted soul of the nomadic life of the Mongolian people with the self-giving journey of the Salesian missionaries, who left their homelands to live as loving foreigners in a distant land. Deeply moved, the entire assembly offered heartfelt praise to God for leading them together over the past 25 years.

A Small Seed, Facing the Future Under Mary’s Providence

The mission in Mongolia continues to face significant real-world challenges:

• Personnel Constraints: Only 12 missionaries from 7 nationalities currently cover the entire mission, with no new missionaries assigned this year.
• Financial Difficulties: With no state support due to historical mistrust of religion, and with the majority of the 1,500 local Catholics living in poverty, local self-sufficiency remains impossible, leaving the mission entirely dependent on international aid.
• Legal and Administrative Hurdles: Strict regulations on religious organizations lead to unstable visa statuses and church permits, while religious references outside designated church facilities are strictly regulated.

Yet, the Salesian Family in Mongolia remains steadfast. Facing a reality where human solutions seem scarce, they silently walk the path of their calling, “hoping against hope” (Rom 4:18). They hold fast to the words spoken by Pope Francis during his Apostolic Journey to Mongolia: “God loves smallness, and through it, He loves to accomplish great things.”

As Fr. Carlo testified, the story of the Mongolian mission has been an ongoing journey of grace under the maternal care of Mary Help of Christians. Carrying the miracles of the past 25 years in their hearts, the Salesians in Mongolia move forward with optimism towards the next 50, 75, and 100 years. They ask the global Salesian Family to accompany the young people and missionaries on the high plains with continued prayers and support.