Espíritu de la Acción Misional: Nacimiento De las Universidades Salesianas en América Latina

Salesian institutions of higher education began to emerge in Latin America during the 1970s—a period marked by profound social, economic, and political turmoil in the region. Despite these challenges, these institutions flourished, driven by their evangelizing and social mission inspired by their Italian founder, Saint John Bosco. There arose a natural need to expand the Salesian educational mission from secondary to higher education, both to accompany vulnerable youth in their professional formation and to provide academic training for Salesian seminarians (Direzione Generale Opere Don Bosco Roma, 2023, p. 4).It is important to highlight that the Salesian Congregation was born from the dreams of Don Bosco. As Guzón (n. d.) points out, the priest refers more than thirty-five times in his Memoirs of the Oratory to the importance of “responding to the needs and urgencies of his time, and in particular, to those of the world of youth” (p. 13). In this sense, his approach to evangelization and education materialized in the founding of the Oratory of Valdocco in Turin, Italy, in 1846. This oratory was not merely a physical space or a pedagogical method, but rather “a brilliant instrument of global communication: integrating oneself to be immersed in and to perceive values as lived experiences, in a lifestyle and relational model” (Ávila, n. d., p. 246). This model provided a foundation for evangelization through an educational experience. This understanding of evangelization through education is rooted in the oratorian experience, which served as both a space for spiritual outreach and social advancement. Over time, this model extended across all levels of education, and today this spirit continues to permeate all Salesian works, including higher education. As Guzón (n. d., p. 14) affirms, the university “must embody this oratorian character that defines all Salesian works,” ensuring that these foundational roots continue to guarantee a relevant and sustainable future.