Serve the Lord Joyfully!
– St. John Bosco
Spend a year serving young people in Salesian communities around the world.
By the Numbers
Serve Like Don Bosco
St. John Bosco drew young people to God with his presence. But he couldn’t do it alone – he needed lay people like you!
Choosing to serve can feel risky. But you’ll be glad you did. Your experience will shape the way you work, pray, and see your purpose in life.
Deciding Your Next Steps in Life?
We discern with you how to best use your gifts. You can teach, work in a parish, run retreats, help at-risk children, care for refugees and more.
Jump into each day like Don Bosco. Pray with the Salesians, laugh with the children, and watch God provide for you in surprising ways. Pour yourself out to the kids. You’ll be amazed at what you can do!
Educating For Life
You can help break the cycle of poverty by providing a quality education to vulnerable youth. At Salesian schools, young children attend classes, participate in sports and other activities and have a safe place to learn and grow.
Health & Medical Services
Use your professional knowledge to serve the sick at a Salesian clinic, hospital, or dispensary. Be it a nurse or medical doctor, the impact of healthcare ministry is quick and powerful.
Taking Care of the At-Risk
Do you have a caring and empathetic heart? Do you desire to help provide basic living necessities for youth? Why not serve at one of many shelters and homes where you can help counsel, stabilize, and educate those youth at-risk.
Closer to Jesus
Be a Salesian Youth Minister and help young people come to know and love Jesus Christ. Our way of ministering to young people guides them to serve others and the Church in the style of St. John Bosco – to form ‘upright citizens and good Christians.’
Reaching out to those in need
As a Salesian Lay Missioner, you will have the unique opportunity to make lasting positive impacts on entire communities – establishing school outreach programs, evaluating community needs, or simply listening to those who want to be heard. You can be that change!
Meet the SLMs
Meet the current lay missioners who have committed themselves to furthering Don Bosco’s and the church’s mission of serving those at-risk.
Called to Serve with Joy and Purpose
My desire to serve has grown steadily over time, shaped by meaningful experiences in travel, ministry, and prayer. Backpacking across 12 countries after college taught me how to be present, flexible, and attuned to the dignity of every person I encountered. That journey awakened a longing to serve not just as a traveler, but as a vessel of God’s love. I began to sense that the Lord was inviting me to something deeper — a life of mission rooted in faith and joyful sacrifice.
Why the Salesians
The Salesian Lay Missioners stood out for their strong Catholic identity, focus on youth, and commitment to living in community. I was drawn to the charism of presence — being with the young in a way that is loving, consistent, and Christ-centered. The Salesians’ emphasis on accompaniment and formation mirrors my own desire to walk alongside children and help them grow in both faith and confidence. That they remove financial barriers and prioritize discernment confirmed that this was the right path for me.
Ready to Go Where God Leads
I bring a heart open to God’s will, a willingness to learn, and a deep love for the Church. My experience leading Bible studies, living simply, and adapting to new cultures has prepared me to serve wherever I am sent. While I know challenges will come, I trust the Lord will use every moment to shape me — and those I serve — for His glory. I am ready to go where He leads.
From Lost to Found
I once chased everything the world offered — until I found myself empty, broken, and far from who I was meant to be. But Christ, in His mercy, came after me when I had nothing to offer and called me His own. That love changed everything. Since then, I’ve felt a deep desire to live for Him and make His name known, especially through mission — serving the poor, the forgotten, and the young with the same love that rescued me.
Why the Salesians
Through prayer and God’s providence, I was introduced to the Salesian Lay Missioners. Their focus on faith, community, and youth ministry resonated with the mission God placed in my heart. I long to work with children, especially in orphanages, where I can help nurture not just minds, but hearts — pointing them to Christ. The SLM emphasis on presence, accompaniment, and joyful service aligns perfectly with my spiritual gifts in prayer, teaching, and encouragement.
Equipped and Willing
Though I haven’t done formal mission work yet, my travels and leadership experiences have prepared me to be adaptable, compassionate, and creative in ministry. Whether it’s leading Bible studies, creating evangelization content, or simply loving the one in front of me, I believe God has uniquely equipped me to serve. I don’t bring perfection — I bring a willing heart. I am saying yes to Christ, trusting that where He leads, He will provide.
Drawn to Mission, Rooted in Faith
The desire to serve has been with me for as long as I can remember. From an early age, I felt a pull toward international mission and even began learning Spanish in middle school with the hope of one day traveling abroad to help those in need. While I explored opportunities with the Peace Corps and other NGOs, something never quite clicked—until I discovered Catholic organizations that served the poor with both material support and spiritual accompaniment. As my faith deepened, I realized I wanted to serve alongside others who shared the same Catholic values, grounded in humility, simplicity, and love.
From Capitol Hill to the Hill of the Lord
After graduating, I worked in the U.S. House of Representatives for three years, serving my hometown district and learning invaluable lessons about leadership and service. While I was grateful for the experience, I began to feel spiritually unsettled and uncertain about my next steps. I prayed, discerned, and eventually found myself returning to that long-held desire for mission. What moved me most about the Salesian Lay Missioners wasn’t just their global reach—it was the way they described mission as becoming a mother, sister, and friend to children who lacked those examples of love.
Choosing Joy with the Salesians
Attending the SLM Discernment Weekend confirmed everything I had been feeling. There was a peace that settled over me—a peace I hadn’t felt in years. I saw clearly the joy of a life rooted in God and of being part of a mission family that lives simply and loves deeply. For as long as I can remember, I’ve trusted God’s direction, and now I feel Him inviting me to step forward with courage and joy.
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