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.
Why I’m Here
I left a career in software engineering to follow Christ more fully, offering my life in service to the Church. This year with the Salesian Lay Missioners is a gift — time set aside to live the Gospel with intention, humility, and joy. I want to grow in holiness and help others encounter Christ in meaningful, personal ways.
Drawn to the Salesians
What drew me to the Salesians was their joyful spirituality, their deep love for the young, and the strength of their community life. The family spirit and rhythm of shared prayer and mission resonate deeply with me. I’m excited to live, serve, and pray alongside others seeking God.
Ready to Teach, Listen, and Love
With experience mentoring middle school boys and leading young engineers, I love helping others grow — intellectually, spiritually, and personally. I feel especially called to teach, but I’m ready for anything: classrooms, food lines, or faith sharing. My passion for evangelization, languages, and accompaniment makes me eager to serve wherever I’m needed.
Rooted in Christ, Ready to Serve
Christ is the center of my life. Daily Mass, the Rosary, and time with Scripture fuel my desire to live fully aligned with God’s will. I want to go to heaven—and I want to bring others with me. I believe the laity are called to bring the Gospel to every corner of society, and I’m committed to doing that with joy and humility.
Why the Salesians?
When I discovered the Salesian Lay Missioners, something clicked. Their joyful spirit, deep love for the Church, and tireless commitment to youth and education resonated deeply with my heart and my gifts. I’m drawn to their focus on community life, evangelization through presence, and their belief that holiness is possible in everyday life. It’s a spirituality that feels like home.
Building the Kingdom with Code and Compassion
With a background in software engineering and experience teaching tech to youth, I’m passionate about bridging digital skills with human dignity. I love helping young people realize their potential—whether that’s through learning something new or encountering Christ’s love through presence and encouragement.
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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