Come as You Are, and We’ll Get There Together (The Mark Swartzberg Show)

For generations, the Salesian family has helped young people discover that holiness begins with being known, loved, and accompanied. Joining The Mark Swartzberg Show, Sister Bernadette Mota of the Salesian Sisters spoke with Mark about the enduring wisdom of St. John Bosco, whose mission was to guide young people toward Christ through authentic relationships. She summarized the Salesian spirit in a simple phrase: “Come as you are, and we’ll get there together.” That approach is rooted in what Salesians call the preventive system: reason, religion, and loving kindness. Through reason, young people learn to think critically and become responsible citizens. Through religion, they encounter Christ and grow in faith. Through loving kindness, they experience the truth that people respond best when they know they are loved. At St. John Bosco School in San Antonio, Texas, the Salesian Sisters serve children from infancy through eighth grade, particularly in a community with significant economic challenges. Their goal is not simply academic success, but the formation of the whole person. Sister Bernadette also shared her own vocation story. While trying to avoid a call to religious life, she unexpectedly spent a year with the Salesian Sisters. Their welcoming spirit changed everything. “I just got to be who I was,” she said. “They took me where I was and accompanied me to where God was calling me to.” That same spirit continues to shape Salesian schools and ministries around the world. By creating places that are a church, a home, a school, and a playground, they help young people encounter the love of Christ and discover the path to holiness. The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.