25 Years of Miracles in Mongolia

25 Years of Miracles in the Land of the Nomads
Silver jubilee of the Salesian presence in Mongolia

(ANS – Ulan Bator, Mongolia – October 27, 2026) – “The past with gratitude, the present with optimism, the future with courage.” Inspired by this motto, the Salesian delegation of Mongolia celebrated its silver jubilee on October 23-24.

Taking into account the country’s historical heritage and social context, the celebration was organized in 2 distinct parts: a non-religious ceremony held on October 23, followed by the religious celebration, which included Mass, on  October 24.

The silver jubilee was marked by the presence of guests from every corner of the world, including Fr. William Matthews, SDB regional councilor for East Asia–Oceania; Fr. Marcello Baek, provincial of the Holy Korean Martyrs Province in South Korea; Fr. Joseph Kim Khanh, vice provincial of the Vietnam Province, who laid the foundations for the Mongolian mission prior to its integration into the South Korea Province; and Fr. Joseph Toth, a missionary from Slovakia, who first arrived 25 years ago and is currently serving in Yakutsk, Siberia. Together they shared their joy and gratitude for 2½ decades of grace.

October 23: gratitude and unity shared with Mongolian society

The celebrations began on October 23 at the Don Bosco Erdem Technical School in Ulan Bator. The program featured a wealth of traditional artistic performances, including the Morin Khuur (horse-head fiddle) and Urtyn Duu (traditional Mongolian singing), as well as testimonies from representatives of various Salesian centers, who presented 25 years of Salesian history and work in Mongolia.

A moving moment of the day was the testimony of Mark, a former pupil of the school, who offered an example of what Salesian preventive education means. He is now a respected and much-loved teacher who expressed his deep gratitude to the Salesians for having shaped not only his professional career, but also his life and his faith.

During the day, the local Mongolian community paid a moving tribute to the Salesians. Residents and young people, who are traditionally reserved in expressing their emotions, invited the foreign Salesian missionaries onto the stage. Wearing colorful traditional Mongolian deels as a sign of respect for the local culture, the Salesians were welcomed with sincere gratitude by the people they have served for 25 years.

October 24: the Salesian Family united in praise at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral

On October 24, over 300 members of the Salesian Family, including the Salesians, the Polish ambassador to Mongolia, priests and religious from the prefecture apostolic of Ulan Bator, lay faithful, the Salesian Sisters, the Salesian Cooperators, and members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians, filled Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, where Fr. Matthews presided over Mass.

The 2d day began with an account by Fr. Timothy Choi, the delegate for Mongolia, on the life of Fr. Carlo Maria Savio De Ocampo Villegas, the first Salesian missionary to arrive in Mongolia (2001). After 17 years of devoted service, Fr. Carlo suffered a stroke while celebrating Easter Mass in Darkhan, leaving him paralyzed on one side of his body. He subsequently returned to the Philippines. To mark the 25th anniversary, Fr. Carlo entrusted his beloved medal of Mary Help of Christians to Fr. Timothy.

Another deeply moving moment of the event was when the Salesian confreres sang the famous Mongolian song “Nutgiin Shuvuud” together with the audience. The song expresses the deeply rooted spirit of the nomadic life of the Mongolian people, mirroring the path of self-giving taken by the Salesian missionaries, who left their homeland to live as loving strangers in a distant land.

The mission in Mongolia is facing real challenges due to staff shortages, the financial crisis, and various other social and cultural issues. Despite this, the Salesian Family in Mongolia remains steadfast. Faced with a difficult reality, it entrusts itself to its vocation with “hope against all hope” (Rom 4:18), following the words of Pope Francis from his apostolic journey to Mongolia: “God loves smallness and thru it accomplishes great things.”

As Fr. Carlo Maria Savio testified, the history of the Mongolian mission has been a continuous journey of grace under the maternal care of Mary Help of Christians. The Salesians in Mongolia look to the future with optimism, carrying in their hearts the miracles of the past 25 years.