(ANS - León) - The presence of the Rector Major Fr Angel Fernandez Artime in Spain has brought fresh vigour and strength. He continues to encourage the Salesians to be the "guarantors of the Salesian charism." Speaking to 55 Rectors of various Salesian Houses he invited them to dream of a future for the "young" province, studying how to ensure the presence of the Salesian charism in the Salesian works and he asked them to listen to the needs of young people and to be more proactive in faith education.

(ANS - Manta) - It seems that even in the midst of so much pain there is good news that gladdens and encourages the people. "A 72-year old man was saved 13 days after the earthquake in Ecuador." 660 people have died because of the earthquake "including some of our students," reports Fr Luis Mosquera, Rector of the Salesian House in Manta. According to the latest data, there are still a thousand people accommodated in shelters in Manabi. Most of these people have lost everything, absolutely everything.

(ANS - Aleppo) – Split by the front line between government forces and rebel militias, Aleppo is now a city totally torn apart by war, a dying city, a martyr city, a city that bleeds because of hatred ... Fr Pier Jabloyan, a Salesian who was born and raised in Aleppo, no longer knows how to describe his city. In a new video appeal launched by the Salesians in Aleppo Fr Jabloyan makes this request: "intensify your prayers for us especially in this Marian month".