Rome, Italy - March 2022 - On March 28 and 29 at the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS), the organizational team of the SDB Change Congress carried out the activities for the detailed planning of the Congress scheduled from September 19 to 23, 2022 at UPS. The present reference team consists of: Bros. Jean Paul Muller, SDB, General Economer of the Salesian Congregation, Alberto Rodríguez Marmol, SDB, Treasurer of the Congregation, Luís Otávio Botasso, SDB, Personal Secretary of the General Economer, Marco Fragapane, Assistant to the General Economer, Emanuela Ornato, General Economer of the Economer Portal Provincial Office, Antonello Vedovato, founder of Edulife Foundation, Pier Paolo Benedetti, Deputy General Manager of "Zhejiang Yizhong Edulife Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd" and co-founder of Edulife, Nelson Penedo, General Manager of "Don Bosco Mission Bonn" and Deputy Mission Officer, Head of "Transparency International" on the prevention of corruption in Church development cooperation, Janko Jochimsen, consultant and lawyer for the General Economer, and Michael Könen, member of Kinder helfen Kindern, a Grenzenlos association that supports the Salesians in southern Brazil.

Rome, Italy - March 2022 - On Saturday, March 26, the Center for Missionary Cooperation among the Churches of the Diocese of Rome presented the "don Andrea Santoro" award in honor of the fidei donum priest killed in Turkey sixteen years ago while praying with the Bible in his hands. There were four awardees, among them Fr Germain Plakoo-Mlapa, a Salesian priest from Togo. Fr Germain experienced firsthand the wave of jihadist violence in Burkina Faso in recent years and the suffering inflicted on the population, especially by the Christian minority. Together with his confreres, he has always advocated the importance of staying among the people and instilling hope in young people. In 2019, he witnessed two attacks that he managed to survive, suffering serious injuries from the stab wounds he received. Attacks that cost the lives of Fr Antonio César Fernández and Fr Fernando Hernández. The award was collected by Fr Pavel Ženisek, a Salesian member of the Missions Sector, and will be presented to Fr Germain, who thanked the promoters of the "don Andrea Santoro" award for encouraging missionaries to give of themselves and flourish where the Lord has sown them.

Rome, Italy - March 2022 - Although the pandemic has caused the postponement of the World Convention of the Salesian Biblical Association (ABS), the biblical scholars of the Salesian Family are keeping their eyes on Jerusalem for August 2023. Already, the President's Council continues its gatherings by taking advantage of digital platforms, this to maintain safe distances and reduce travel. Last January, the president of the ABS, Fr Juan José Bartolomé, communicated this change of dates in a circular letter to members around the world. Now that the horizon is promising and the theme of the next Congress is defined, on March 26, the councilors connected with each other from Spain, Mexico and Italy (Turin and Rome) and reflected on the importance of relaunching the Salesian mission in the world of the Bible, 40 years after the foundation of ABS, following the request of the then Rector Major, Fr Egidio Viganò. It was precisely at Cremisan, in the Holy Land, that the association was founded (20 August 1982) and later canonically erected by the VII Successor of Don Bosco with a decree dated 19 March 1983. Biblical Sciences have continued their development, just as the archaeological discoveries in the Holy Land provide new data for understanding the Word of God; in addition, the sensitivity of communities and young people to the Word certainly offers new possibilities. The 2023 Jerusalem Convention also presents itself as a true handover between the founders and the new members who have just finished their studies in Biblical Sciences.

Colle San Rizzo, Italy - March 2022 - The annual spiritual exercises for the Rectors of the SDB and FMA communities of Sicily are a tradition that is repeated every two years to foster greater knowledge and sharing. For the 400th anniversary of the death of St. Francis de Sales, the spiritual exercises were preached by Fr Gianni Ghiglione, a Salesian, scholar, and expert on the holy bishop from Geneva. At the FMA house in Colle San Rizzo (Messina), from March 20 to 26, the participants were able to experience an intense week of prayer, formation, and discussion. The meeting allowed for informal moments of exchange and reinforcement of Salesian educational praxis, and a chance for rectors to share and discuss action at the educational-pastoral level. The Spiritual Exercises were also attended by the Provincial, Fr Giovanni D'Andrea, the Provincial, Sr. Angela Maria Maccioni, and their respective Provincial Councils.

(ANS - Turin) - Fr Daniel Antúnez, SDB, President of Missioni Don Bosco, returned to Italy a few days ago from a trip that brought him to meet with Salesians from Slovakia, Poland and Ukraine - in Lviv - and is handling the reception of a group of 39 refugees in Valdocco. "We want to be militants for peace," he says in response to those who generate war and violence. Fr Antúnez adds: "If the Pope will be in the condition to go in person, I and many others are ready to accompany him."

(ANS - Rome) - "Don Alberto Maria De Agostini, l’uomo, la natura, l’arte, la scienza -the man, nature, art, science" is the title of an international study conference that the Istituto Storico Salesiano, the Salesian Historical Institute, will hold in Rome at the Salesian Pontifical University from April 25 to 27, 2022. Scholars from universities, study centers, museums in Italy, Argentina and Chile will speak to illustrate the figure of this Salesian, who died 62 years ago, but whose cultural legacy continues to be current.