(ANS - Turin) - The feast day of Don Bosco in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin-Valdocco has a particular significance in 2022 because of the 400th anniversary of the birth in Heaven of Saint Francis de Sales (1622-2022). Don Bosco chose him as patron and model for his children, to whom he gave the name of "Salesians".

(ANS - Rome) - In preparation for the feast day of Don Bosco, next Wednesday, January 26, 2022, the presentation of the voluminous text "Volti di uno stesso carisma. Salesiani e Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice", edited by Fr Francesco Motto, SDB, and Sister Grazia Loparco, FMA: volume 10 of the "Studi" series of the Salesian historical association Cultori di Storia Salesiana (ACSSA) published by LAS (Rome 2021).

Rome, Italy – January 2022 – The Salesian community of Testaccio - Rome welcomed the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, and his Council on the evening of Thursday 20 January 2022. The community chapel was the first meeting place with the solemn celebration of the vespers presided over by the Rector Major. The Rector of the house, Fr Orestes Fistarol, in his words of welcome introduce the community to the distinguished visitors. The community is made up of 39 confreres from 14 countries and 28 Salesian provinces; 18 of whom are in the various Licentiate courses and 15 in various Doctorate courses. At the end of the Vespers, the Rector Major delivered the traditional ‘good night’ message to the community focusing mainly on the joy of being Salesians and on the challenges of today’s society which require a solid formation. Hence invitating the student confreres to give the best of themselves and to acquire a good formation to respond well to the needs of the young. The second part of the auspicious evening consisted in the fraternal participation at the community meal in the refectory. Songs to Don Bosco in various languages gave the evening an added Salesian fraternal vibe. By way of conclusion, the Rector Major thanked the community for the warm welcome and renewed his invitation to all present to rediscover and to savour the joy and meaning of giving one’s life to Christ, without whom it would become bland and of no meaning. He also invited the community to keep the flame of love for Christ alive, as Don Bosco did. The memorable visit of the Rector Major and his council members came to an end with a few moments of spontaneous exchange of farewell pleasantries.

(ANS - Rome) - The Central Italy Circumscription (ICC), with the parish "San Giovanni Bosco" in Rome and the Salesian Cultural Center, presents a round table on the occasion of the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists. On Sunday, January 23, from 12:30 p.m. (UTC+1), the event entitled: "What is the meaning of Catholic information?" will be broadcast live through social networks.

(ANS - Rome) - As the two major Salesian feasts of January draw near - St. Francis de Sales, on January 24, even more solemn this year on the 400th anniversary of the saint's death, and St. John Bosco, on January 31 - the initiative of daily Masses broadcast live on TV from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Rome comes into its own. For several days now, in fact, some members of the General Council have been presiding over the celebrations; and in the last week of the month, there will be none other than the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, and his Vicar, Fr Stefano Martoglio.

(ANS - Rome) - In Turin’s Don Bosco House Museum, the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, recently inaugurated the year dedicated to Saint Francis de Sales on the 400th anniversary of his death. The content of the Strenna and the in-depth study of the figure of the holy Savoyard bishop during the days of spirituality of the Salesian Family, held in Turin from 13 to 16 January, signaled the beginning of the year dedicated to him. In continuity with these initiatives, the Study Center ‘Opera dei Tabernacoli Viventi’, in collaboration with the Conference of the Salesian Provinces of Italy (CISI) - Formation Sector, is promoting the third meeting of the course "Which Salesians for today's young people?" on the theme "St. Francis de Sales and the Eucharist", to be held Saturday 22 January from 9 to 10:15 a.m. (UTC+1).