Catania, Italy - November 2020 - The Salesian Province of Sicily, having at heart the parents and family members of the Salesians, has been carrying out various activities for some time. On November 25, on the anniversary of Mamma Margherita, the same group, which is beginning to become more consistent in numbers and participation, officially wanted to start its animation work with the motto "We are Family" with some sharing initiatives, such as the creation of a special WhatsApp group and the dissemination of a video-message of reflection and thanksgiving on the theme “Diary of the Salesian Family - between Don Bosco and Mamma Margaret”. Other initiatives planned for this year, coordinated by Fr Alfredo Calderoni and the Garufi family, will be the videoconference of the Cerchio Mariano on 8 December featuring the message of the Provincial Fr Giovanni D'Andrea, moments of prayer and formation in preparation for Christmas, and the days dedicated to the rediscovery of Salesian holiness in Sicily, following the models of Nino Baglieri, Mother Maddalena Morano, Cardinal Guarino, and others.

(ANS – Assisi) – The Economy of Francesco (EoF), a global online event that engaged young people, entrepreneurs and economists was held from 19 to 21 November, from Assisi in Italy. It was called for by Pope Francis in 2019 through a public letter of invitation, in which he hoped to promote: “a process of global change. One in which not only believers but all men and women of good will, beyond differences of creed and nationality, can participate, inspired by an ideal of fraternity attentive above all to the poor and excluded.” Don Bosco Green Alliance participated in the “EoF Marathon”, which was held as part of the overall Economy of Francesco event.

Rome, Italy - November 2020 - On November 18, tablets for distance learning were delivered to the first-year students of the "Pio XI" Vocational Training Center in Rome, who will now be able to follow the lessons from home with an appropriate and personal device. The delivery took place as part of the "Salesian Solidarity with Italy: the Emergency Response to Covid-19" project, funded by the US government agency for International Development (USAid), led by the Salesian NGO "International Volunteering for Development" (VIS), and which also involves "Salesians for Social Aps"; “Salesian Missions”, the Salesian Mission Office of New Rochelle, United States; and the National Center for Salesian Works – Formation and Ongoing Education (CNOS-FAP).

(ANS - Scandicci) - On Friday 13 November, in memory of Salesian Blessed Artemide Zatti, the Salesian community of Scandicci, just outside Florence, opened a semi-residential community for young people: in times of closures, a good sign of openness to the city and the territory.

Rome, Italy - November 2020 - On 22 November, in the church of the Salesian Pontifical University, Salesian Augusto Samuel Francisco was ordained a priest by the laying on of hands and the consecratory prayer of Msgr. Enrico dal Covolo, SDB. Also present at the ceremony were Fr Ivo Coelho, General Councilor for Formation, Fr Alphonse Owoudou, Councilor for the Africa-Madagascar Region, and Fr Guillermo Basañes, Extraordinary Visitor 'ad nutum' and 'pro tempore'.

Verona, Italy - November 2020 - The campus of the Don Bosco Institute in Verona, belonging to the Salesian Province of North-East Italy (INE), welcomes the community with concrete help to families and people in difficulty, especially in this delicate and difficult emergency due to Covid-19. The main activity includes the distribution of food to over a hundred families in difficulty. Raw materials are donated by companies, businesses, the Food Bank and the Rana Pastificio, a pasta company. Everything is distributed thanks to the "Mani Giovani" association, founded about fifteen years ago by a group of past pupils from the Don Bosco Institute in Verona to give continuity to the spontaneous action of the Salesian Fr Marcello Rizzo, who had started this good practice as a concrete help to the situation of poverty and to involve children in a social volunteer project. Together with the many volunteers and the Salesian Institute, the association provides for the packaging of packages and their delivery.