(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.
(ANS - Turin) - Inaugurated at the beginning of October, the Don Bosco House Museum, the new museum exhibition of the places of the origins of Don Bosco's educational and spiritual adventure, remains open online, in compliance with the rules imposed to counter Covid-19. Visitors from all over the world can visit it through the virtual museum.
(ANS - Bologna) - "Free to leave, free to stay" was a three-year campaign (2017-2020) of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) aimed at raising awareness among the Italian population on the issue of migration and carrying out development projects in the countries of departure, transit and reception of migrants, especially the most vulnerable. The Salesian Vocational Training Center in Castel de’ Britti, near Bologna, was one of the locations for its implementation.
(ANS - Turin) - The "Michele Rua" Salesian Oratory in Turin has been a haven in the field of study for international research on the theme of Youth and Religion. How does the transmission of faith, values, and religion take place within the same family and between the various generations? How is the context in which we live affected? These are some of the questions that prompted analysts and teachers to investigate at the Turin Salesian oratory.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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RMG - Preparation, objectives, challenges and perspectives of GC29: in dialogue with the Moderator, Fr Alphonse Owoudou(ANS - RMG) - Just a few days before the beginning of the 29th General Chapter (GC29) of the Salesian Congregation, Fr Alphonse Owoudou, Councillor for the Africa-Madagascar Region and Moderator of GC29, recounts in detail, through an articulate interview, the work preceding and underlying this responsibility, indicating the spirit that will animate it and the attitudes and conditions to make it truly a Cenacle in which the Holy Spirit can act, for the benefit of the Congregation, the Salesian mission and the youth of the world.
EDITORIAL
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RMG – Don Bosco: “The Fascinating Saint”(ANS - Rome) - Don Bosco is perhaps the most amazing and fascinating saint, history has ever produced. The humble work which he began for the welfare of his poor and abandoned boys in Italy has produced astonishing results, and today there are nearly 14000 Salesians working in 138 countries, and there are more than 200,000 members belonging to the 32 groups of the worldwide Salesian Family sharing the charism of Don Bosco and reaching out to the needy young people.
EVENTS
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India – INS youth solemnise Don Bosco’s Feast Day with ‘Ka Sur Kynud S-3’ Grand Finale(ANS – Shillong) – The Youth of St John Paul II, Shillong Province, celebrated the Feast Day of St. John Bosco with the Grand Finale of “Ka Sur Kynud, Season 3.” Organised by Don Bosco Media Network Television, the Social Communication Department of the Province, at Don Bosco Youth Centre, Laitumkhrah, Shillong, this two-month-long singing competition, which imitates the global singing competition The Voice, concluded on 31 January 2025, coinciding with the Solemnity of St John Bosco.
SPECIAL REPORTS
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United States – CATHOLIC WORLD DAY OF THE SICK: Salesian Missions highlights medical programs for people in need around the globe(ANS – New Rochelle) – Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins Catholic organizations around the globe in honoring the Catholic World Day of the Sick. Every year on Feb. 11, the Pope marks the day with a special message calling for spiritual and physical closeness to all those who are ill. Saint John Paul II instituted the day “to encourage the people of God, Catholic health institutions and civil society to be increasingly attentive to the sick and to those who care for them.”
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
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WHAT A GIFT TIME IS!THE MESSAGE OF THE VICAR OF THE RECTOR MAJOR,
Fr Stefano Martoglio, SDBThe beginning of the new year is illuminated in our liturgy by the ancient formula with which the Israelite priests blessed the people: "May the Lord bless you, and keep you. May the Lord show His face to you, and have mercy on you. May the Lord turn His countenance to you, and give you peace."