(ANS - Rome) - The President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, has awarded, motu proprio, thirty-two honors of the Merit of the Italian Republic to citizens, male and female, who have distinguished themselves for acts of heroism, for their commitment to solidarity, in rescue efforts, in international cooperation, in the protection of minors, in the promotion of culture and legality, for activities in favor of social cohesion, integration, research and environmental protection. Among these positive models, the Head of State also rewarded Elisabetta Cipollone, who for years has been working together with the Salesian NGO "VIS - International Volunteering for Development" in the "Un Pozzo per Andrea" project, a water well for Andrea, in Ethiopia.

(ANS - Venaria Reale) - For the Progetto INSIEME (together), which sees "Salesiani per il Sociale APS" as the leading body of the project and whose objective is to prevent and contrast the phenomena of educational child poverty through an intervention on minors, families, teachers and territorial context, Dr. Daniela Rizzo, psychologist and psychotherapist, talks about the experience of "Genitori Insieme/Parents Together", a series of meetings that takes place in the Venaria Reale headquarters.

(ANS - Savona) – On Sunday 22 December, the 50th anniversary of Vera Grita's birth in heaven (1923-1969), the Supplex libellus, for the opening of the diocesan Inquiry on the life, virtues, fame of holiness and signs of Vera Grita, Laywoman, Salesian Cooperator, was officially presented by the Postulator General of the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Family, Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, to the bishop of Savona-Noli, Msgr. Calogero Marino.

Turin, Italy - December 2019 - The third meeting dedicated to the 2019/2020 Starters Course promoted by the Mission Animation of the Special Circumscription of Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta (ICP) was held in Valdocco on 15 December. The meeting was led by Sister Lidia Sordo, FMA, who brought her 23-year experience to land of missions in Tunisia and to the migrant office of the diocese of Turin. Fr Stefano Mondin, ICP Delegate for Youth Ministry, presented the principles of the Social Doctrine of the Church, a dialogue and discussion on the thoughts and actions of the Christian community in the social sphere, and some of the many initiatives of Youth Ministry in the field of integration, social promotion and job placement.

Rome, Italy - December 2019 - On December 18, at the church of the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS), the traditional Christmas Concert was held organized by the University Choir, with the participation of the Accademia degli Ostinati Orchestra, conducted by the Maestro Robert Andorka, the soprano Teresa Paz Román, the organist Filippo Sanjust and the choir pianist Leisbert A. Moreno Guillén. The concert, which saw a large participation of students, teachers and families, was also attended by the Ambassador of Slovenia Jakob Štunf, the Slovenian Ambassador emeritus, dr. Ivan Rebernik, a representative of the Embassy of Timor Leste, and dr. Massimo Gattamelata, emeritus Secretary General of the Vatican Foundation "Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice".

(ANS - Rome) – Giving a name to things means feeling it as one's own and sharing their value. For this reason, several halls, rooms and beautiful areas of the “Ministry of Education, Universities and Research” (MIUR), based in Rome, now have a name and surname. Several spaces, in fact, have been named after important figures of Italian history who have contributed to schools, education, pedagogy and research.