(ANS – Capriglio) – A Mass in memory of the Venerable Margaret Occhiena, St John Bosco's mother, was celebrated on the anniversary of her entry into eternal life, Saturday, 25 November, at 8:30 pm, at the parish of San Martino in Capriglio. Margaret Occhiena, generally known as Mamma Margaret, died in Turin at the Oratory in Valdocco on 25 November 1856, and was declared Venerable on 23 October 2006.

(ANS – Rome) – Last Friday, 22 November 2024, at the UPS, the Salesian Historical Institute (ISS), in collaboration with the Don Bosco Study Centre (CSDB) at the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) in Rome, presented the volume Giovanni Bosco, Predicazione. Introduzione, testi critici e note a cura di Aldo Giraudo e Massimo Schwarzel. (= ISS – Fonti, Prima Series, 18). Rome, 2024. The symposium involved numerous scholars who were able to illustrate the originality and specific value of this new text on St John Bosco.

Palermo, Italy - November 2024 - A Symposium of studies on  ‘Catechesis and Youth today’ was held at the Aula Magna of LUMSA in Palermo, in collaboration with the Centre for Religious Pedagogy of the Salesian Province of Sicily (ISI) and in collaboration with the Pastoral Office of the Archdiocese of Palermo. Involvement of members of the Department of Formation Sciences and educators, catechists and formators made it possible to open a combined reflection on the Church's commitment to the renewal of Christian initiation. The various addresses that followed, from the initial greeting by Archbishop Corrado Lorefice, Metropolitan Archbishop of Palermo, by academic authorities and the various speakers, brought out the crucial importance of the evangelisation of young people, especially in contexts of high social deprivation. The aspects that bound the various areas of focus together highlighted the need to listen to young people of all age groups. At the end of the Symposium, some essential coordinates were outlined for qualified educational intervention in the various areas of the Church’s activity. The focus on Salesian pedagogy aroused much interest among the participants, especially in the concluding discussion.

Rome, Italy - November 2024 - On 8 November 2024, the World Presidency of the Association of Salesian History Enthusiasts (ACSSA), which met in Rome (UPS), at the request of the Superior of the Salesian Sacred Heart Central Italy Circumscription (ICC), Fr Roberto Colameo, named Fr Giovanni Cossu as an Honorary Member of the aforementioned association. During his life Fr Cossu has been a teacher for many years, headmaster in Salesian schools in Macerata, Cagliari and Florence, rector (Macerata and Cagliari) and Superior of the Vice-Province of Sardinia (2005-2008). He is currently in charge of the Historical Archives of the ICC since 2019. The ACSSA Presidency recognised his dedication to the custody of Salesian memory of inestimable value carried out for the good of the youth. The work in the Provincial Archives, care of the house chronicle and the studies and publications on the history of his home town present Fr Giovanni Cossu as a Salesian with a passion for history and its identity value. In the Church, as the Holy Father Francis writes these days, “we need to renew our historical sensitivity”. The urgent need for greater historical sensitivity, including in the field of Salesian history, requires faithful and daily, often invisible and silent work by various people. Among these is Fr Giovanni Cossu, whom the World Presidency of the ACSSA congratulates on being officially given the title of Honorary Member of ACSSA. The act of awarding the diploma took place during the ACSSA meeting held on 23 November in Rome.

(ANS – Genzano di Roma) – 28 confreres, most of them novice directors from Salesian novitiates around the world, began a three week formation course on 17 November 2024 at Genzano di Roma. The three-week course, coordinated by Bro. Raymond Callo, is being offered by the Formation Sector and is scheduled to end on 7 December 2024.

Subiaco, Italy - November 2024 - On 14 November, on Curriculum Day, the teachers and students fromthe Institute of Spiritual Theology at the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) in Rome were able to admire the Sanctuary set against the overhanging rock of the Sacro Speco. It became a privileged opportunity to explore the theme of monastic spirituality. The art guide illustrated to the visitors the life of the young hermit Benedict in the Speco, already considered a ‘place of prayer and miracles’ since the time of St Gregory the Great. Students and teachers were able to admire the evocative beauty of the sanctuary: the paintings covering the wall surfaces, the frescoes in the two churches, the upper and lower, the paintings in the transept and the evocative Holy Grotto where the young Benedict lived for three years unknown to all but God and the Roman monk. ‘From this wild solitude, among barren mountains, all monasteries originated’ (Gregorovius). Leaving the Sanctuary, and still contemplating the sylvan valley that accompanies the silent flowing of the river Aniene with wonder, the fifty members of the group of teachers and students taking part in the curriculum day, reached the ‘San Biagio’ house of prayer, a small hermitage where a group of FMA have offered hospitality and spiritual animation since 1975 to all those who want to ‘reconnect with the essential’, by focusing on listening to the Word of God following the example of St John Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. The teachers and students of the Institute celebrated the Eucharist at San Biagio, and, after lunch prepared by the sisters, had the opportunity for exchange on the activities carried out in the house of prayer.