Rome, Italy – July 2024 - A Youth Ministry Assembly for Salesian Italy was held on 12 July at the National Centre for Salesian Works. The summer event, following one in January, brings together the Coordinators of the National Offices and those in charge of Liaisons, with the heads of the CNOS bodies, as well as the Lay Directors of the National Associations and lay people with roles of national responsibility, the San Lorenzo Community and the National Centre EPC. A first moment of the assembly was dedicated to listening to the experience of the SOG Friars, the Youth Orientation Service of the Friars Minor of Umbria and Sardinia, with Fr Mirko Mazzocato who recounted the birth of the SOG and the question of first announcement as it occurs in the courses offered to young people. This discussion was preparatory to information relating to the seminar on  first announcement in the Mediterranean Region to be held in Madrid in October: the main seminar points were outlined in June, during the meeting between the national centres of Italy and Spain; in the coming weeks the details for registration and the final programme will be released. In the second part of the meeting there was time for pastoral year-end reports by the national offices, during which various matters were addressed. The meeting then continued with Provincials and Youth Ministry delegates tackling the questions of Universal Civil Service.

Rome, Italy - July 2024 - On 17 July, at the Headquarters of the Sacred Heart Community, the Rector Major of the Salesians, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, had a special meeting with Fr John Zosiama, Superior of the Salesian Province of Shillong, India (INS) and Fr Sebastian Kuricheal, Superior of the Salesian Province of Guwahati, India (ING). Also present for the occasion were Fr Sunil Barla, new Rector of the Sacred Heart Theological College in Shillong, Fr Ivo Coelho, General Councillor for Formation, and Fr Biju Michael, Councillor for the South Asia Region. The Rector Major discussed some issues with them  such as the theological formation of future Salesian priests, the spiritual accompaniment of each candidate, Salesian formation in the theologate, the need for a systematic preparation of good formators and professors, and other important issues for the governance and animation of the Provinces. The two Provincials then met with all the General Councillors and the Heads of the various sectors present at Headquarters. This meeting, organised by Fr Biju Michael, was an opportunity for the two Provincials to congratulate the Rector Major before the end of his term of office on 16 August.

Pejo Fonti, Italy - The Salesians of Don Bosco have celebrated the 65th anniversary of their presence in Val di Pejo, in Trentino, at the "Casa per vacie Hotel Aurora" a hospitality facility that has been welcoming children, teenagers and young people for summer and winter holidays since the 1950s. At the solemn moment of the blessing of a shrine created by a young craftsman from Cogolo, in addition to the groups of children and young people present, the Parish Priest of Pejo, Fr Enrico Pret, the Assistant Parish Priest Fr Michele Canestrini, the Deputy Mayor Paolo Moreschini, some Councillors and several representatives, collaborators of the structure, friends and locals spoke. The Salesians included Fr Gianluca Marchesi, Economer of the Salesian Lombardy Emiliana Province (ILE) and Fr Giuseppe Battello, a 99-year-old confrere who opened the place at the end of the 1950s and was Reector of the House in the first thirty years of its activity. The Hotel Aurora, located in the Stelvio National Park, is a hospitality facility that over the years has been renovated by the Salesians with large internal and external spaces and a functional welcome for the activities of its guests. In the light of the Salesian mission, Aurora adheres to a Plastic-Free Project and carries out multiple solidarity initiatives, including the Merciful Hospitality projects of the Italian Religious Hospitality Association.

Policoro, Italy – June 2024 – The Salesian Family Provincial Council for Italy-s Southern Province (IME) met in Policoro on 29 and 30 June. The Advisory Council represents a significant coordination and animation body of the 32 Groups of the Salesian Family, 13 of whom belong to the Province. The Policoro meeting opened with an address from the Provincial, Fr Giampaolo Roma. Taking up some fundamental passages of his Report to the Provincial Chapter last April, he said: "There is a growing awareness of SF thinking and planning, convinced that the future can only be according to the logic of a vast movement of people and pastors. This certainty for us is growing, albeit slowly." Key points on the agenda included updating the timing of the SF Study Days (including at the regional level); the presence of the SF in Houses or Sectors entrusted to the Laity in the SDB and FMA Provinces. These are important themes that highlight how timely and inescapable it is that communion is the main path of mission for the Salesian Family, and that it recognises itself as a 'vast apostolic movement' generated by the Spirit of the Lord. In Don Bosco's passion this expresses the educational and spiritual care for the salvation of all young people, in particular and the poorest and most disadvantaged

Source: Cosimina D'Errico (donboscoalsud.it)

(ANS – Trieste) – The Italian Catholics Social Weeks in Trieste also involved the National Salesian Works Centre, with the president Fr Elio Cesari, the president of Salesians for Social, Fr Francesco Preite, and the  Director General of CNOS-FAP, Fr Giuliano Giacomazzi.

(ANS – Brescia) – In collaboration with the Clerici Group, a leading company in the distribution of hydrothermal sanitary products, the Centro Nazionale Opere Salesiane-Formazione Aggiornamento Professionale (CNOS-FAP) has developed a course dedicated to the entire thermo-hydraulic supply chain, in order to create new generations of professionals thanks to what is intended to become a training incubator.