(ANS - Catania) – He will be 100 years old next May and at his venerable age, still very lucid, he works as Delegate for the Past Pupils of the Union of Salette-San Cristoforo, in Catania: Fr Rodolfo di Mauro, Salesian since 1938, a priest for over 70 years, with a store of incredible memories linked, above all, to the Salesian house "Salette" in Catania.

(ANS - Rome) - On January 20, 2017, Pope Francis acknowledged the virtuous life of Fr Francesco Convertini, SDB, declaring him Venerable and indicating him as a model of Salesian missionary life, example of true inculturation of the Gospel, a teacher of the interior life and exceptional self-denial in a pastoral key, which made of his life an adventure in the Spirit with the apostolic heart of Don Bosco. A year later, and near the memory of his dies natalis (11 February), the publication of his "Letters" (1927-1976) represents a further contribution to know the human and spiritual richness of this Salesian from Puglia, who spent his life for the children and the poor of Bengal.

Palermo, Italy - January 2018 - The Salesian Don Bosco Institute "Villa Ranchibile" of Palermo celebrated the Saint of the Young in a special way. On 31 January last, in fact, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Palermo, Msgr. Corrado Lorefice, presiding at the Eucharist solemnly dedicated the institute's church, consecrating its altar. It was a very evocative and emotional moment - for the succession of signs proper to the rite and for the thanksgiving to God for the gift of the 80 years of Salesian presence at the Ranchibile of Palermo. Under the guidance of the director, Fr Domenico Saraniti, the Salesians coordinate and manage the school activities of the Secondary School and of the Lyceum, which offers three branches of study, with about 750 students. The institute is one of the city's most renowned and also houses a thriving oratory, a public church and a theater. At the end of the celebration, animated by the Grand Choir of the institute, the archbishop of Palermo unveiled a commemorative plaque of the event.

(ANS - Rome) - The crisis of migrants crossing Europe today clearly highlights a profound crisis of the common values ​​on which the European Union is based. The issue of migration seems to have become an important test of European and national policies. For this reason, yesterday, 8 February, at a press conference, 18 different Catholic associations from throughout Italy - including "Salesians for the Social - SCS Federation" - presented a new "agenda on migration".

Venaria Reale, Italy - February 2018 - On Sunday 4 February, on the occasion of the feast of Don Bosco, a new group of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) was established at the Salesian parish of Venaria Reale, a suburb of Turin. During the Eucharist, presided over by Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, the World Spiritual Animator of the Association, 38 new members joined the group founded by Don Bosco, and Mr. Renato Valera, World President, presented the degree of aggregation to the ADMA Primary of Turin-Valdocco.

(ANS - Rome) - The Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, is right when he reiterates that Don Bosco and his charism are not just the patrimony of the Salesian Family alone, but of the whole of humanity. Further proof, these past few days, from the many tributes paid to the Saint of Youth by people of every background and context.