(ANS - Cagliari) - From April 25th to 27th, a thousand vibrant young individuals from the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) flooded Cagliari with their infectious joy and enthusiasm, participating in the 7th MGS Forum of Central Italy, aptly titled: "Called to Hope!".

(ANS – Modica) – It has been 12 long years since the start of the diocesan process of beatification and canonisation of Nino Baglieri, Volunteer with Don Bosco (CDB), held on 3-4 March  2012, in the presence of the then Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Pascual Chávez. Now the diocesan phase of the process of beatification and canonisation, an important moment of investigation, study, research and information collection, is coming to an end: the closing rite of the investigation has been scheduled for 5 May in Modica, in his Mother Church of St Peter.

(ANS – Rome) – With the publication of the 10th volume of the critical edition of Don Bosco's letters (Rome, LAS 2024), the very ambitious project of the Salesian Historical Institute (ISS), launched at its foundation in 1982, has come to an end. Volume 10 collects in the first part the letters from 1887, January 1888 and about eighty letters not included in the previous volumes (as recovered after their printing); the second part consists of the indexing of names of people, places, correspondents, subjects, in order to facilitate searches within volumes that would easily remain dusty on library shelves at a tine like the present, in which history seems to have lost much of its appeal.  

Mogliano Veneto, Italy – April 2024 - The Salesian Family Festival of the Salesian Province of North Eastern Italy (INE) took place on 25 April at the Salesian Astori College in Mogliano Veneto (TV) . It was a day of reunion and celebration that made this traditionally Provincial Day significant, marking the bicentennial of the Dream at nine years of age. Some 500 people were present, representing the branches of the Salesian Family in the Triveneto: SDB, FMA, Salesian Cooperators, VDB, Past Pupil, Sisters of Maria Auxiliatrix, Sisters of Mary Help of Christians and also the Mamma Margaret Association, a group formed by some parents of the SDBs. After the greetings, the participants had a moment of prayer echoing Don Bosco's childhood dream. Later, the new FMA Provincial of the ITV Province, Sister Antonella Franchini, offered a "goodmorning". Those present then watched a video of some testimonies of several members of the Salesian Family relating to how Don Bosco's dream became a reality in their lives. Then the musical entitled "A heart that dreams" created for the occasion by the Salesian Oratory in Chioggia was performed for the first time. This helped to pass on the beauty of the Salesian mission through artistic expression. This was followed by the Eucharist was celebrated in honour of St Mark, patron saint of the Province, presided over by Fr Igino Biffi, Superior of the INE Province, who this year concludes his mandate and celebrates his silver jubilee of priestly ordination: at the end of the mass the Provincial received a gift and thanks in appreciation for his service.

Monteortone, Italy - April 2024 – The 21st Provincial Chapter of the Salesian Lombardo-Emiliana (ILE) Province was celebrated from 25 to 28 April. On 25 April Chapter members, together with the Salesian Family in Lombardy, went to the Shrine of Santa Maria al Fonte in Caravaggio. The Eucharist was presided over by Fr José Miguel Nuñez engaged in the Extraordinary Visitation to the ILE Province conducted on behalf of the Rector Major. There was a significant presence of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the Salesian Cooperators, the Union of Past Pupils, the Friends of Don Bosco and the faithful. The FMA Provincial, Sister Stefania Saccuman, led the entrustment to Mary at the end of the solemn concelebration. Chapter members then moved to the San Marco salesina house in Monteortone where they carried out the work of the Provincial Chapter. Discussion on the core areas has produced a contribution that will be sent in view of the GC29 that will be held in 2025 in Turin. On Saturday, Archbishop Giordano Piccinotti, President of APSA, and a Salesian of the ILE Province, was a very welcome guest. In the homily he thanked the Salesian Congregation and in particular the Province of ILE and the confreres he met on his journey who helped him grow as a person and as a consecrated religious. The Provincial Chapter ended with the election of the provincial delegates who will be at the GC29 together with the  Provincial, Fr Roberto Dal Molin: the delegate for Youth Ministry Fr Edoardo Gnocchini and Salesian Brother Claudio Beretta.

Rome, Italy – April 2024 - As part of the celebrations of the 90th anniversary of its foundation, on 21 April the Pontifical Pio Brailiano College organised a 7-a-side football tournament with some guests. The event was attended by the Pontifical Spanish College, Pontifical Latin American College, Pontifical Mexican College, Consolata Missionaries and Salesians from the Work in Testaccio. It was a beautiful day of fraternity that began with a Eucharist together. The Salesians in Testaccio represented the Salesians well, bringing home the second place trophy in the tournament.