(ANS – Rome) – A study seminar on the Salesian parish entitled “The parish for those without” was held from 14 to 16 November 2023, in Rome, at San Tarcisio. This term, “of those without”, comes from the experience of Don Bosco in 1847, when Archbishop Luigi Fransoni issued the formal decree authorising him “to instruct and admit to First Communion those young people who come his pious institution”, specifying to confer on Don Bosco the possibility of admitting the same young people to the Sacrament of Confirmation. In another place the good Archbishop went even further, going so far as to say in the presence of his priests that “the chapels of the Oratories will be the parishes for those children who attend them.” Faced with such clear indications, “Don Bosco was pleased to call the Oratory ‘The parish of abandoned boys’” (BM III, 135). In other words, the parish of young people without a parish, without a community of reference.

(ANS – Turin) – A little more than a year after the canonisation of Saint Artemides Zatti (9 October 2022) and a month after the installation and blessing of the new statue dedicated to him by Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians (15 October 2023), the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin wanted to celebrate the liturgical memory of the holy nurse of Viedma in a special way with a triduum of activities: the exact day of the anniversary began, 13 November 2023, and continued with two other evenings dedicated to the knowledge of the figure of this model of Salesian brother.

Rome, Italy - November 2023 - 12 local clubs from all over Italy took part in the formation weekend for young animators and leaders organised by the national association CGS - Cinecircoli Giovanili Socioculturali APS, held between 3 and 5 November. Are we capable of dreaming? This was the question that started the meeting. Fr Elio Cesari, national president of CNOS, together with Cristiano Tanas, national president of CGS, put a fundamental issue before all the 50 or so participants: dreams are vocations that are cultivated in today's world, otherwise they remain just illusions. Dreaming always helped Don Bosco to follow his heart, and in particular his childhood dream at nine years of age guided him. Underlying the activities proposed by the CGS, in fact, from theatre to cinema, from art to music, there is always the concreteness of a dream: the desire to make young people realise their dreams. Journalist Marta Rossi stated in her address that today we are used to believing any appearance without testing its depth; we must therefore counter the irrational bubble of disinformation by learning to communicate in the right way. Based on these reflections, a practical communication workshop was held. Another stage of the formation was dedicated to cinema, with Irene Sandroni, cultural anthropologist. Raffaella Zoppi, a social educator, was entrusted with the concluding remarks of the three-day formation event focusing on the topic of education, with debates and reflections.

(ANS – Genzano) – An evening rich in content took place on Wednesday, 15 November 2023, at the Cynthianum Cinema in Genzano. Many took part both in the room and online, through Facebook. What generated so much interest was the event entitled "Educating young people to love and sexuality – How to accompany them on paths of authenticity" promoted by the Salesians of Don Bosco, the Jesuits, the Diocesan Youth Ministry Service of the Diocese of Albano, Agesci and the Santissima Trinità Parish Community Genzano, with sponsorship from the Municipalities of Genzano, Albano, Ariccia and Nemi.

Naples, Italy - November 2023 - Four Religious Professions have marked the pastoral life of the Salesian Province of Southern Italy (IME) in the second half of this year: those of Altjon Roku, on 16 September in Tirana, Davide Baccaro and Luigi Sergio, on 7 October in Soverato and Luigi Dantone, on 12 November in Caserta. They made perpetual vows of Obedience, Poverty and Chastity, becoming part of the Salesian Congregation. They were months in which the entire Salesian Family in the south gathered around them, sharing the joy of their common choice to consecrate their lives to God through the educational and evangelising service for young people, following the example of Don Bosco. "The professions we experienced from September to November," says Provincial Fr Gianpaolo Roma, "are truly a 'river of Grace' that has unfolded during this time. A river that certainly brings new life and hope to our Eductive and Pastoral Communities, and which encourages us to continue to be bold in proposing to young people the Salesian way as a path to happiness'. Brought up in the oratories of southern Italy and Albania, the 4 new perpetually professed Salesians grew in their vocation through their commitment to animation of young people, as a daily experience of Salesian Youth Spirituality.

(ANS – Turin) – It was a special Saturday on 11 November for the Edoardo Agnelli Salesian institute in Turin, which received a private visit from John Elkann, President of the multinational Stellantis and the Agnelli Foundation, as well as a member of the Agnelli family, the historical benefactor of the institute. Elkann was accompanied by his son Oceano and was able to see the computer, mechanics and electronics laboratories set up with the contribution of the Foundation.