(ANS - Turin) - If it is true that holiness is first and foremost an ecclesial fact, it cannot be the case that the liturgy, the true teacher of Christian life, the source and summit of the Church's life, neglects to take care of it and make the most of it. But even to harmonize the richness of the variety of holiness, that is so well organized and clear is not an easy task, as the liturgy must primarily express the primacy of Christ. Sr Elena Massimi, FMA, shed light on this in the second session of the second day of the seminar on the promotion of the Causes of Beatification and Canonization of the Salesian Family, through a detailed and brilliant talk.

Turin, Italy - September 2023 - On 5 September, the almost 500 employees of the 13 CNOS-FAP centres in Piedmont gathered at the Teatro Grande in Valdocco for the Association's annual assembly. The day was opened by Fr Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major, who brought greetings from the Salesian Congregation. Fr Leonardo Mancini, Superior of the Special Circumscription of Piedmont and Aosta Valley (ICP), as President, listed the news of the year just begun and mentioned the Strenna 2024, then briefly explaining the Overall Provincial Project (OPP), ICP 2023-2028, and gave an account of his visits to schools, focusing on the professionalism he encountered in the various locations and the importance of the team as a formative and educational tool. This was followed by Carlo Vallero, director of the Planning and Development and Employment Services area, who emphasised that the budget was very healthy, with a net increase in the last budget and a further increase planned for the next one, stressing the investments planned in the short and medium term. Fabrizio Berta, Director of Planning and Innovation, explained how it will be a period of novelty, linked in part to the reform of Vocational Education and innovation as an element that, like Don Bosco, needs to remain in step with the times. Don Claudio Belfiore, Director of Valuing and Managing People and Organisational Models, spoke about how the Oratorian heart has accompanied him in all his experiences. Piero Fabris, Executive Director of DB Tech Europe, the network that brings together all the Salesian vocational schools in Europe, explained what DB Tech is and what it is based on, and the ever-increasing need for internationalisation.
Source: salesianipiemonte.info

(ANS– Turin) – What do a missionary from the southeast of Italy in northeast India (the Venerable Francesco Convertini, SDB), a young Milanese from a wealthy family who became a Sister of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (the Venerable Sister Teresa Valsé Pantellini, FMA), the leader of the oblative dimension of the Salesian charism (the Venerable Fr Andrea Beltrami, SDB), and a Slovenian Salesian, missionary in China and founder of the Salesian mission in Vietnam, as well as a highly respected confessor at home (the Servant of God Fr Andrea Majcen, SDB) have in common? Nothing, apart from having corresponded in a special way to God's initiative in their lives.

(ANS – Sacrofano) – The Educative and Pastoral Communities in the Province of Southern Italy (IME) took part, from 1 to 3 September, in the Youth Ministry Conference, held in the setting of Rome’s Sacrofano Fraterna Domus setting. This appointment, as usual, marks the beginning of the pastoral year, proposing an important opportunity to reflect on subjects around which every Salesian house will be called to define its own local programming.

(ANS - Turin) - 'Here we make holiness consist in being very cheerful', said St Dominic Savio, one of the first fruits of holiness that blossomed from Don Bosco: a dictate that the Salesian Family  made its own and manifested clearly in the climate of serene and joyful conviviality with which it gathered in the Mother House of Valdocco on the afternoon of Wednesday 6 September for the opening of the 3rd Seminar for the Promotion of the Causes of Beatification and Canonization of the Salesian Family.

Rome, Italy - September 2023 - On 5 September, during Vespers presided over by the General Councillor for Formation, Fr Ivo Coelho, the new UPS Superior, Fr José Aníbal Milhais Pinto Mendonça, former Provincial of Portugal, was installed in the Mary Seat of Wisdom Vice-Province (UPS), in the Chapel of the Gesù Maestro Community. Present were Fr Miguel Angel García Morcuende, General Councillor for Youth Ministry, Fr Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy, Councillor for the Mediterranean Region, Fr Stefano Aspettati, ICC Provincial, Sr María del Rosario García Ribas, Vicar of the FMA Mother General, accompanied by the two superiors, Sr Carla Castellino and Sr Antonella Cangiano, and all the communities of the UPS Vice-Province. Also present were the HH.SS.CC. and the elderly and infirm Salesians they care for, as well as various other representatives of the Salesian communities in Rome. At the end of the celebration, a message was read out by Fr Maria Arokiam  Kanaga, who was absent due to a previous commitment, and to whom due thanks were extended for his three years of service as Superior of the Vice-Province. Lastly, Fr José Aníbal Milhais Pinto Mendonça took the floor, thanking those present and referring to the 'call' to this new and unexpected service he had been asked to undertake. The solemn rite was followed by an equally festive and fraternal dinner carefully prepared by the staff coordinated by Fr Renzo Barduca, Economerf the UPS and the Vice-Province. The group of theology students from the Zefferino Namuncurà Community enlivened the evening with a song and an "acrostic" message for the new Superior.