(ANS – Turin) – The 3rd Seminar for the promotion of the Causes of Canonisation and Beatification of the Salesian Family, scheduled until Sunday 10, opens today, Wednesday, 6 September 2023, in the Salesian Mother House at Valdocco, Turin. The event, coordinated by the General Postulation for the Causes of Saints for the Salesian Family, led by Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, will gather over 80 people from fifteen different countries and representing as many groups of the Salesian Family (SF) worldwide. It also provides for the participation, in some of the highlights, by the Rector Major of the Salesians and Father and Unity Centre of the SF, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime.

(ANS - Rome) - On the afternoon of Friday, 1 September 2023, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Rome, the installation ceremony was held for the new rector of the Salesian Community of the Generalate, Fr Francesco Marcoccio, who succeeds Fr Jean Claude Ngoy, the rector of the same community for the sexennium 2017-2023.

Rome, Italy - August 2023 - The 16th Provincial Assembly of the Central Italy Circumscription (ICC) was held in Rome from 28 to 30 August 2023, entitled "You see further than I do - Signposts for dreaming again", with the participation of Salesians, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, members of the Salesian Family, lay people and young people. Also present was Fr Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy, Councillor for the Mediterranean Region, who thus began the Extraordinary Visitation to the ICC Province The reflection on the first day of the assembly, on "The Dreams of Don Bosco: History, Inspiration, Communication and Prophecy", was delivered by Salesian Brother Paolo Vaschetto, lecturer at the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS), while Fr Andrea Bozzolo, Rector Magnificus of UPS, offered a theological reading of the "Dream at nine years of age". This was followed by an enriching moment of "Dialogue between the generations", on the theme: "Your old people will have dreams, your young people will have visions and prophesy" with Fr Gigi Zoppi and Fr Gigi Giovannoni, Giovanni Rook and Antonio Coppedè, interviewed by the Youth Ministry Delegate, Fr Emanuele De Maria. On the second day, the Superior of the ICC Province, Fr Stefano Aspettati, presented his report, with an in-depth examination of the Overall Provincial Plan (OPP). "A precious document" Fr Aspettati recalled "for going in the hoped-for direction of releasing energies for the essential return to presence among the young, for reflecting together and being able to proclaim the Gospel." The afternoon of 29 August was devoted to the study of the report of the Educative andPastoral Community (CEP), with in-depth discussion and dialogue. In addition, Fr Francesco Marcoccio, appointed by the Rector Major as Rector of the Sacred Heart community in Rome, was greeted; Fr Michelangelo Dessì took over as ICC Vice-Provincial; Salesian BrotherAngelo Mereghetti made his perpetual profession into the hands of the Provincial.

(ANS – Messina) – The usual "Campo Giovani Confratelli" (A gathering of young confreres) is taking place from 30 August to 1 September, at the San Tommaso Theological Institute in Messina. This is an annual opportunity for meeting and growth in which the Salesians in initial formation from the Salesian Province of Sicily (ISI) discuss a different theme. This year's theme was communication, with an exceptional guest in the person of Fr Gildasio Mendes, General Councillor for Social Communication.

Cisternino, Italy - August 2023 - Two communities, Locorotondo and Cisternino, came together on Monday 29 August on a march to pray for peace, in memory of Venerable Father Francesco Convertini, a Salesian missionary in Bengal. The participants in the eighth "Torchlight Procession for Peace" gathered at the Marinelli district under the large oak tree where Father Convertini loved to pause in prayer. Accompanying the faithful was Archbishop Giovanni Intini, Archbishop of the diocese of Brindisi-Ostuni, and Bishop Vincent Nirmol, Salesian Bishop of Krishnagar. This year marks the 125th anniversary of the birth of Fr Convertini, a Salesian missionary who was born in Locorotondo in the Papariello district in 1898 and died in Krishnagar, India, in 1976, after a life spent alongside the poor of Bengal. This walk was a tribute to Fr Convertini's spirit of compassion and dedication to peace, a call to brotherhood, solidarity and the will to build a better world for future generations. The light of the torches symbolised hope, while the walk through the streets of Locorotondo and Cisternino represented the desire for a better future for all.

Treviglio, Italy - August 2023 - The Assembly of Salesians from the Lombardo-Emiliano Province (ILE)  took place on Saturday 26 August. The assembly opened with a retreat led by Fr Andrea Bozzolo, SDB, Rector Magnificus of the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) in Rome, and teacher at the John Paul II Pontifical University. Fr Bozzolo presented John Bosco's "dream" at nine years of age, from a theological and spiritual perspective, which turns out to be one most appropriate for the story of the "Father and Teacher of the young". Afterwards, in the Shrine of Our Lady of Tears, which recently celebrated the 500th anniversary of the miracle and the jubilee year, ten young Salesians renewed their vows. In the afternoon, Fr Roberto Dal Molin, Superior of the ILE Province, outlined the guidelines for the start of the Province's journey in the new educative and pastoral year, in line with the pastoral curriculum "on the road of dreams", presented by the Delegate for Youth Ministry, Fr Edoardo Gnocchini.