(ANS – Rome) – For the whole Salesian Family, the mother of Don Bosco is a shining icon, inspiration, model of apostolic life to follow. The Church through Pope Benedict XVI declared her Venerable in 2006 for having lived a life of heroic virtue. Every year on 25 November the Salesians of Don Bosco, in accordance with their General Regulations, celebrate a Mass for their departed parents on her anniversary day. Mamma Margaret passed away on 25 November 1856.

Rome, RMG - November 2020 - On 16 and 17 November the Provincial Delegates for Mission Animation (DIAM) of the Salesian Regions of Inter-America and South Cone America took part in the annual meeting of accompaniment and discernment promoted by the Department for the Missions. Three main themes were discussed during the meeting: the good practices of Mission Animation presented by each participant; the importance of the creation of the Provincial Mission Animation team and the promotion of Salesian volunteer service; the expectations of DIAM regarding the animation of the Department for the Missions. Among the significant points that emerged from this meeting, the following should be noted: the importance of networking with Youth Ministry and Social Communication; the need to animate local Educational-Pastoral Communities for the promotion of Mission Animation and volunteering; exploiting the new technological situation to be more present in social networks through formation, conferences, etc; and to research ways to present volunteer best practices and create a framework for international volunteering.

(ANS – Rome) – The 12 Provincial Delegates for Mission Animation (PDMAs) of South Asia had their annual meeting on ZOOM from 10th-12th November. The meeting began with a prayer by Fr Jose Kuruvachira, the provincial of Dimapur, the one in charge of Evangelization for SPCSA. The only lay person in the group, Mr. Marco Fulgaro, served as the moderator of the meeting from Rome.

Rome, RMG - November 2020 - The annual meeting of the Youth Ministry delegates of the East Asia-Oceania Region was held on the Zoom platform from 10 to 13 November with 16 participants. Fr Miguel Ángel Garcia, General Councilor for Youth Ministry, and Fr Patrick Anthonyraj, from the YM team, animated the session. Fr Joseph Nguyen Thinh Phuoc, Councilor for the East Asia-Oceania Region, also took part in the last three days of the meeting. Through presentations, group work, surveys and sharing, the main themes of the meeting were discussed. The second phase was set for February 22-23, 2021. The proposal to initiate coordination of the Salesian Youth Movement in the Region was welcomed and accepted.

(ANS - Rome) - On 11 November 1520, 500 years ago, Fr Pedro de Valderrama, chaplain of the expedition led by the explorer Ferdinand Magellan, celebrated the first Mass in the territory that is Chile on the hill of Monte Cruz on the Strait that will take its name from the navigator. Pope Francis recalls this in his message for the occasion, citing the motto of the diocese of Punta Arenas: "God entered from the South". The recipient of the message was the local bishop Msgr. Bernardo Bastres Florence, a Salesian, to whom the Pope expresses his sorrow for the impossibility, due to the pandemic, to celebrate the happy anniversary with mass liturgical acts, as planned. He reaffirms his closeness to the Chilean Church in a particularly difficult time for the country and for the Christian community itself.

Rome, RMG - November 2020 - The first meeting of the Missions Department with the Provincial Delegates for Mission Animation of the Africa and Madagascar Region took place on 5 and 6 November on the Zoom platform. The event was led by Fr Alfred Maravilla, General Councilor for the Missions, with his team composed of Fr George Menamparampil, Coordinator of the Mission Offices, Fr Pavel Ženíšek, head of missionary volunteers, and Marco Fulgaro, lay collaborator. The Delegates shared their experiences of mission animation and their expectations from the Department. Fr Maravilla and his team helped the Delegates to deepen their understanding of mission animation, their role and work with refugees, and the animation of Salesian Mission Day.