(ANS - Rome) – Just as Carlo Gastini, expressing the sentiment of all the Past Pupils of the Don Bosco Oratory, donated coffee cups to the Saint of Youth on June 24, 1870, so too yesterday, June 24, 2020, on the 150th anniversary of that tribute, representatives of the Past Pupils of Don Bosco gave Fr Ángel Fernández Artime a set of coffee cups, accompanied by words of sincere gratitude.

Rome, Italy - June 2020 - The Annual General Assembly of Don Bosco International (DBI) was held in Rome on 22 June. Unlike previous years, this time the DBI General Assembly was not held in January in order to be able to take into consideration the fruit of the reflection of General Chapter 28 of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Over half of the members of the DBI were able to meet and attend in person at the Salesian headquarters in Rome, while the other members connected online. The Assembly verified the recent activity of this advocacy office and representation of the Salesians of Don Bosco in the European institutions and approved the work plan for the coming months, according to the priorities contained in the DBI's 2018-2020 Strategic Plan: school-work transition, child and youth poverty, migration and refugees. The DBI Board of Directors was also renewed. Fr Miguel Ángel García Morcuende, SDB, General Councilor for Youth Ministry, was appointed DBI President, succeeding Fr Fabio Attard SDB (DBI President 2015-2020). In the coming months, the DBI Members and Experts will be called to prepare a new Strategic Plan for the three-year period (2021-2023), which will combine continuity in the processes and attention to new emerging challenges.

(ANS - Rome) - 25 years ago, on June 23, Fr Egidio Viganò, Salesian, VII Successor of Don Bosco, died in Rome. The anniversary cannot go unnoticed as it concerns the life and history of one of the Salesians who has most contributed to giving the Salesian Congregation its present physiognomy.

Rome, Italy - June 2020 - An online meeting of the World Council of the Association of Salesian Cooperators took place on 20 June, which was enriched by the presence of the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime. After a moment of prayer and a brief greeting, the Rector Major offered some ideas to focus on, as World Council, in the animation of the Association for the next few years. Fr Á.F. Artime then thanked Sr. Leslye and Fr Casti for their years of service donated to the whole Association and greeted Sr. Lucrecia as the new World Delegate for the FMA. The work of the Council continued with the presentation by Raúl Fernández, Head of Formation, of an itinerary on which the Regions will work upon in the coming months so as to arrive at a Plan for the Formation of the whole Association.

(ANS - Rome) - The 150th anniversary of Venerable Andrea Beltrami's birth, SDB, born in Omegna on June 24, 1870, will take place on June 24th. After receiving a deeply Christian education within his family, it developed in the Salesian boarding school of Lanzo where he enters in October 1883; in 1886, he received the religious habit from Don Bosco. In the two years spent in Turin-Valsalice he entered into a spiritual friendship with the Polish prince Augusto Czartoryski, now blessed. The young Beltrami is called to assist Fr Augusto, suffering from tuberculosis. Fr Beltrami also falls ill with the same disease. On February 20, 1891, the first symptoms of an illness that would later undermine his health and lead him to the grave.

Rome, Italy - June 2020 - On Friday 19 June, in the courtyard of the Salesian Central Office, Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, presided over the Eucharist on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, concelebrated by Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, and by Fr Carlo Zucchetti, parish priest of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. About 300 people attended the event, in compliance with the anti-COVID-19 regulations in force.