(ANS – Rome) – At the end of the International  “Shaping Tomorrow” Communication Conference (Rome, 1-7 August 2024), the General Councillor for Social Communication, Fr Gildasio Mendes, publicly presented his most recent two literary works, both dedicated to Don Bosco and motivated by the bicentenary of the latter’s famous Dream at Nine Years of Age. They are As seeing him who is invisible and Parallels 15 and 20. Today he shows us in detail the meaning and perspectives of the two books.

(ANS – Rome) – Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime conducted the funeral, on Thursday 12 September 2024 at the Salesian Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Rome, of Fr Alain Anne Robert Pinet, a 65-year-old Belgian Salesian, with 44 years of religious profession and 34 years of priesthood. The Salesian, who died after a long illness on the evening of Tuesday 10th, had resided in the Salesian Headquarters community for just over a year, and had arrived there in order to be cured, after many years of missionary life in the Salesian presences of the Chinese Province.

(ANS – Rome) – The 29th General Chapter (GC29) Pre-Chapter Juridical Commission  (GC29) met in Rom from 1 to 10 September 2024. The Chapter is scheduled in Valdocco, Turin from 16 February to 12 April 2025, based on the theme "Passionate about Jesus Christ, dedicated to young people". Involved in the Commission are the Secretary of the General Council, Fr Guido Garino,; Fr Giorgio Degiorgi (Piedmont and Valle d 'Aosta Special Circumscription – ICP); Fr Kevin Mwandha (Pontifical Salesian University – UPS Vice-Province); Fr Arockiam Stalin Dhanaraj (Chennai Province India – INM); and Fr David Albornoz Pavisic (Province of Chile – CIL). The work was coordinated by the Procurator General of the Salesian Congregation, Fr Pier Fausto Frisoli.

(ANS – Rome) - The International Salesian Commission for Artificial Intelligence (ISCAI) held its second virtual meeting on 5 September 2024, following its inaugural session in May. Fourteen members make up the panel, twelve of whom were present. The meeting was chaired by Fr Gildasio Mendes, General Councillor for Social Communication.

Italy – September 2024 - After the silent retreat led individually at Madonna dei Laghi, Avigliana, the 24 participants in the seventh Salesian School of Spiritual Accompaniment had a grace-filled experience of appreciating silence, praying the word of God in solitude and personalised spiritual accompaniment. They were able to appreciate what Don Bosco experienced during the 32 years he regularly went to Sant'Ignazio di Lanzo for his annual retreat. The participants then went on pilgrimage to the various places of Don Bosco around Colle Don Bosco (Becchi, Capriglio, Moncucco, Cascina Moglia, Morialdo, Castelnuovo and Chieri). They studied and reflected on the different life experiences of Don Bosco, in particular how he gradually grew in his appreciation of the importance of having spiritual guidance and the importance of spiritual accompaniment in his vocational discernment and spiritual growth. It was an opportunity for the participants to experience the process of what it means for Don Bosco to have spiritual accompaniment in his life, so as to better understand what his own experience was like and be able to accompany others. In the next phase of the programme, the participants will study the different Christian and Salesian traditions of spiritual accompaniment. They will also have practical formation in skills in spiritual accompaniment. The school is led by a team made up of members of the Formation Sector - Salesian Brother Raymond Callo, Fr Guido Errico and Fr Jose Kuttianimattathil - and by two simultaneous translators: Fernando Saade, SDB, and Fr Gerard Umoh.

(ANS – Rome) – The Vicar of the Rector Major, Fr Stefano Martoglio, has entrusted a short video message with his greeting in view of the upcoming Extraordinary World Assembly of Past Pupils, scheduled from 2 to 6 October in Valdocco, Turin at the Salesian Mother House.