(ANS – Rome) – With less than a week to go before the 2024 Communication Conference "SHAPING TOMORROW" – which will take place from 1 to 7 August 2024 at the facilities of the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) in Rome – the Social Communication Sector is relaunching advice that is very current and certainly necessary to prepare for the conference with the right attitude: "Do not be afraid of new technologies!"

(ANS – Rome) – The summer plenary session of the General Council, the last chaired by Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime as Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation, closed on the morning of Friday 26 July 2024. The 10th Successor of Don Bosco, in the "Salesian Goodnight" offered to the community at Salesian Headquarters the previous evening, briefly illustrated the work carried out in almost two months of sessions, at the same time offering words of gratitude to all his collaborators and confreres.

(ANS – Rome) – The Salesian annual retreat is something precious and during this time of the year many Salesians are doing their annual retreat. It is also good to go back to our origins and reclaim its value and what was lost along the way.

(ANS – Rome) – In the Fonti - Serie Prima: John Bosco. Published and unpublished writings of the Salesian Historical Institute (ISS), the critical edition of the autographed manuscripts of Don Bosco's sermons have been published, the result of the joint work of the Salesians Fr Massimo Schwarzel and Fr Aldo Giraudo, both members of the ISS.

Rome, RMG – July 2024 - On 18 July in the Salesian Headquarters, Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, Postulator General for the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Congregation, met Fr John Zosiama, Superior of the Province of Shillong, India (INS) and Fr Sebastian Kuricheal, Superior of the Province of Guwahati, India (ING). During the meeting, Fr Cameroni informed the two Provincials about the cause for canonisation of the two Salesian Servants of God: Fr Costantino Vendrame and Bishop Orestes Marengo. The reports of the diocesan inquiry have already been approved and submitted to the Vatican for further investigation by a team of theologians, historians, cardinals and bishops. Once this investigation is completed, the decree on the venerability of these two Servants of God will be promulgated and hey will be entitled "Venerable". Fr Cameroni said he was deeply touched and inspired by the lives of these two holy missionaries as he read all the accounts. He asked the two Provincials to encourage and spread devotion to these two holy figures in north-east India involving the whole Church and the faithful as they made an indispensable and unique contribution to the growth of the Church in this region. The diocesan investigation process for Fr Vendrame had already begun on 19 August 2006. The Provinces of Shillong and Guwahati sincerely thank Fr Mawrie Barnes , postulator of the diocesan inquiry, for his interest and hard work for this noble cause. We continue to spread devotion to these two Servants of God and pray fervently that the process can proceed smoothly.

Rome, Italy - July 2024 - On 17 July, at the Headquarters of the Sacred Heart Community, the Rector Major of the Salesians, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, had a special meeting with Fr John Zosiama, Superior of the Salesian Province of Shillong, India (INS) and Fr Sebastian Kuricheal, Superior of the Salesian Province of Guwahati, India (ING). Also present for the occasion were Fr Sunil Barla, new Rector of the Sacred Heart Theological College in Shillong, Fr Ivo Coelho, General Councillor for Formation, and Fr Biju Michael, Councillor for the South Asia Region. The Rector Major discussed some issues with them  such as the theological formation of future Salesian priests, the spiritual accompaniment of each candidate, Salesian formation in the theologate, the need for a systematic preparation of good formators and professors, and other important issues for the governance and animation of the Provinces. The two Provincials then met with all the General Councillors and the Heads of the various sectors present at Headquarters. This meeting, organised by Fr Biju Michael, was an opportunity for the two Provincials to congratulate the Rector Major before the end of his term of office on 16 August.