(ANS - Rome) - The starting situation is positive, but the service to young people always requires commitment, dedication and continuous updating. In this interview Fr René Santos, representative for the Salesian Schools of America at the Dicastery for Youth Ministry, illustrates the state of the art of Salesian schools on the American continent.

(ANS – Rome) – Don Bosco was quite a professional “beggar”. He had to be, because he served young people in need. Salesians, today, have various structures around the world, which look for resources to sustain Don Bosco’s mission. From 16 to 20 January 2019 the Salesians hold a world conference of the leaders of such structures, in the “Domus Urbis” house in Rome. 90 persons are involved – 68 Salesians of Don Bosco, 1 Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, 12 women and 9 men. They come from 54 Provinces in 45 countries.

(ANS - Rome) - On 8 January, with a solemn concelebration presided by the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, in the Basilica of the Sacro Cuore in Rome, the liturgical memorial of Salesian Blessed Titus Zeman was celebrated on the 50th anniversary of his death. In that same basilica, on 7 March 1938, the young Zeman had pronounced the vows of that perpetual profession that he would seal with his life given for the faith and for the salvation of vocations.

(ANS - Rome) - The XXXVII Spirituality Days of the Salesian Family take place from tomorrow, Thursday 10 January, to Sunday 13, at Turin-Valdocco, an event that every year attracts hundreds of people from all over the world and  gives them a chance to grow in awareness of belonging to the special spiritual and apostolic family born with St. John Bosco.

(ANS - Rome) - The liturgical memorial of the Salesian blessed Fr Titus Zeman coincides this year with the 50th anniversary of his ascent to Heaven, which took place in his town of birth, Vajnory, Slovakia, on 8 January 1969. On that day a long Calvary ended, one that began in April 1951, when he was arrested, then tried, transferred from one prison to another until March 1964; then followed 5 years of life in conditional freedom, with relentless harassment, persistent and harsh persecution and health issues due to imprisonment.

Rome, Italy - Today, January 3, we celebrate the Dies Natalis of the Servant of God Carlo Braga, a missionary in China and the Philippines. He was ordained priest on 11 April 1914 and after about a year he was enlisted in the Italian army, where he experienced the rigors of the war; he remained in the army until April 1919. During the war he met several Salesians and it was at this particular moment that he thought of becoming a missionary. In April 1919 he received the missionary crucifix and left for China where, despite the difficulties, he animated the Salesian presence. In 1955 he was appointed Delegate of the Provincial of China and three years later he was appointed as a visitor to the Philippines. He died on 3 January 1971 in the Don Bosco College of San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines.