(ANS - Rome) - On the eve of the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, in a video-message  from the series "Dear Confreres" the Rector Major sends greetings to all the Salesians and the Salesian Family from Valdocco, the heart of the Salesian world.  It is not only a message of good wishes to remind us of the importance of the celebration of 24 May, but also an invitation to deepen the Marian dimension of the charism, "something that really touches our hearts and our way of educating young people in the world."

(ANS – Rome) – “Today we begin the last year in preparation to the celebration of Centenary of our Institute”, writes the Major Coordinator of the Secular Institute of the Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB) in a communiqué to her 1.200 sisters spread in 57 countries, and to all the Salesian Family. 

(ANS - Rome) - At the end of the International Meeting of the Directors of the Salesian Bulletin in 2012 every Salesian Bulletin Director agreed to monitor closely events and issues involving the Church and, specifically, the Congregation in the years ahead (New Evangelization , Bicentenary, GC27, etc.) and to work towards shared  activities and joint projects, such as the digital Bulletin, the editorial of the Rector Major adapted to its readers, the synergies between editions, and awareness among the Salesians and Salesian Family. Now, four years later, at another meeting in Rome from 19 to 22 May they will evaluate what has been done and plan ahead.

(ANS – Rome) – The European Provincial Delegates for Social Communication have just finished their 3-day meeting in the “Salesianum” in Rome. The 17 Delegates who took part in this meeting were accompanied by the Councillor General for Social Communication, Fr Filiberto González SDB, and assisted by the other members of Social Communication team at the Generalate.

(ANS - Rome) - "The Department for Salesian Youth Ministry is accompanying the provinces with a systematic and ongoing programme,” says Fr Fabio Attard, Councillor General for Youth Ministry. It is part of our commitment to strengthening the knowledge and application of the pastoral model of the Congregation. This ‘school’ fits into this perspective: to accompany, encourage and provide tools for a fundamental work of Salesian Ministry. "

(ANS – Rome) – Although in his lifetime Don Bosco accepted 7 parishes, he was always considered the parish priest of poor and abandoned boys who were parishless. In fact, the Oratory in Valdocco was “a parish which evangelises”. It is no surprise that in not too distant past the parish apostolate was not seen as a typical Salesian apostolate. It was the 19th General Chapter which acknowledged the parish as the place for “an exemplary care for the youth community” (GC19, IX, 3).