(ANS - Rome) - Almost a year's preparation, the involvement of thousands of young people from all over the world, the collaboration and accompaniment of hundreds of Salesians in the works of over 110 countries ... All this is about to reach its climax and find its synthesis, between Thursday and Friday, November 18-19, with the grand finale of the “Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival”, the world’s first Salesian film festival.

(ANS - Rome) - The third of the ten monthly articles presented by the General Councillor for Social Communication, Fr Gildasio Mendes, on the theme "Don Bosco and the Digital and Virtual Reality", deals with yet another peculiar aspect of the communication of the Saint of Youth, namely, on how he was able to inspire so many people thanks to the development of meaningful personal relationships. Here is Fr Mendes' reflection:

(ANS - Rome) - Daniel Glass is a young American, 33-years-old, who grew up in the Province of the United States East and Canada (SUE) but destined for the Province of Africa Congo Congo (ACC). He is the second missionary to be featured in ANS in view of the 152nd Salesian Missionary Expedition (Turin-Valdocco, 21 November 2021). Speaking of what prompted him to become a missionary, he states: “Two things, above all: to be completely available to the Rector Major to fill in and go where the Congregation might need me the most; and the desire to serve God above all else. Because being sent away from your home province and comfort zone is that step into the unknown that can bring out a great leap of faith and a deeper dependence on God.

(ANS - Rome) - The Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, in the fifth point of his "Program Proposal" had declared: “In the present 6-year term, the Congregation in all its Provinces will carry out the radical, preferential, and a personal option - that is on the part of every Salesian - and salesian institution in favor of the most needy, the poor and boys, girls and young people who are at great risk, with particular attention to the defense of those who are exploited and victims of any type of abuse and violence.”

(ANS - Rome) - Next Sunday, 21 November, the sending of the 152nd Salesian Missionary Expedition will take place in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians during a mass in Turin with a small representation of the missionaries who will be sent ad gentes this year. In view of this, a series of interviews with the departing missionaries begins today. The first to introduce himself is Mbaziira Cyprian, a 27-year-old Salesian brother. Born in Uganda but destined for Slovenia. “It is the love of Christ and Don Bosco which made me decide to express to my superiors the desire of working in the Salesian missions, to preach the Gospel of Christ to those who do not know it yet or who have forgotten it, especially the young people in the footsteps of Don Bosco,” he says.

(ANS - Rome) - In October 2021, Emanuela Chiang of the Central Youth Ministry department of the Congregation, launched a study on the current state of Integral Ecology in the various Salesian Provinces and houses throughout the world. The purpose of the survey’s is manifold: to understand the sensitivity within the Congregation towards issues related to Integral Ecology as understood by Pope Francis in Laudato Sì; to map existing initiatives carried out directly or in collaboration with others; to outline a strategy with common objectives to be achieved and with different paths according to the contexts, so that all the Salesians in the world can contribute concretely to the care of the Common Home, not only by educating the young, but also by making a personal commitment to leave them a better planet.