(ANS – Bahía Blanca) – The night of March 21, 1975, remains deeply etched in the collective memory of the Argentine Salesian community due to a tragic event: the invasion of a Salesian house dedicated to higher education at the "John XXIII" Institute in Bahía Blanca, accused of being subversives. In the darkness of that night, a tense and anguished silence gripped the religious community, enveloping it in fear and uncertainty. The shadow of state terrorism loomed over that house, where the poorest were defended at the cost of blood with the same passion and dedication with which Jesus preached in the Gospels.
(ANS – Rome) – The journey of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Vietnam is a tale of resilience, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the education and spiritual growth of the youth. This narrative spans over eight decades, marked by significant milestones and challenges that have shaped the Salesian mission in Vietnam.
(ANS – Rome) – The "San Luigi Bertrando" Province of Colombia-Medellín (COM) was canonically established on October 1, 1957, following the division of the Salesian Province of Colombia. The decision was made during the visit of then-Rector Major Fr. Renato Zigliotti, who suggested the separation due to the vast territory and the large number of Salesians in the country. The territorial division was based on the Magdalena River, and at its inception, COM had 193 Salesians in 13 houses.
(ANS – Turin) – This was a special moment, a formal but necessary ritual, a time of great joy and unity, but also a chance to give meaning and depth to the beginning of a new journey that the Congregation has started with this 29th General Chapter. It all happened on Tuesday, March 25th, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, at the Grand Auditorium in Valdocco. That’s where Fr. Fabio Attard, the new Rector Major and the 11th Successor of Don Bosco, took the oath of faith.
Kokopo, Papua New Guinea – March 2025 – On March 21, Don Bosco Technical Secondary School (DBTSS) in Kokopo celebrated its annual Community Day with a series of events emphasizing its commitment to holistic youth education and community engagement.
The celebration began with a Eucharistic Mass, presided over by Fr. Moïse Paluku, SDB, the school’s rector. He highlighted the importance of unity and spiritual growth, encouraging everyone to follow the virtues of St. Joseph: "We should all strive for righteousness, quietly transforming the environment in which we live."
After the Mass, the atmosphere shifted to one of festivity and fraternity. The theme of this year’s event was “Towards a Community of Hope Through Sports”.
Students, staff, and guests participated in various carnival activities and sports competitions, promoting teamwork, sportsmanship, and physical fitness—all in line with the Salesian educational philosophy of nurturing both body and spirit.
Guwahati, India – March 2025 – A two-day consultation titled “Collaborative Action for Assam Migrants: A Dialogue and Consultation with Stakeholders” was successfully held on March 20 and 21 at the Don Bosco Institute in Kharguli, Guwahati, and later at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School in Dibrugarh, Assam. The event brought together over 100 stakeholders and ten delegates from the Salesian organization “Don Bosco for Migrants” (DB4M), representing Chennai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Gujarat, Goa, and Delhi. Their discussions focused on the challenges faced by Assam’s migrant workers across India. The first day in Guwahati featured the participation of various civil and Salesian institutions, including Fr. Francis Bosco, the National Coordinator for Migrant Services in South Asia. He presented a detailed analysis of migration trends from Assam to other Indian states. The discussions laid a strong foundation for collective action, emphasizing the well-being of Assam’s migrant workers in their host states. The second day in Dibrugarh addressed key issues, such as child trafficking in tea plantations and the urgent need to safeguard the future of Assam’s children. This consultation paved the way for a coordinated response to protect the rights, welfare, and dignity of Assam’s migrant workers. A special note of gratitude was extended to all DB4M delegates for their proactive engagement in strengthening the connection between Assam and its migrant workforce’s destination states.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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RMG - Preparation, objectives, challenges and perspectives of GC29: in dialogue with the Moderator, Fr Alphonse Owoudou(ANS - RMG) - Just a few days before the beginning of the 29th General Chapter (GC29) of the Salesian Congregation, Fr Alphonse Owoudou, Councillor for the Africa-Madagascar Region and Moderator of GC29, recounts in detail, through an articulate interview, the work preceding and underlying this responsibility, indicating the spirit that will animate it and the attitudes and conditions to make it truly a Cenacle in which the Holy Spirit can act, for the benefit of the Congregation, the Salesian mission and the youth of the world.
EDITORIAL
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RMG – Don Bosco: “The Fascinating Saint”(ANS - Rome) - Don Bosco is perhaps the most amazing and fascinating saint, history has ever produced. The humble work which he began for the welfare of his poor and abandoned boys in Italy has produced astonishing results, and today there are nearly 14000 Salesians working in 138 countries, and there are more than 200,000 members belonging to the 32 groups of the worldwide Salesian Family sharing the charism of Don Bosco and reaching out to the needy young people.
EVENTS
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Italy – Artificial Intelligence, School, and Vocational Training: The Salesians of Italy at “Didacta” 2025(ANS – Florence) – The Salesian network for vocational training and education will participate in the “Didacta Fair” to discuss artificial intelligence, employment, business, and school education.
SPECIAL REPORTS
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United States – World Water Day: Salesian Missions highlights projects that ensure clean water for youth(ANS – New Rochelle) - Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and countries around the globe in celebrating World Water Day. Led by U.N.-Water, the organization that coordinates the United Nations’ work on water and sanitation, the day has been honored on March 22 every year since 1993.
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
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WE ARE DON BOSCO TODAYTHE MESSAGE OF THE VICAR OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Fr Stefano Martoglio, SDB
Dear friends and readers, members of the Salesian Family, for this month's greeting in the Salesian Bulletin I will focus on a very important event that the Salesian Congregation is holding presently: General Chapter XXIX. This assembly, the most important one that the Congregation can experience, occurs every six years along the Salesian Congregation’s journey.
