Madrid, Spain - December 2024 - The Provincial House in Madrid welcomed 32 leaders and educators who gathered to conclude the last thematic block of the second-level provincial formation dedicated to them. After the first two meetings focused on the pastoral and psychological dimensions, this last weekend (14-15 December) served to deepen the spiritual dimension of accompaniment. The formation modules that occupied the last thematic block of the course focused on discernment, led by Sergio Huerta, on the accompaniment of prayer, led by Abel Domínguez, and on the reference to Jesus as a model of accompaniment, starting with Federico Calleja's reflection. Time spent together, in exchange and reflection shared during the course was evaluated very positively by the participants, who came from a good group of houses in Spain’s Saint James the Greater (SSM) Province. The formation event ended in the chapel at the Atocha youth centre, with the celebration of the Sunday Eucharist presided over by Fr Xabier Camino, SSM Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry. During the awarding of certificates, Fr Camino said ‘Thank you for your pastoral commitment: you carry with you a treasure that is not only yours, but will be multiplied among the many young people that God places in your hands. With you, hand in hand with Don Bosco, we are the future!’

Buenos Aires, Argentina - December 2024 - Fr Ricardo Campoli, a member of the Social Communication Sector at Salesian Headquarters and Contact Person for the Interaerica and South Cone America Regions, visited the Salesian Province of Argentina  South (ARS) on 16 December. Fr Campoli, on the occasion of his 25th anniversary of priesthood, visited the Provincial House in the Almagro district of Buenos Aires, meeting members of the Social Communication team, representatives of ‘Ediciones Don Bosco Argentina’, Juan José Chiappetti and the entire Salesian Bulletin team. During the visit, Fr Campoli was also able to learn about the proposals and initiatives being carried out to commemorate the arrival in Argentina of the first Salesian missionary expedition, including the new site created for this important anniversary. At the end of the visit, he expressed his satisfaction with the development of the communication dimension in the Province and urged them to continue working on the dissemination and creation of content at the service of the Salesian mission in southern Argentina.

Butare, Rwanda - December 2024 - A specific formation session for Salesian Brothers in the Africa Great Lakes Vice-Province (AGL) working in the various communities concluded on Sunday, 15 December. During the two-day formation session, participants had the opportunity to share the theme ‘The identity and mission of the Salesian Brother in the Church’. Ndanga Spiridion, from the Marist Brothers, facilitator of the meeting, drew on Church documents and his own experience of secular religious life to recall that vocation is not a personal decision but an initiative of God, and that man as such does nothing more than respond to the call, an expression of God's infinite love. He emphasised that while for priest religious the clerical dimension dominates in the eyes of many, for lay religious the secular dimension better expresses and embodies the salient features of the person of Jesus, and becomes a gift for the world and a permanent mirror of fraternity. The participants appreciated this new practice of ongoing formation of the AGL Vice-Province, which not only helps them to strengthen their fraternal unity, but is also a moment of celebration and joy, an exchange of experiences and an opportunity to rediscover a taste for living one's lay vocation with pride and joy.

RMG - December 2024 - At the initiative of the Economer General of the Salesian Congregation, Br Jean Paul Muller, SDB, a work depicting St Artemides Zatti was commissioned from sculptor Mauro Baldessari. ‘The work by Artemides Zatti does not describe his appearance, but his “presence”, his being turned towards the sick, the needy; his hands are turned forward ready to intervene, his gaze is intense and gentle, loving, because he saw Jesus in the sick person,'’ the sculptor described it. The work is as if vertically divided in two: one side tells of his active mission ready to go to the needy, the other speaks of his intimacy with God, consecrating his life to obedience and love for the rule. As it is written ... ‘he was always in church and always helping’. This tension is present in the soul of the sculpture, an inner tension that translated into action: towards the outside, towards the needy. A deep inner self aiming outward'. Sculptor Baldessari has already been working with the Salesians for several years, and recently he has been commissioned to create several works of art depicting characters from the Salesian Family. In the coming months, small bronze monuments will also be made, which will be installed in Valdocco on the occasion of General Chapter 29.

For further information, please contact sculptor Baldessari directly at the following e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Rome, Italy - December 2024 - On the afternoon of 16 December at the headquarters of the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS), members of the Salesian Historical Institute (ISS) met with fifteen recently appointed Provincials who are following the course dedicated to them at Salesian Headquarters in Rome. After the introductory greeting, Fr Thomas Anchukandam illustrated the history of the ISS and its aims, which are scientifically concretised in the research and study, dissemination and appreciation of the rich documentary heritage linked to the figure of Don Bosco and his spiritual sons. Fr Francesco Motto described the various initiatives proposed by ISS to the Salesian Society in view of the year 2025. Fr Stanisław Zimniak outlined the origin and development of the Association of Salesian History Enthusiasts (ACSSA), which originally consisted of around twenty members, and which currently numbers 205 SDBs (105) FMA (82), lay people (28) and numerous members of other groups of the Salesian Family. Fr Zimniak then described the contents of the ISS website (iss-acssa.org), which has recently been revamped and updated, and whose pages also present the activities of ACSSA. Fr Hendry Dominic introduced those present to the library heritage kept by the ISS library, its many forms of service and the updating related to the ISS's purposes. At the end, the Provincials unanimously expressed their appreciation for what the ISS does, emphasising the value of what is preserved especially in the Library, a ‘treasure’ of inestimable value.

Tigaraksa, Indonesia – December 2024 – On 17 December, in the spirit of Christmas joy, the Salesian novitiate community in Tigaraksa held an early Christmas celebration with the Youth Group for Faith Formation. The event was celebrated before the children left for the Christmas holidays and took place in a lively, orderly and joyful way, involving adolescents, parents, Salesians and FMA. The activity began with a Christmas prayer service that directed the hearts of children to reflect on the theme "Let's go to Bethlehem", to teach them the values of humility, simplicity and solidarity with the poor and marginalised. The children were encouraged to deeply understand the meaning of Christmas, inspiring them to bring love and compassion into their daily lives. After the prayer service, the event continued with a Christmas bazaar, one of the most exciting parts for children with various activities, fun games and performances. The dances, performances and songs they performed not only showed their creativity, but also conveyed profound Christmas messages of love, hope and peace. The highlight of the event was the distribution of Christmas gifts prepared by the community. The activity ended with a community prayer.