Bologna, Italy – June 2024 - On 14 June, Dr Ana Martín García defended her doctoral thesis at the Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, with a research on the study of churches built from scratch and promoted directly by Don Bosco: a study that had never been previously analysed in a scientific and critical way. The thesis, entitled "The ecclesiastical commission of the nineteenth century: the intervention of Father John Bosco between Turin and Rome (1846-1887)", was unanimously evaluated by the five members of the judging committee with the vote of excellent cum laude. The Royal College of Spain in Bologna, the prestigious private institution founded in 1364 by Cardinal Gil de Albornoz (1310-1367), for over six centuries accepted only men. Art historian Dr. Martín García, currently director of the Casa Don Bosco Museum in Valdocco, Turin as General Coordinator, is part of the first class of women to discuss a doctoral thesis at the institution, after submitting her academic curriculum, her candidacy and her research project to the national merit competition in mid-2020.

Rome, Italy – June 2024 - The annual festival of the Federation of Past Pupils of Don Bosco, Lazio was held at Borgo Ragazzi Don Bosco in Rome on 16 June with a large participation representing the 12 Unions in Lazio. The day began with the celebration of the Mass, which was followed by the traditional conference this year entitled "Past Pupils: what future?", with talks by Fr Gianluigi Pussino, SDB, Fr Maurizio Palomba, SDB, and Cesare Sagrestani. Elections were held for those completing their term of office in the Presidency Council. President Cesare Sagrestani (Unione Testaccio) and Councillors Marco Romano (Unione Sacro Cuore) and Alfonso Tesoro (Borgo Ragazzi) were confirmed for the next four years, while Paolo Schiavo (Borgo Ragazzi), Pierpaolo Foti (Unione Pio XI) and Vito Gentili (Unione Pio XI) were added.

Ayagüalo, El Salvador – June 2024 — The Provincial Meeting of Practical Trainees from Central America (CAM) was held at the Sacred Heart Retreat House from 11 to 13 June. The event brought together ten Salesians in the Practical Training Formation phase, two from the first year and eight from the second year. The general objective of the meeting was to guarantee a space for meeting and formation that helps Salesians to discuss matters together, according to the proposed formation framework, in relation to the practice of the Preventive System. The central theme was "A Youth Ministry that educates to love", and addressed aspects such as accompaniment in the formation stage, the revision of formation processes for this level and reflection on the core of the 2024 Provincial Chapter. During the meeting, the significant experiences of each of the works in which the Salesians are inserted were shared, as well as spaces for fraternal shared existence. The meeting also included an initial retreat, which offered an environment of reflection and spirituality. The young people in formation were accompanied by Fr René Santos SDB, Provincial Delegate for Formation, and Fr Marcelo Navarrete SDB, Provincial Delegate for vocation animation. The meeting not only strengthened the bonds between Salesians in formation, but also reaffirmed the commitment to a Youth Ministry that educates to love, following the principles of the Preventive System.