Porto, Portugal – 1953 – In 1953, the then Rector Major, Fr Renato Ziggiotti, visited the Province of Portugal and, during his stop in the city of Porto, blessed a new printing press in the printing works at Orphans College. The moment is immortalised in this black and white shot, published by Portugal’s Salesian Bulletin.

Madrid, Spain – 1923 – In this photo we are looking at an historical image of the old facade of the Salesian house at Atocha, where the theatre stands out. The history of the Salesian theatre goes back to 1923, when the Salesians in Madrid decided to begin building it dopo after having noted the lack of a place for keeping young people entertained. It was the initiative of the then Salesian Rector, Fr Julián Massana, who had a large theatre built for 2,000 youngsters, It was of large proportions, classical and round in shape, with two iron and concrete balconies. The stalls of this theatre had a capacity of 500 spectators. This large and beautiful building was demolished in 1977.

Cuiabá, Brazil - 1894 - On 18 June 129 years ago, a group of Salesians, led by the man who became Bishop Luigi Lasagna, arrived at the port of Cuiabá. They were five young missionaries who soon began their activities in the parish of São Gonçalo do Porto and in September the same year founded the Salesian School of Arts and Trades. The following year, in 1895, they bought a farm near what is now Prainha Avenue, where the Salesian São Gonçalo school was built. These five young missionaries thus brought Don Bosco's dream to the state of Mato Grosso.