(ANS – Rome) – Two days after the violent 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Chocó and large parts of western Colombia on August 10, the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB, expressed his solidarity with the Salesian Family in Colombia through a video message released on August 12 and addressed in particular to Fr. José Ariel Guerrero Castro, SDB, Superior of the Salesian … Continue reading “Prayer and Practical Help”: The Rector Major’s Message Following the Earthquake in Colombia

(ANS – Rome) – The General Council’s Summer Plenary Session, which began on July 6, concluded this Thursday, August 6, 2026, at the Salesian Headquarters in Rome. As is customary at the end of the proceedings, the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, addressed the Sacred Heart Community with his “Goodnight,” sharing an overview of the work carried out and two spiritual reflections drawn from Pope … Continue reading The General Council’s Summer Plenary Session Has Concluded: The Rector Major’s Invitation to Choose “the Way of Nehemiah”

(ANS – Rome) – In his Goodnight to the members of the SDB and FMA General Councils, gathered on July 22, 2026, at Salesian Headquarters, the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, offered a profound reflection on the meaning of following Christ in consecrated life today. Drawing inspiration from the Gospel dialogue between Jesus and Peter—when the apostle, after proclaiming Christ as the Messiah, rebuked him for foretelling … Continue reading Fr. Fabio Attard: “Only by Taking Up the Cross Can We Truly Follow Jesus”

(ANS – Rome) – The Evaluation and Planning Assembly of the Sacred Heart Salesian community took place on July 10–11, 2026, at the Salesian Central Headquarters. These two days of community work, conducted using the method of spiritual conversation, were dedicated to reflecting on the 2025–2026 year and laying the foundation for planning 2026–2027. Fr. Marek Chrzan, recently appointed by the Rector Major as rector … Continue reading Fr. Fabio Attard: “The Beauty of Consecrated Life Lies in the Heart of Every Person” — The Evaluation Assembly of the Sacred Heart Community

(ANS – Rome) – The Summer Plenary Session of the General Council officially opened on the afternoon of July 6, 2026, at Salesian Headquarters in Rome. The session will continue through August 7 and represents an important period of discernment, governance, and strategic planning, lived in the spirit of communion that animates the Congregation in its service to young people, especially the poorest. The Rector … Continue reading The Summer Plenary Session of the General Council Opens: A Time of Hope, Communion, and Spiritual Renewal

(ANS – Rome) – In the heart of Rome, at the Salesian Congregation’s headquarters, the Salesian Family gathered in joy and gratitude for the traditional Thanksgiving Celebration in honor of the Rector Major, the Successor of Don Bosco. Since the origins of the Congregation, this event has expressed filial affection and gratitude toward the one entrusted with safeguarding and guiding the Salesian charism throughout the … Continue reading A “Gerla” (Basket) That Spans the Centuries: Thanksgiving Celebration for the Rector Major at the Sacred Heart

(ANS – Rome) – The Salesian Sacred Heart of Jesus Work in Rome is dressed in festive attire these days. Amid the children and young people participating in the Summer Oratory activities, garlands and banners are beginning to appear, announcing the joyful celebration of the Thanksgiving Feast for the Rector Major—the tribute that the Salesians of the Generalate community and the other Salesian works in … Continue reading Thanksgiving Celebration for the Rector Major 2026: The Salesians of Rome Gather Around the 11th Successor of Don Bosco

(ANS – Avigliana) – On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, the Salesian Madonna dei Laghi House in Avigliana hosted the official launch of the Costellazioni and La Comunità che Educa projects, promoted by the Salesian Youth Association (AGS) for the ETS Territory and the Salesian Agostino Richelmy Institute, with the support and collaborative planning of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Torino (CRT). The presence of … Continue reading Avigliana: A House Once Again Serving as an Educational Hub for Young People Through Costellazioni and La Comunità che Educa

(ANS – Rome) – A reflection on the Letter to the Romans 8:35 – The apostle Paul, almost two thousand years ago, in his letter to the Romans (chapter 8:35) posed a question that still challenges us in a unique way today as believers in Jesus Christ: Who will separate us from the Love of Christ? This is not a question addressed to a group … Continue reading THE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR: Who Will Separate Us from the Love of Christ?

(ANS – Nochchiyagama) – The fifth and final day of the Rector Major’s visit to Sri Lanka, on May 18, 2026, was marked by prayer, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to the Salesian mission. After spending the night at the Don Bosco Community in Nochchiyagama, Fr. Fabio Attard began the day with Morning Prayer together with the community, joined by numerous Salesian priests and Salesian … Continue reading Rector Major Concludes Animation Visit, Strengthening Hope and Salesian Communion

(ANS – Rome) – In the Gospel of Luke, at the beginning of Chapter 10 (verses 1–19), Jesus extends His mission beyond the Twelve, sending seventy-two disciples ahead of Him to prepare the way. It is a decisive moment: the mission is no longer reserved for a small apostolic circle but extends to a wider group of ordinary followers. The implication is clear: every disciple … Continue reading THE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR: Are We Also Among the 72?

(ANS – Rome) – The 11th Successor of John Bosco, Fr. Fabio Attard, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, will make an Animation Visit to the Vice-Province of St. Joseph, Sri Lanka (LKC) from May 14–19, 2026, as part of his presence in the South Asia Region. The visit is eagerly anticipated by the confreres and young people throughout the island and is … Continue reading Rector Major Fr. Fabio Attard to Visit the Vice-Province of St. Joseph, Sri Lanka

(ANS – Rome, May 4–8, 2026) – The orientation course for newly appointed Provincial Economers is currently taking place at the Salesian Headquarters in Rome from May 4 to 8, 2026. Organized and coordinated by the Economer General’s Office, led by Gabriel Stawowy, the event brings together 14 Provincial Economers from five continents and all eight Salesian Regions. Participants The following Provincial Economers are taking … Continue reading Orientation Course for Newly Appointed Provincial Economers Begins in Rome

(ANS – Rome) – The Salesian community located in the Testaccio district of Rome had the honor of welcoming the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, together with several members of the General Council, on Friday, March 20, 2026. Among those present were Fr. Silvio Roggia, Councilor for Formation; Fr. Jorge Mario Crisafulli, Councilor for the Missions; and the Regional Councilors: from the two Regions of Africa, Fr. Alphonse Owoudou (Central and … Continue reading Visit by the Rector Major and the General Council to the Salesian Community in Testaccio

(ANS – Rome) – The first Plenary Session of the General Council for 2026 opened on the morning of Monday, March 9, 2026, at the Salesians of Don Bosco Headquarters in Rome and will continue until April 17, 2026. With this meeting, the members of the General Council, led by the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, are embarking for the first time on a new … Continue reading Plenary Session of the General Council 2026: Work Begins at Salesian Headquarters

(ANS – São Leopoldo) – Rectors of the Salesian communities from the six provinces of Brazil began their National Meeting of Directors at the Cristo Rei Spirituality Centre (CECREI) in São Leopoldo, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul and the Brazil-Porto Alegre Province (BPA), on Monday, March 9, 2026. The meeting will continue until Friday, March 13, focusing on the new Ratio Fundamentalis, … Continue reading Salesian Rectors Begin National Meeting

(ANS – Vallecrosia) – On the afternoon of Saturday, March 7, 2026, as part of the celebrations marking 150 years of Salesian presence in the city, the Municipality of Vallecrosia conferred honorary citizenship on Fr. Fabio Attard, Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation and 11th Successor of Don Bosco. He was also presented with the keys of the city during a solemn session of the … Continue reading 150 Years of Salesian Presence: Honorary Citizenship Conferred on Fr. Fabio Attard, Keys of the City Presented

(ANS – Rome) – The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14), for us as educators and evangelizers, is not simply a moral tale about pride and humility, but a profound revelation about how God encounters us and how we are called to pass on this transformative experience. Faith as a call to a relationship of mercy. When the Pharisee goes up … Continue reading THE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR: Educating to Mercy

(ANS – Rome) – A passage from the Gospel of Luke, 11:37-41, recounts how Jesus, on his way to Jerusalem, accepts an invitation to dine with a Pharisee. We witness a dialogue that represents a confrontation between two visions of religiosity: the formal one, centered on rules about rituals, and the one of the heart, proposed by Jesus. Message of the Rector Major Fr. Fabio Attard, … Continue reading THE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR: Coherence – The First Act of Charity

(ANS – Kolkata) – The visit of the Rector Major to the Salesian Province of Kolkata (INC) reached its grand finale on Sunday evening at Don Bosco Park Circus, Kolkata, with a solemn Eucharistic celebration followed by a rich and vibrant cultural program, bringing to a close both the Rector Major’s visit and the centenary celebrations of the Province. Holy Eucharist at Don Bosco Auditorium … Continue reading Rector Major Concludes Centenary Celebrations of Kolkata Province with Eucharist and Cultural Program

(ANS – Siliguri) — The second day of the Rector Major’s visit to India came alive with youthful enthusiasm at Don Bosco School and Salesian College, Siliguri, as Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB, addressed nearly 3,500 students, calling them to become intelligent, loving, and courageous builders of India’s future. The day began at Don Bosco School, Siliguri, where students welcomed the Rector Major with a vibrant … Continue reading “Once a Bosconian, Always a Bosconian”: Rector Major Inspires School and College Youth in Siliguri

(ANS – Rome) – On the evening of Wednesday, February 5, the Salesian community at the headquarters of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Rome had the joy of welcoming His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. The Patriarch was welcomed and introduced to the community by the Vicar of the Rector Major, Fr. Stefano Martoglio, SDB, who extended a warm greeting … Continue reading Patriarch of Jerusalem Visits the Salesian Headquarters in Rome

(ANS – Siliguri) — The visit of Fr. Fabio Attard, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, took on a deeply spiritual and charism-centered dimension on February 6, 2026, as he met with Salesians, student brothers, members of the Salesian Family, and the wider faith community of North Bengal during the second day of his visit to Siliguri. In the late morning, the Rector … Continue reading “Do Whatever He Tells You”: Rector Major Strengthens the Salesian Family and Faith Community in Siliguri

(ANS – Rome) – The Salesian Family in India is preparing with great joy and gratitude to welcome the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, who will undertake an animation visit to India from February 5–17, 2026. His presence among Salesians, young people, educators, past pupils, and members of the Salesian Family is eagerly awaited as a time of grace and blessing, renewing bonds of communion … Continue reading A Shepherd Among His Sons: Rector Major Fr. Fabio Attard to Visit India

(ANS – Chieri) – A day marked by deep emotion and profound Salesian significance characterized the morning of February 1, 2026, in the city of Chieri, which officially conferred Honorary Citizenship on Fr. Fabio Attard, 11th Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation, elected on March 25, 2025. The recognition was awarded as a sign of esteem for his extraordinary educational, pastoral, and cultural commitment, as … Continue reading Chieri: Fr. Fabio Attard Named Honorary Citizen in Recognition of His Service to the Salesian Charism and to Young People

(ANS – Turin) – “Here in Valdocco we really must acknowledge that the future begins yesterday.” It may sound like a mistake, but it is not. “We are heirs to an extraordinary experience that has been given to us and entrusted to us. Courage!” With this warm quotation from his predecessor, Fr. Egidio Viganò, the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr. Fabio … Continue reading See, Listen, Choose, and Act: For the Feast of Don Bosco, the Rector Major Encourages Young People to Follow the Path of the Saint of Youth

(ANS – Rome) – On the evening of Tuesday, January 28, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Rome, a dialogue titled “Fr. Fabio Attard in Dialogue with the Young People of the Salesian Youth Movement” took place. The event was moderated by RAI journalist Benedetta Rinaldi, a former Salesian past pupil. The meeting, which was also livestreamed on the ANS YouTube channel, was part of the … Continue reading Young People, Leadership, and Witness: Fr. Fabio Attard in Dialogue with the SYM at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart

The Message of the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB The parable of the rich man and Lazarus, found in Luke 16:19–31, is not simply a story about the fair distribution of material wealth. It is a story that penetrates the heart of the human condition, confronting us with a disturbing question: who truly owns whom? Did the rich man own his wealth, or did … Continue reading A Challenge to Our Humanity. Wealth that Risks Making Itself Blind and Deaf

(ANS – Rome) – The Sicilian town of San Cataldo, in the Province of Caltanissetta, is preparing to experience two special days—Saturday, January 10, and Sunday, January 11, 2026—filled with meaning, emotion, and shared pride for the arrival of Fr. Fabio Attard, the 11th Successor of Don Bosco and Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation worldwide. The significance of the Rector Major’s visit Fr. Attard’s visit comes at the conclusion of … Continue reading San Cataldo Prepares to Welcome the 11th Successor of Don Bosco: A Historic Event Marking the Centenary of the Salesian Presence

RMG, Rome – 24 December 2025 – On the occasion of Christmas, the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco addressed a simple and heartfelt message to Salesians and members of the Salesian Family, inviting them to contemplate the mystery of the birth of the Son of God. In his message, the Rector Major recalled that the birth of Jesus took place in a context of … Continue reading The Christmas Message of the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard

(ANS – Rome) – With the world premiere of the video and an accompanying interview with the Rector Major, next Saturday, December 27, 2025, at the Generalate of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Rome, the official presentation of the Rector Major’s Strenna for 2026 will take place on the theme: “Do whatever he tells you. Believers, free to serve.” Since the time of … Continue reading Official Presentation of the Rector Major’s Strenna for 2026: Next Saturday, December 27, 2025

(ANS – Rome) – In the traditional “Salesian goodnight” talk at the conclusion of the Winter Session of the General Council yesterday, Monday December 22, 2025, the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, addressed his confreres at the Central Headquarters with a summary reflection aimed at understanding and implementing the Strenna for 2026, inspired by the Gospel theme of the Wedding at Cana: “Do whatever he tells … Continue reading Goodnight Talk of the Rector Major at the Conclusion of the Winter Session of the General Council

THE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Fr Fabio Attard, SDB The mystery of Christmas begins with a “scandal of love”: the Great One who makes Himself little. It’s not a poetic image, but the most shocking reality in human history. God, the Infinite, chooses to become finite; the Almighty chooses the fragility of a newborn baby who cannot yet speak, walk, or defend Himself. It is pure … Continue reading The Christmas Grotto, Where Heaven Meets Earth

(ANS – Rome) – On the morning of Friday, December 5, 2025, the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr. Fabio Attard, met with a group of journalists and media professionals responsible for communications for Catholic congregations and institutions active in Rome. The visit, organized in collaboration with the ISCOM association, the Salesians, and the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, allowed all those … Continue reading A Moment of Learning, Dialogue and Presentation of the Salesian Charism: the Rector Major Meets Journalists from Catholic Media Outlets

(ANS – Rome) – Fr. Fabio Attard, Rector Major of the Salesians and the 11th Successor of Don Bosco, was a guest on Tuesday, November 4, on the television program Chiesa Viva, (Church Alive) broadcast by the Catholic channel TV2000. On that occasion, joined by other guests and testimonies, he spoke to the general public about the mission of the Salesians and the relevance of Don Bosco’s … Continue reading Fr. Attard on TV2000: “Don Bosco’s charism is not built around things to do, but on attitudes to cultivate: listening to young people and being close to them.”

(ANS – Rome) – The poster that will accompany the Rector Major Fr Fabio Attard’s Strenna for 2026, has been chosen and is now available online. It is a graphic expression of the motto already announced last August: ‘DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU. Believers, free to serve’. Below is an explanation of the image that makes up the poster. The poster for STRENNA 2026, with the theme … Continue reading Poster Published for the Rector Major’s Strenna for 2026: DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU. Believers, Free to Serve

MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR: Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB – Humility and Charity in the Education and Evangelization of Young People – In chapter 14 of St. Luke’s Gospel, we find the account in which Jesus accepts an invitation to dine at the home of an important Pharisee. Jesus enters a space thick with social calculations and feigned religious attitudes wherein the dinner becomes a … Continue reading From the Pharisee’s Table to the Heart of Ministry

THE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR – Don Fabio Attard, SDB (Rome, Italy) – The parable of the sower, narrated in the Synoptic Gospels, is a powerful and foundational image of the Christian message. At first glance, it might seem a simple allegory about the different reception of the Word of God. However, upon deeper inspection, it reveals a radical truth, especially when applied to … Continue reading The Divine Folly of the Sower Who “Sows in the Dark”

(ANS – Quito) – The first Animation Visit by the Rector Major, Fr Fabio Attard, outside Italy had as its destination the Salesian Sacred Heart of Jesus Province of Ecuador (ECU). For several days, September 11 to 15, the 11th Successor of Don Bosco met Salesians, lay people, young people, the university community and the Salesian Family, making his visit through the country a significant event … Continue reading Five Messages the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, Delivered During His Visit

(ANS – Quito) – On the morning of Saturday, September 13, the Rector Major, Fr Fabio Attard, 11th Successor of Don Bosco, held a meeting with the Salesian Family and the laity in Ecuador. In the Coliseum of the Salesian Polytechnic University (UPS) in El Girón, Quito, more than 450 people gathered to share a space for dialogue, identity, and charism. With his close and profound … Continue reading Living the Charism Authentically Today: the Rector Major’s Appeal to the Salesian Family in Ecuador

Message of the Rector Major: Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB In these times, where day after day the news communicates experiences of conflict, war, and hatred, how great is the risk that we as believers end up being drawn into a reading of events reduced merely to a political level, or limit ourselves to taking sides for one faction or another with arguments tied to our … Continue reading Prophets of Forgiveness and Gratuity

THE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB – In these times, when the news reports day after day about experiences of conflict, war, and hatred, there is a great risk that we as believers could end up being drawn into an interpretation of events that is reduced solely to the political level, or that we limit ourselves to taking sides in arguments that have … Continue reading Prophets of Forgiveness and Gratuitousness

(ANS – Castelnuovo Don Bosco) – On August 16, at the end of the Eucharistic celebration held to mark the 210th anniversary of the birth of St. John Bosco, the Mayor of Castelnuovo Don Bosco, Umberto Musso, together with members of the municipal administration, conferred honorary citizenship on Fr. Fabio Attard. In his speech of thanks, the Rector Major expressed deep emotion and gratitude, saying: “This is the … Continue reading Fr. Fabio Attard Receives Honorary Citizenship of Castelnuovo Don Bosco: A Symbolic Gesture of Belonging

(ANS – Rome) – The long-awaited theme of Strenna 2026 has been officially unveiled by the Rector Major, Fr Fabio Attard, who offers the Salesian Family a detailed and heartfelt overview of this year’s choice and the spiritual journey ahead. The new theme, “Do whatever He tells you” – Believers, free to serve, is deeply rooted in the Gospel and the heart of the Salesian charism, inviting … Continue reading “Do Whatever He Tells You:” Fr. Fabio Attard Unveils the Theme of Strenna 2026

MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR: Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB In the Gospel account of John, chapter 6, verses 4-14, which recounts the multiplication of the loaves, there are certain details that I dwell on at length whenever I meditate on or comment on this passage. It all begins when, faced with the ‘large’ hungry crowd, Jesus invites His disciples to take responsibility for feeding them. … Continue reading The Syndrome of Philip and the Syndrome of Andrew

(ANS – Rome) – The two-day annual board meeting of the Salesian Higher Education Institutions (IUS) kicked off on 21st July 2025 at the Salesian Headquarters in Via Marsala, Rome. Representatives from five global regions have gathered to evaluate ongoing projects, strategize for the future, and prepare for the IUS General Assembly in 2026, a pivotal event shaping the future of Salesian higher education. The meeting … Continue reading 20th IUS Board Meeting Begins at Salesian Headquarters in Rome

(ANS – Rome) – A very fraternal meeting marked by spiritual communion and a rediscovery of Salesian roots took place on Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Rome. Mother Chiara Cazzuola, Superior General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), along with her fellow members of the FMA General Council, visited the newly renovated Salesian Central Headquarters to explore the recently inaugurated Don Bosco House … Continue reading The FMA General Council Visits the Don Bosco House Museum in Rome

(ANS – Rome) – The process of reshaping Salesian Italy, begun over a year ago to respond to the demands of profound and lasting change, continues with determination. The project is not a simple organizational reorganization, but a response to the call to renew the Salesian presence in Italy, aligning it with Don Bosco’s mission and charism. On the occasion of the CISI Presidency on July … Continue reading Reshaping Salesian Italy: a path of Reform and Shared Responsibility

(ANS – Vatican) – On July 12, 2025, Fr. Mauro Mantovani officially began his role as the new Rector of the Salesian Community at the Holy See, where he had previously served as Vicar. The solemn ceremony was presided over by the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr. Fabio Attard, accompanied by his Vicar, Fr. Stefano Martoglio. Fr. Mauro Mantovani succeeds Fr. Stefano Vanoli, who led … Continue reading Fr. Mauro Mantovani Appointed New Rector of the Salesian Community at the Holy See

(ANS – Rome) – On the evening of Saturday, June 28, during Vespers in the chapel of the Zeffirino Namuncurà community, via della Bufalotta in Rome, the Rector Major Fr. Fabio Attard installed the new Rector, Fr. Giovanni Rolandi, who succeeds Fr. Silvio Roggia, elected Councillor for Formation at General Chapter 29. The ceremony took place in the presence of the confreres, relatives, and friends who … Continue reading Installation of Fr. Giovanni Rolandi as the new Rector of the International Theologate Zeffirino Namuncurà Community

(ANS – Rome) – On a day full of significance, during the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Salesian Congregation officially inaugurated the renovated Salesian Central Headquarters at Via Marsala, 42, in the heart of the capital, next to the Basilica envisioned and built by Don Bosco. Three years of intense work have restored the “Sacred Heart” structure, making it modern in its functions while … Continue reading The Renovated Salesian Central Headquarters: The Sacred Heart at the Center, the World as Its Horizon

(ANS – Rome) – On June 24, the Salesian Congregation celebrates the Feast of the Rector Major, a tradition that started in the time of Don Bosco. On this day, we honor our founder and his successors, especially the current Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, the 11th Successor of Don Bosco. Fr. Attard has shared a message urging Salesians, collaborators, and young people to renew their dedication … Continue reading A Message of Peace from the Rector Major – 24th June

(ANS – Rome) – Punctual as every year, the Salesian Congregation – and with it the entire Salesian Family worldwide – awaits the end of June to joyfully and gratefully celebrate those who guide it with fatherly love and inspire it with foresight. This is what happens with Thanksgiving Day for the Rector Major, which generally takes place on 24 June, on the feast of St John … Continue reading Thanksgiving Day for the Rector Major 2025: Anticipation, Tradition, and Innovation

(ANS – Rome) – The Salesian Headquarters, located in Rome at Via Marsala 42, represents the organizational heart of the Congregation of the Salesians of Don Bosco worldwide. It is located at Sacred Heart, next to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Castro Pretorio, built by Don Bosco himself, and the spiritual heart of the devotion to the Sacred Heart worldwide. Next Friday, … Continue reading Official Opening of Salesian Headquarters

(ANS – Rome) – Today, June 24th, marks a significant day for the World Confederation of Past Pupils of Don Bosco, as they celebrate their Foundation Day and the Feast of the Rector Major. This tradition dates back to the time of Don Bosco, when Carlo Gastini, along with the first Past Pupils, met Don Bosco to express their gratitude. It was during that moment that Don Bosco emphasized the true purpose of their … Continue reading Celebrating Past Pupils Foundation Day and the Feast of the Rector Major

Jesus’ encounter with Peter illuminates and depicts with a particular light our mission as evangelizers and educators In the last chapter of the Gospel of John, chapter 21, we find Jesus’ encounter with Peter. We read a dialogue that is built on three questions and then ends with a mandate (Jn. 21:15-23). I would like to comment on this encounter, which casts a particular light … Continue reading The Message of the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard: Educating Beyond Weakness

(ANS – Turin) – On Saturday, May 24, 2025, in the premises of the Salesian Mother House in Valdocco, Turin, during the celebrations for the feast of Mary Help of Christians, the new Council of the Primary Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), which took office on May 24, was received by the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr. Fabio Attard. … Continue reading Meeting of the New Primary ADMA Council with the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard

(ANS – Turin) – Every year, the Feast of Mary Help of Christians reawakens the heart of the global Salesian family. From the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin-Valdocco, a powerful wave of grace and spiritual energy radiates to Salesians and their communities across the world. This year will be no different, as the celebrations on May 23 and 24 promise a rich … Continue reading 2025 Feast of Mary Help of Christians in Turin with the Rector Major and the Salesian General Council

(ANS – Lima) – Last Sunday, May 11, 2025, the universal Church celebrated the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, one more opportunity for millions of people around the world, especially young people, to look at their hearts and ask themselves: What is God calling me to? What is the meaning of my life? Where can I best serve? Among the many stories of vocations that … Continue reading ‘My Vocation Came from Seeing a Priest:” The Testimony of the Rector Major, Fr Fabio Attard

“I used to tell the young people during the Salesian Goodnight that Don Bosco had a Globe of the world on his desk and a second Globe in his heart. We are children of a man for whom the future was not a threat, but a promise: a source of courage and hope!” – Fr. Fabio Attard (ANS – Pompei) – With the 11th Successor of … Continue reading The Rector Major with Young People and the Salesian Family of the South

(ANS – Rome) – For the entire month of May, a Marian month, every evening at 9pm, a Rosary is scheduled at the basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, the same basilica that hosts the icon of the Salus Populi Romani so loved by Pope Francis, who visited it 126 times as Pontiff, and which since April 26 has also housed the remains of the … Continue reading A Salesian Homage to Our Lady and Pope Francis: Prayers and Rosaries at Saint Mary Major’s

In English and Spanish THE MESSAGE OF THE MAJOR RECTOR – Don Fabio Attard, SDB A confrere said to me, “Father, we just need your closeness, your listening, and your prayer. This consoles us, encourages us, and gives us strength and hope so that we may continue to serve the young, who are poor and wounded, afraid and terrorized!” On March 25, 2025, the Church celebrated the Solemnity of the … Continue reading When the Lord Knocks / Cuando El Señor Llama a la Puerta

(ANS – Turin) – The final day in Turin for the members of the 29th General Chapter (GC29) of the Salesian Congregation was marked by moments of informal and fraternal exchanges, farewells to the sacred places where the Salesian charism was born, and—above all—by the evening Mass in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. The celebration was presided over by Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, the … Continue reading The Mass of the Three Rectors Major: Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime Presides Over the Closing Celebration of GC29 in Turin

(ANS – Turin) – For his first public meeting, the new Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr. Fabio Attard, chose the Ferrante Aporti juvenile prison in Turin. On Thursday, April 3, he visited the incarcerated youth at Corso Unione Sovietica. Behind juvenile delinquency, the Salesians of Don Bosco see the suffering of poor and abandoned young people. “Passionate for Jesus Christ, dedicated to the young. For … Continue reading Fr Attard: ‘Why I Start From the Ferrante Aporti Juvenile Prison”

Don Stefano Martoglio, SDB To celebrate a General Chapter in one place or in some other place is not an indifferent matter. Certainly, being at Valdocco, in the “cradle of the charism”, we have the opportunity to rediscover the beginnings of our history and rediscover the originality that constitutes the heart of our identity as consecrated persons and apostles to the young. In this “ancient” … Continue reading The Message of the Vicar: With Don Bosco – Always

The Salesians of Don Bosco and the entire Salesian Family of the Province of St. Andrew in the Western United States celebrate the election of Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB as the 11th Successor of Don Bosco. We are grateful and hold Fr. Fabio in high esteem for the varied ways he has led the Salesian Congregation in the past, especially in its mission with and … Continue reading USA West Province (SUO) Congratulates Our New Rector Major: Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB

(ANS – Turin) – The election of Fr. Fabio Attard as the 11th successor of Don Bosco marks a historic moment for the Salesian Congregation and the Salesian Family worldwide. Elected during the 29th General Chapter of the Society of St. Francis de Sales, Fr. Fabio Attard fully embodies Don Bosco’s charism and is preparing to lead the Salesian mission dedicated to young people, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, in … Continue reading Fr. Fabio Attard: 11th Successor of Don Bosco at the Head of the Salesian Congregation

(ANS – Turin) – Congratulatory messages and best wishes are pouring in from around the world for Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB, who was elected by the 29th General Chapter of the Salesian Congregation as the Rector Major for the six-year term 2025–2031, and as such, the 11th Successor of Don Bosco. Trust, appreciation, esteem, gratitude, and prayers for his mission are the sentiments shared by the … Continue reading Congratulations From Around the World for the New Rector Major Fr. Fabio Attard

THE MESSAGE OF THE VICAR – Fr. Stefano Martoglio, SDB “You will finish the work I am beginning; I am making the sketch, you will add the colors.” (Don Bosco) 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, … Continue reading We Are Don Bosco Today

(ANS – Rome) – The 29th General Chapter (GC29) is a crucial moment for the Salesian Congregation, an opportunity for encounter, reflection, and discernment on the challenges ahead and the community’s mission. This event, which will take place from February to April, will mark an intense period of spirituality, analysis, and fundamental decisions for the 2025-2031 six-year term. The GC29 will officially begin on February 16 … Continue reading Discernment, Work, Courage: the GC29 Program

THE MESSAGE OF THE VICAR: Don Stefano Martoglio, SDB – During this Jubilee year, in this difficult world, we are invited to rise up, set out again, and, in newness of life, make our journey as human beings and believers. The prophet Isaiah addresses Jerusalem with these words: “Arise, be clothed with light, for your light is coming, and the glory of the Lord is shining upon … Continue reading Good, Faithful, and Courageous Sevants

THE MESSAGE OF THE VICAR OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Fr. Stefano Martoglio, SDB The beginning of the new year is illuminated in our liturgy by the ancient formula with which the Israelite priests blessed the people: “May the Lord bless you, and keep you. May the Lord show His face to you, and have mercy on you. May the Lord turn His countenance to you, and … Continue reading What a Gift Time Is!

(ANS – Rome) – Since the time of Don Bosco, the annual message of the Strenna has accompanied the Salesian family and the lives of Salesian communities worldwide, serving as a guiding principle that shapes paths of education, evangelization, and development in response to the signs of the times and the life of the Church. Consequently, the presentation of the message of the Strenna is a … Continue reading Presentation of Strenna 2025

THE MESSAGE OF THE VICAR OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Fr. Stefano Martoglio, SDB A new time is given to us: from the Heart of God to the heart of humanity, mirrored in the great heart of Don Bosco. Dear friends and readers, in this December issue, I address you with my best wishes for a new year! We find ourselves in a new time that is given to … Continue reading A Big Heart Like the Shores of the Sea

THE MESSAGE OF THE VICAR Fr. Stefano Martoglio, SDB “How lucky Don Bosco is! His path is forever strewn with roses! He hasn’t a worry in the world. No troubles at all!” But they couldn’t see the thorns that were piercing my poor legs.” Nevertheless, I kept going. Every life is interwoven with thorns and roses, as in Don Bosco’s famous “Dream of the Roses … Continue reading The Rose Path

Don Stefano Martoglio, SDB Traditionally as a Salesian Family, we receive the Strenna every year – a gift at the beginning of the year. I hold it dear to look inside this gift with these few lines so as to welcome it as it deserves, without losing anything of the freshness of the gift. A gift  It is a gift because, before all else, strenna means: … Continue reading The Message of the Vicar: Our Annual Gift

(ANS – Rome) – At the end of the General Council’s summer plenary session, the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, announced the theme of the Strenna for 2025, which will be entitled: “Anchored in hope, pilgrims with young people.” The theme was chosen in collaboration between the Rector Major of the Congregation, Card. Á.F. Artime, and his Vicar, Fr Stefano Martoglio, who will take … Continue reading Strenna 2025 Theme Presented: “Anchored in Hope, Pilgrims with Young People”

By Father Stefano Martoglio, SDB While continuing my service as Vicar in the coming months, quietly, very simply, and completely in continuity, I’ll replace the Rector Major in leading the Congregation to the General Chapter, the 29th, in February 2025. Dear Readers of the Salesian Bulletin, I’m about to write these lines with trepidation because, having been a reader of the Salesian Bulletin since I … Continue reading The Message of the Vicar: On Wings of Hope

THE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR – By Angel Card. Fernández Artime I cordially greet all Don Bosco’s friends who come to the Salesian Bulletin with interest. This is the instrument of communication that Don Bosco loved so much and that he himself founded so he could make known what was happening in the Salesian houses around the world and the good that was being … Continue reading Between Admiration and Pain

Saludo muy cordialmente a todos los amigos y amigas de Don Bosco que con interés se acercan al Boletín Salesiano, este instrumento de comunicación que tanto amaba Don Bosco y que el mismo fundó para dar a conocer la realidad de las casas salesianas en el mundo y el bien que se hacía. Hoy les estoy saludando por última vez desde esta página del Boletín … Continue reading Entre la Admiración y el Dolor

Rome, Italy – June 2024 – On Monday, June 24, the traditional Feast of Thanksgiving for Don Bosco and his Successors at the head of the Salesian Congregation was renewed for the 154th time. The Feast of Thanksgiving 2024 had its own evident special features that made it even more special than usual: first of all, it was once again celebrated in Rome, after the … Continue reading Thanksgiving for the Rector Major 2024

(ANS – Rome) – Work has begun in the summer plenary session of the General Council of the Salesian Congregation, the last “plenum” to be chaired by Card. Ángel Fernández Artime  – Rector Major In the seven weeks of work, between now and 26 July, there will be numerous work sessions to accompany the ordinary leadership and government of the entire Congregation, as well as to … Continue reading Work Begins in the Last Plenary Session of the General Council Chaired by Card. Fernández Artime

(ANS – Rome) – Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime will spend his last Feast of Mary Help of Christians as Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco in the city that has been his home – apart from his many trips – in the last 10 years: Rome. The 10th Successor of Don Bosco will preside over the solemn festive Eucharist at 6 pm (UTC+2) at … Continue reading The Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Rome Celebrates its Patronal Feast Day with Cardinal Fernández Artime

THE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR Don Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB Dear Readers of the Salesian Bulletin,  My affectionate and cordial greetings during this Easter season.  In a world in turmoil, agitated by armed conflicts and no small amount of violence, we continue to declare, announce, and proclaim that Jesus is Lord, raised by the Father, and that he LIVES. We strongly need His Presence in hearts … Continue reading Mary Help of Christians From Here to the World

ANS – Rome) – Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation, will be on retreat at the Santa Chiara convent of the Poor Clares in the Vatican from Friday April 12, 2024, until Monday, April 15th. A similar retreat is also being made by Archbishop Giordano Piccinotti, President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), who will be consecrated … Continue reading Spiritual Preparation Retreat for Episcopal Ordination for the Rector Major, Card. Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB

THE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR – Don Angel Fernandez Artime, SDB Diary of a Happy and Blessed Missionary Day Dear friends of the Salesian Bulletin, I’m writing to you from Meruri in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. I write this greeting almost as if it were a journalistic report, because it has been only 24 hours since I arrived in the middle … Continue reading I’m a Salesian and I’m a Bororo

THE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJORDon Angel Fernandez Artime, SDB When reflecting on all this, I feel I have a little authority to say: “Dear Don Bosco, your Dream is still VERY ALIVE.” Dear friends, readers of the Salesian Bulletin, as I do every month, I send you my personal greetings from my heart, and I am offering you my reflections, motivated by what I … Continue reading Dreams That Keep Coming True

(ANS – Rome) – The seventh video of the series “It is time for Chapter 28” has been made available online today, Friday, 23 February 2024, in which Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians, illustrates the seventh Action Guideline delivered after the 28th General Chapter: “IT IS TIME FOR GREATER GENEROSITY IN THE CONGREGATION. A universal and missionary Congregation.” In the column “It … Continue reading RM’s GC28 Video Series: Seventh Action Guideline Following the Chapter

Encounters on Epiphany with wonderful people with a good heart and a radiant faith By Ángel Cardinal Fernández Artime Dear friends of the Salesian Bulletin, together with my affectionate greetings, I offer you my best wishes for the New Year 2024 that we have just begun. I sincerely hope that it will be a year filled with God’s presence in our lives and rich in … Continue reading And the Star Stopped Over a Wheelchair

(ANS – Rome) – The Salesian Info Agency (ANS) is the Agency that deals with making the world aware of what good is done in the world in the name of Don Bosco. It is by constitution a “communication organ of the Salesian Congregation,” and for 74 years – with various changes of denominations and locations – it has made its mission to support to the … Continue reading A Year in Numbers: ANS 2023, at the Service of the Communication of Don Bosco’s Mission

THE RECTOR MAJOR’S MESSAGE, Card. Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB Dear friends: we are at the threshold of a new year, 2024, a truly special year because we remember the bicentennial of Don Bosco’s dream at age nine. This dream was much more than a pleasant episode in the life of a nine-year-old boy; it was like a dream-vision and a premonition of what he was to do in … Continue reading A Year of Dreams from on High