(ANS – Vatican City) – We publish below the message that His Holiness Pope Francis sent to the participants of the 29th General Chapter of the Salesian Congregation, held in Valdocco, Turin, from February 16 to April 12, 2025: Message of the Holy Father Dear Brothers, Since I am unfortunately unable to meet you, I send this message on the occasion of the 29th General … Continue reading Message of the Holy Father to the Participants of the 29th General Chapter of the Salesian Congregation

(ANS – Turin) – “Avvenire” is a prominent Italian daily official newspaper of the Catholic Church in Italy which has featured an article on our New Rector Major Fr. Fabio Attard. We present you an extract from the article: In the long ministry of Fr. Fabio Attard, the new Rector Major, a Salesian for 45 years and a priest since 1987, there’s a deep and … Continue reading GC29, Fr. Attard: “Listening to Young People Around the World, Don Bosco’s Method Is Still Relevant”

(ANS – Turin) – It is estimated that 10–20% of adolescents worldwide suffer from mental health disorders, yet many go undiagnosed and untreated. Alarming statistics highlight rising rates of self-harm and suicide. Children and teenagers with mental health challenges are especially vulnerable to social exclusion, leading to discrimination, learning difficulties, risky behavior, physical health problems, and violations of their human rights. Even today, mental health … Continue reading The Youth Ministry Department Publishes: “Accompanying the Young Towards Positive Mental Health: A Guide for Educators”

(ANS – Turin) – The General Chapter, taking place at Valdocco, Turin, has entered its final week. After almost 50 days of intense work, the chapter members are preparing for the conclusion of this significant moment of discernment and sharing. The final days represent a fundamental opportunity to reflect on the experience lived, consolidate the decisions made, and return to their respective provinces, taking with … Continue reading Forecast: April 6 – 12, 2025 Marks the Final Week and Conclusion of the General Chapter

(ANS – Turin) – Alongside the distinct “Turinese” character of customs and traditions, the first Salesians helped spread awareness of one of the city’s most treasured symbols: the Holy Shroud, which the Archbishop of Turin safeguards on behalf of the entire Church. From the very beginning, the Salesians developed a special closeness to the Shroud—the sacred cloth that bears the image believed to be from … Continue reading Members of the General Chapter in Prayer and Reflection at Turin Cathedral

(ANS – Yangon) – Upon learning of the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, a Salesian of Don Bosco and Archbishop of Yangon, immediately called on the military junta, which has been ruling the country since the 2021 coup, to implement a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to reach affected areas. “I am pleased that something is beginning to move … Continue reading Cardinal Bo, SDB: “A Ceasefire to Allow Aid Is Welcome. Our People Have Suffered Greatly – Now It’s Time for Peace”

On Friday, March 28, 2025, the 29th General Chapter of the Salesian Congregation elected the following members to the General Council: Browse below for a brief biography of the newly elected and a concise description of their new roles. Fr. Silvio Roggia Elected General Councilor for Formation (ANS – Turin) – On the morning of Friday, March 28, 2025, during the first round of voting, … Continue reading GC29: Introducing Newly Elected General Councilors

(ANS – Turin) – On the morning of March 27, 2025, Fr. Fabio Attard, the 11th successor of Don Bosco, chose a deeply symbolic and heartfelt way to celebrate his second Mass as Rector Major. He visited the infirmary of the Mother House at Valdocco, where the elderly and sick Salesians of the ICP Province reside, to celebrate the Eucharist with them. This thoughtful gesture … Continue reading A Symbolic Gesture of Proximity: Fr. Fabio Attard Celebrates His Second Mass as Rector Major with Elderly and Sick Salesians

(ANS – Anisakan) – A devastating earthquake, measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, struck Myanmar, with its epicenter located in the Sagaing Division, which borders the Mandalay Division where Anisakan is situated. The tremor caused significant destruction and left communities reeling in shock. The earthquake brought widespread devastation, especially in Mandalay City, where numerous high-rise buildings, pagodas, mosques, and churches were reduced to rubble. The iconic Sagaing … Continue reading Earthquake hits Don Bosco Mandalay: A Call for Solidarity and Pray

(ANS – Turin) – During the 29th General Chapter (GC29), taking place in Valdocco, a historic recommendation was made to the Rector Major and the General Council to be elected: to allow, ad experimentum, the assignment of the role of the Rector of the Community also to the lay consecrated brothers. This decision marks not only an important moment for the Salesian Congregation but also … Continue reading CG29: A New Perspective for Salesian Brothers and the Congregation

(ANS – Turin) – March 13 at the 29th General Chapter (CG29), currently taking place at Valdocco, in Turin will be remembered as a milestone in the history of the Salesian Congregation. The Chapter expressed a favorable opinion, giving the possibility to the Rector Major and his Council to make use of the exemption granted by the Holy Father. Subsequently, a resolution was approved that … Continue reading CG29: A Step Forward for Salesian Communities

(ANS – Turin) – The weekend of March 15-16, 2025, at the 29th General Chapter (GC29) presented the participants with a dual challenge: first, to take stock of the journey now at its halfway point, giving the necessary momentum for the weeks ahead; and second, to open a broader vision beyond the Chapter itself, in light of the 150th anniversary of the first Salesian Missionary … Continue reading GC29 Halfway: Between Spiritual Reflections and Missionary Visions

(ANS – Bari) – Following the example of their founder, the Salesians of Don Bosco worldwide strive to extend a helping hand to young people in difficulty, offering them a chance for redemption. This is exactly what happened with Alex, a young man from Sub-Saharan Africa who arrived in Italy on a migrant boat. Initially destined for a life on the margins of society, Alex … Continue reading Alex: A Story of Hope and Redemption that Comes from Afar

(ANS – Rome) – On Ash Wednesday, we share below the text of the Holy Father Pope Francis’ Message for Lent 2025, centered on the theme: “Let us journey together in Hope.” Dear brothers and sisters, We begin our annual pilgrimage of Lent in faith and hope with the penitential rite of the imposition of ashes. The Church, our mother and teacher, invites us to … Continue reading Pope’s Message for Lent 2025: “Let Us Journey Together in Hope”

(ANS – Vatican City) – After 21 days of concern, closed windows, and continuous evening prayers, the voice of Pope Francis was heard once again in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. On the evening of Thursday, March 6, 2025, just before the eleventh recitation of the Rosary, a short, 30-second voice message in Spanish, recorded by Pope Francis from Gemelli Hospital, was played over the … Continue reading Rosary for the Pope Led by Card. Fernández Artime, SDB: Pope Francis Speaks, “Thank You for Your Prayers, I Accompany You from Here”

(ANS – Kyiv) – Monday, February 24, 2025, marked three years since the start of the war in Ukraine, a conflict that has left more than 6.5 million people as refugees, over 3.5 million displaced, and more than 14.6 million in need of humanitarian aid. Throughout these difficult years, the Salesians have remained committed to supporting Ukrainian children and young people. “It is very important for … Continue reading Three Years of War and More Uncertainty Than Ever

(ANS – Turin) – On the second day of the spiritual retreat of the 29th General Chapter (GC29), Fr. Pascual Chávez, Rector Major Emeritus, led the Chapter members in a profound reflection on the meaning of the Salesian mission, starting from the key expression “da mihi animas.” In the afternoon, the theme was broadened to include fraternal life in community, emphasizing the importance of communion … Continue reading The Salesian Mission: “Da Mihi Animas” and Fraternal Life in the Reflections of the Second Day of the CG29

(ANS – Turin) – The official proclamation of the opening of the 29th General Chapter (CG29) was entrusted to Fr. Alphonse Owoudou, the Chapter Moderator, at 6:15 p.m. on Sunday, February 16, in the theater of the Mother House at Valdocco. With this formal act, the gathering of 230 provincials and delegates of the Society of St. Francis de Sales commenced meaningfully, united in their … Continue reading Passionate About Jesus Christ, Dedicated to the Young: The 29th General Chapter Opens in Valdocco

(ANS – Turin) – “Dear confreres, I have chosen, as the theme of our spiritual retreat, the perspective of the mysticism of our Salesian life. It is in fact there, that the apostolic project of Don Bosco is found, which we are invited to make our own, and it is there that our entire charismatic identity resides.” With these words, Fr. Pascual Chávez, Rector Major … Continue reading The Profound Mysticism in Salesian Life

(ANS – Nice) – On the evening of February 6, 2025, Fr. Alfred Maravilla, General Councillor for the Missions, with all the members of the Sector team, gave a talk in a family setting to representatives of the educative and pastoral community of Don Bosco house in Nice, on the theme of the 150th anniversary of the Salesian Missionary Expedition. This simple event also marked … Continue reading New ‘Fruits of the Salesian Missions’ Painting Presented in Nice

(ANS – Lima) – Twelve years and one day ago, on February 6, 2013, the Servant of God Fr. Luis (Luigi) Bolla, a Salesian missionary known among the indigenous Achuar people as ‘Yankuam’ (a word in the local language that means ‘Twilight Path’) died in Lima. For the life he lived, however, the simple title of ‘missionary’ is too limited: he was a radical witness … Continue reading Fr. Bolla ‘Yankuam’: Much More Than a Missionary

(ANS – Vatican City) – February 3, 2025, was a day dedicated to children. The Vatican held its first-ever International Summit on Children’s Rights in the Apostolic Palace with the presence of Pope Francis, advocates, and heads of NGOs. Speakers from all over the world came to discuss the global crisis of millions of children without basic human rights. The message that rang throughout the … Continue reading Pope Francis Announces He Will Write Apostolic Exhortation Dedicated to Children

(ANS – Vatican City) – On January 21 2025, a communiqué was sent to the Postulator General for the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Family, Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni, that the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, in its ordinary Congress of January 8, 2025, signed by the Prefect Cardinal Marcello Semeraro and the Secretary Monsignor Fabio Fabene, gave legal validity to the diocesan inquiry … Continue reading Validity of the Diocesan Inquiry into the Cause of the Servant of God Antonino Baglieri, Volunteer with Don Bosco

(ANS – Rome) – The Feast of Don Bosco is always a day of celebration in all Salesian communities around the world. Great celebrations were also held on January 31 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Rome, strongly desired by Don Bosco himself. The high point of the festivities took place in the afternoon with the solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over … Continue reading The Feast of St John Bosco at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Rome

(ANS – Goma) – On January 27, 2025, the city of Goma was taken by the rebel troops that had been surrounding it for months. ‘Goma has been invaded by the rebels and the army has surrendered,’ says one of the Salesian missionaries working at the mission in Goma. ‘Today we are unable to leave and there is a lot of uncertainty about what may … Continue reading ‘Thousands of People Take Refuge in the Mission After Goma Has Been Invaded’

(ANS – Turin) – Cardinal Cristóbal López, Salesian of Don Bosco, Archbishop of Rabat, was the key figure for the third day of the Salesian Family Spirituality Days 2025. After presiding at the morning Eucharist in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, he gave the fundamental report in the afternoon. In this circumstance, developing the theme of the mission – on the occasion of … Continue reading SFSD2025: Missionary Expeditions Yesterday – Apostles on Mission Today

(ANS – Turin) – Young people took center stage on the third day of the Spirituality Days of the Salesian Family, January 18, 2025, sharing their experiences and insights from the Salesian Youth Synod, which took place from August 11 to 16, 2024, in Valdocco and Colle don Bosco. The theme, inspired by the Strenna of the year, emphasized a dream that inspires hope and … Continue reading Dreams and Aspirations: Young Voices at the Salesian Spirituality Days

(ANS – Turin) – The 43rd Spirituality Days were inaugurated at Valdocco, Turin, on the evening of January 16, welcoming nearly 375 participants from around the globe. The theme, “Anchored in Hope – Pilgrims with the Young,” resonated with the aspirations of the Jubilee Year of Hope and was deeply rooted in the guiding vision of the 2025 Strenna. The event commenced with a heartfelt welcome … Continue reading Anchored in Hope, 43rd Salesian Family Spirituality Days Unveil

(ANS – Vatican) – The Holy Father has appointed the Most Reverend Sister Simona Brambilla, M.C., as Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, who was previously the Secretary of the same Curial Institution. The Holy Father has appointed His Eminence the Most Reverend Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, S.D.B., as Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of … Continue reading Appointment of the Prefect and Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life

(ANS – Rome) – The Salesian Congregation extends its heartfelt congratulations to His Eminence Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime on his recent appointment as Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (DIVCSVA). This announcement was made by the Vatican Press Office yesterday, January 6, 2025, at the Solemnity of the Epiphany. With a decade of distinguished service as Rector … Continue reading Card. Fernández Artime, New Pro-Prefect of DIVCSVA: “We will accompany enthusiastically the Joys and Challenges of Consecrated Life and Apostolic Movements.”

(ANS – Rome) – Near the opening of the Holy Year, on December 24, 2024, the Salesian San Callisto Community in Rome, responsible for the catacomb complex of the same name, invites the entire world Salesian Family to visit, the Catacombs of San Callisto during the Jubilee Year, a unique treasure chest of hope entrusted to the Congregation. Pointing out the opportunity of such a proposal … Continue reading “Pilgrims of Hope”: The Catacombs of San Callisto as a Privileged Pilgrimage Destination for the Holy Year

(ANS – Tijuana) – In Tijuana, a metropolis on the border between Mexico and the United States, the Proyecto Salesiano associative network has created an innovative facility that offers migrant women and children not only a safe place but also the opportunity to replan their future. Tijuana is a Latin American city of two million inhabitants, located at the northwestern end of the border between Mexico and the … Continue reading A New Tomorrow for Migrants: The Salesian Refuge in Tijuana

(ANS – Aleppo) – While Aleppo faces yet another period of profound uncertainty and hardship, the Salesians of Don Bosco present in the city have shared a message to reassure everyone of their continued presence and commitment to supporting and accompanying young people, families, and those in need as much as the current situation allows. Their focus remains firmly on Jesus, the source of eternal hope. … Continue reading A Message from the Salesians of Aleppo: “We Are Here, Close to the Young, Families, and Those in Need”

(ANS – Dili) – The program of East Asia Oceania Region (EAO) Formation of formators marked its closure with the study and reflection guided by Fr. Ivo Coelho, General Councillor for Formation, on “Formation for A Solid Salesian Consecrated Identity In A Fluid World” (EAO Team Visit 2024), followed by a suggestion of the formation style appropriate to our era as a result of each province’s team discussion. It was hosted … Continue reading East Asia-Oceania Formation of Formators

(ANS – Kabwe) – They end up on the street when they’re still kids. Austin was poor, Felix was beaten by his drunk parents, Emmanuel was abandoned… They earn a living by transporting food, collecting plastic, and begging. They start sniffing glue to forget about loneliness and quickly become addicted. The street absorbs and destroys them. They are the poor and lonely young people of … Continue reading “Saved From the Street” the Documentary by the Don Bosco Foundation in Makululu

(ANS – Rome) – On November 11th, we remember the distant 1875 when the first missionary expedition set out! Commemorating this important event opens the celebrations for the 150th anniversary in 2025. The slogan chosen for the occasion helps us enter into this anniversary: Give thanks, Rethink, Relaunch. Give Thanks: We give thanks to God for the gift of missionary vocation, which enables the sons … Continue reading Give Thanks, Rethink, Relaunch: Towards the 150th Anniversary of the First Salesian Missionary Expedition

(ANS – Beirut) – In 2024, Lebanon was showing timid signs of reviving its economy after the previous 4 years of severe economic crisis that brought disastrous consequences for Human Rights and forced more than 80% of the population into poverty. However, on October 1, the escalation of the war in the Middle East also involved Lebanon, and the intensification of violence generated an unprecedented humanitarian … Continue reading School Support for Refugee Children

(ANS – Rome) – “Dilexit nos” is Pope Francis’ fourth Encyclical. It traces the tradition and relevance of thinking “on the human and divine love of the heart of Jesus Christ,” inviting us to renew authentic devotion to not forget the tenderness of the faith, the joy of serving others, and the fervor of the mission. Opened with a brief introduction and divided into five … Continue reading Among the Ten Most Beautiful Words from Pope Francis’ New Encyclical “Dilexit Nos”

(ANS – Valencia) – The rains that reached the southeast of Spain, accompanied by strong winds and tornadoes, were caused by a meteorological phenomenon known as a High Altitude Isolated Depression (DANA, in Spanish). It all began last Tuesday, October 29th, when torrential rains caused the overflow of rivers and streams and a series of particularly catastrophic floods in the province of Valencia. More than 220 … Continue reading Salesian Houses Throughout Spain Help People Affected by DANA