Turin, Italy - November 2021 - From November 18-23, the Provincial Councils of the Mediterranean Region participated in Annual Spiritual Retreat at Valdocco. This year, the Provincials & their team have been spending a few days praying, reflecting, and sharing on specific themes while being immersed in the holy places of associated with Don Bosco. The meditations are preached by the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime. Each day is marked by a specific morning meditation on a theme that concerns the charismatic aspect of the Provincials and the Councils, which highlights elements in relation to Don Bosco, dwelling also on the aspect of consecration as Salesians, in the light of the Word of God. The central moment of each day is the dialogue and the direct meeting with the spiritual guide, Fr Á. F. Artime. Finally, each evening ends with the "Salesian good night", animated by each Provincial of the Mediterranean Region. Very intense moments of prayer and fraternity have thus been lived together in the Salesian places. The moments of communion, visits to the Don Bosco House Museum and the participation in the "Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival" have also been noteworthy. The Retreat represents an important and spiritually intense occasion to be united in Don Bosco and be ready to live the Salesian charismatic unity around the 10th Successor of Don Bosco.

Turin, Italy - November 2021 - The first meeting of the new Presidency Council of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), elected on October 24, during the 31st Marian Day, was held in Valdocco on Saturday 13 November. The new council, chaired by Renato Valera, met and began working on an Action Plan prepared by the outgoing team, which, as a "legacy" and a gift, left a reflection on the association's journey over the last four years and on what it is important to preserve, what is important to grow, the points of attention and projects that have been undertaken. Many of the new councilors highlighted the importance of the Valdocco council’s role to rest of the whole association in the world. They reinstated the importance of the entrustment to Mary, the centrality of the journey of faith anchored to the two columns of the Eucharist and Mary, simplicity in style and organization, the centrality of communion in relationships, hospitality, the importance of prayer and formation, the accompaniment of families and young people with their families, the dimension of attention to the weak and the working-class, and finally the strengthening of Salesian identity and charism. In addition, various specific responsibilities were also assigned to the new councilors, designed with a view to serving the mission.

Nkol'Afeme, Cameroon - November 2021 - On 21 November the Salesians of the "St. Augustine" Theological Studentate invited all the Salesian communities and neighboring religious communities to celebrate the Musical and Cultural Festival in honor of the patroness of sacred music and musicians, St Cecilia. The Salesian Formation house has 52 Salesians from 15 countries, and the diversity of cultures guaranteed the success and variety of the program. The event began with a brief presentation of the life of Saint Cecilia and her contribution to the world of religious music and musicians. The Rector of the community, Fr Rigobert Fumtchum, declared the program open, quoting the famous phrase of Don Bosco: "A Salesian house without music is like a body without a soul". During the evening, songs, dances, skits, traditional folklore and entertaining cultural performances were presented. Finally, some groups exhibited their musical talents with guitar, drums, flute, piano, saxophone, trumpet, and other traditional instruments.