(ANS– Rome) – More than a hundred people from Portugal, Spain, Italy and the Middle East took part, from 12 to 15 October, in Malaga at the International Seminar on the Reception of Migrants and Refugees, to reflect on Salesian activity in this field, starting with the recognition of the considerable increase in initiatives dedicated to the reception and integration of migrants and refugees, especially in the countries bordering the Mediterranean. Fr Emanuele De Maria, SDB, Youth Ministry Delegate for the Salesians of Central Italy (ICC), and Alessandro Iannini, Delegate for Marginalisation and Hardship in ICC, who attended the seminar, now share their impressions on the subject.

Rome, Italy - October 2023 - From 24th to 27th October, the Regional Formation Commission meeting for the Mediterranean Region was held at the "San Tarcisio" postnovitiate community in Rome. The Provincial Formation Delegates of the Salesian Provinces of Portugal, Spain and Italy participated. The UPS Vice Province was also present for the meeting. The Delegate of the MOR Province should have been present, but was unable to attend because of the war situation in the Holy Land. Among the topics discussed were: a reflection on Salesian holiness starting from the canonisation of Artemide Zatti, led by Rector Major Emeritus, Fr Pascual Chávez; the sharing of provincial initiatives linked to the figure of Zatti and the 200th anniversary of Don Bosco’s dream at the age of 9 in 2024; an evaluation of missionary formation initiatives carried out in dialogue with the Missions Sector; and the revision of the Commission's Regulations. The participation in the community life of the post-novitiate and the animation of young Salesians, who enriched some moments of the meeting, were also greatly appreciated.

(ANS - Rome) - Wednesday, 18 October 2023 marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Venerable Salesian Bishop Luigi Olivares, SDB (Corbetta, Italy, 18 October 1873 - Pordenone, Italy, 19 May 1943). To mark the occasion, a concelebrated solemn Mass was celebrated, presided over by Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, the Postulator General for the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Family at the church of Santa Maria Liberatrice in the Testaccio district of Rome, of which Olivares was the first parish priest.

Livorno, Italy - September 2023 - Fr Stefano Aspettati, Superior of the Special Circumscription of Central Italy (ICC), presided over the Eucharistic celebration during which one Salesian of Don Bosco and five Daughters of Mary Help of Christians made their perpetual profession on 24th September in the Salesian Church of the Sacred Heart, in Livorno.

(ANS– Rome) – On 30 September 2023, the statue of Our Lady of Fatima will arrive at the Basilica of St John Bosco in Rome. It was sculpted following indications from the Servant of God Sister Lucia dos Santos, the shepherdess to whom the Virgin appeared in 1917. The image of the Mother of Christ, as seen by Sister Lucia, will remain at "Don Bosco" until 15 October.

Rome,  Italy – September 2023 - A Meeting of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) in Italy’s Central Circumscription took place from 9-10 September at the Don Bosco work. There were 560 attendees, making it the largest in the history of the ICC. For the young people who took part it was an opportunity to embrace and remember true friendships, but also to talk and discuss with Salesians and young people belonging to the SYM and to be witnesses in the lives of other young people. After these days, the young people now trust that this event will be able to pass on to future members of the SYM and to all those who will be part of it the same emotions that it has passed on to them.