Messina, Italy - March 2024 - Taking its cue from the recent handbook by Fr Giovanni Russo entitled “Bioethics in Dialogue: Foundations and Texts”, an event was organised with the State University of Messina, involving the S. Tommaso Theological Institute, attached to the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome, the Accademia Peloritana dei Pericolanti, the University Centre for Bioethics Studies of the State University, and the Sicilian section of the Italian Institute of Bioethics. The book by Fr Russo, director of the S. Tommaso Theological Institute (ITST) and the Higher School of Specialisation in Bioethics and Sexology, combined with the UPS, has seen two editions in just a few months and has been published by the ITST publisher. The event, which took place on 15 March 2024 in the premises of the prestigious Accademia Peloritana dei Pericolanti, the oldest academy of sciences in Sicily (1729), was attended by five leading professors from the State University, in addition to the academic heads of the institutions involved:  Emeritus Prof. Antonio Metro, of Institutions of Roman Law, Prof. Marianna Gensabella Furnari, former Professor of Bioethics and member of the National Bioethics Committee, Emeritus Prof. Francesco Trimarchi, of Endocrinology and Director of the Class of Medico-Biological Sciences of the Accademia Peloritana dei Pericolanti, Prof. Maria Laura Giacobello, Associate Professor of Bioethics and the University's Deputy Vice-Rector, Prof. Giuseppe Giordano. Finally, Fr Russo spoke, dwelling on the idea of a dialogical and open Bioethics which gives voice to the various positions, a voice that listens without raise fences, meeting in a synodal way without customs or duties to be paid, but ready to care and help like the Good Samaritan.

Mestre, Italy – March 2024 - Young people who are preparing to leave for summer missions with the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) in the Triveneto gathered for the second time in Mestre on 16 March. About 50 of them, aged between 18 and 30 from Salesian houses, gathered to prepare to face the adventure that awaits them together. Next summer the Triveneto SYM will send groups of young people to various parts of the world to bring their contribution and solidarity: two groups in Brazil, two in Madagascar, two in Moldova and one in Peru. These missions are not only an opportunity to live a meaningful experience, but also to put into practice the Salesian values of solidarity and sharing. In addition, for high school students, a work camp is planned in Italy in collaboration with the volunteers of Operation Mato Grosso, an opportunity to contribute to the well-being of local communities and grow in social commitment. The meeting took place in different phases, each designed to best prepare young people for the challenges that await them. Led by Fr Fabio Maistro and Sister Silvia Berto, together with the team, they accompanied the young people on this inner and outer journey. In the coming months, before the summer, young people will participate in further formation sessions.

(ANS – Rome) – There was a recent meeting of the Salesian Cooperators Association World Council held in Rome from 14 to 17 March 2024. The meeting was attended by World Councillors for the 12 Regions into which the Association is divided. In particular, in addition to the World Coordinator, Antonio Boccia, there were also members of the World Executive Secretariat and Fr Joan Lluis Playà, Central Delegate of the Rector Major for the Salesian Family Secretariat.

Venice-Mestre, Italy – March 2024 - The school yearbook was presented on Saturday, 16 March on the occasion of the delivery of the report cards to parents and students of the Salesian Institute San Marco in Venice Mestre. This is a publication that gathers all the faces of students and teachers, in an unprecedented version that used technology and creativity to create a unique product. Thanks to AI, it was possible to customise the profile of each student by creating an avatar, or a digital figure for the students of the Institute. Each student was asked to provide a brief description of themselves that focused on both aesthetic and character aspects, data that was then used by an algorithm that governs the Leonardo.AI application, to generate the image described by each boy. The potential of this tool was further exploited through another form of artificial intelligence, OpenAI's ChatGPT, to give not only a visual consistency to this avatar, but rather a real story whose main charcter was the version designed and described by the students at the San Marco Institute.

Mornese, Italy – March 2024 – On 14 March, 2024, SDb and FMA novices in Europe met at Mornese, in the place where it all began for the FMA, for a moment of formation and sharing. Gathered in Hall adjacent to Mother Mazzarello's bedroom, the young men and women together with their formators took part in a conference entitled "Traits of a beloved face from letters" given by Sister Piera Cavaglià, director of the Institute at Nizza Monferrato, sharing her deep knowledge and passion for the message and spirituality of Saint Mary Domenica Mazzarello. Mother Mazzarello's maternal heart emerges from her precious letters (68): dreams, desires, worries, hopes and joys for her daughters and the girls entrusted to them. Through her guidance, novices had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the words and thoughts of the co-founder of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. At the end of the conference, the participants experienced a prayer of entrustment in Mother Mazzarello's bedroom, followed by the exchange of experiences and reflections in an atmosphere of communion. The day ended with the Eucharistic celebration in the chapel.

(ANS – Rome) – During Lent, registration begins for the 2024 edition of the  "Laudato Si 'Animators" formation to inspire and mobilise communities on a common path of ecological conversion. The Salesian Youth Ministry Sector, through its Office for Integral Ecology, is among the promoters of this formation course, which also includes some special innovations in Italy.