(ANS – Madrid) – It's time to go back to school again: after the long summer holidays, about 91,700 students return to the classrooms of the 137 schools run by the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) in Spain. More than 6,500 teachers have already been at work for days for them, called to guide them through their new school year.

Madrid, Spain - September 2023 - Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, visited Misiones Salesianas Salesian Missions Office in Madrid on 9 September. Addressing the entire team, the Rector Major said: "What you are doing here every day is taking extraordinary care of the Salesian mission in the name of Don Bosco. The drop by drop that you put in every day has a precious value. Thank you with all my heart because the good that you do, that we do, is immense."

Guadalajara, Spain – August 2023 – Mohernando, in Guadalajara, is hosting a course for Leaders with skills in leisure animation of Salesians from St James the Greater Province (SSM). Allariz, in Ourense, is hosting the course for Rectors. A total of 116 young people are therefore dedicating part of their summer to preparing for the education of other young people and the management of youth centres. In the course for Leaders, participants receive lessons on subjects related to childhood, developmental psychology, the maturity of the person in all its dimensions, relationships and social skills, legislation, and the civil and criminal responsibility of Leaders. All this from a Christian and biblical perspective, with references to Salesian Youth Ministry, the journey of education to the faith, the preventive system and accompaniment. The Formation of Rectors, on the other hand, focuses on: management, strategy, organisation, leadership, management skills and planning. Without forgetting accompaniment and reflection on groups, voluntary work and free time as an educational space and as a safe environment for children and teenagers.

Logroño, Spain – July 2023 – 27 young people, aged between 19 and 21, from different houses in the Salesian St James the Greater Province in Spain (SSM), began their training as leisure leaders on Monday, 24 July. 15 days of formation, with a rich and packed program. Coming from Alcalá de Henares, Vitoria, La Coruña and Deusto  in Madrid, these young people have chosen to dedicate part of their summer to training, and at the end of the course they will obtain a certificate issued by the "Leisure School" at Logroño, managed by the Bosko Taldea Federation. From 9:30 am to 11:30 pm, their day is full of lessons and dynamics related to the service in youth centres. In the end, they will have to present a report and carry out their practices in their own youth centres. It is the first group to carry out the training of leaders in this course. At the end of August, 90 young people will have the same experience in Mohernando. "It is, without a doubt, an educational and pastoral experience that will mark their lives and benefit their Youth Centres of origin and the boys and girls who grow in life and faith in them" says Fr Xabier Camino, Youth Ministry Delegate for the SSM Province.

ANS – Madrid) – A solidarity dinner was held at the Hilton Madrid Airport on Tuesday, 11 July on the occasion of the delivery of certificates to young participants in the "First Professional Experience" program of the Pinardi Federation of Salesian Social Platforms. The event was attended by representatives from the Ministries of Family, Youth and Social Policies of the Community of Madrid, the Madrid City Council, the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Pinardi's partner companies, the young participants with their families, and professionals from the organising bodies.

(ANS – Miraflores de la Sierra) – “I can and, indeed, I must continue to grow, doing good to others.” These are the words of one of the Salesians involved, that summarised in a single sentence the meaning of the formative experience that both the Salesian Provinces of Spain – St James the Greater (SSM), based in Madrid, and Mary Help of Christians (SMX), based in Seville – have just begun and which is called: “Ongoing Formation for Middle Age”. From Sunday 2 to Saturday 8 July, 22 Salesians from both Provinces participated in a formation course, personally invited for this purpose by their Provincials.