(Rome, January 15, 2021) – The Salesian Family Spirituality Days 2021 start today, Friday 15 January. In a new, digital way, they will shed light on the message of the Strenna for 2021: "Moved by hope: 'See, I am making all things new' (Rev 21,5)". From today until next Sunday, 8,000 people, from the 32 groups of the Salesian Family can take part in the appointment, made with a skilful mix of common parts for everyone, between 13:00 - 15:30 (UTC +1), and specific programs developed by the appropriate regional/linguistic coordinating bodies. This is a major organisational and communication effort, with offices all over the world (Rome, Lisbon, Madrid, Brasilia, Chennai, Quito, plus Vietnam and East Timor) and simultaneous translation into over a dozen languages.

The start of the common activities is expected with the opening session, prayer and the presentation of the Strenna 2021 by Fr Á.F. Artime; the regional work has already started: at 9.30 am, Italian time, the live broadcast, and the work of groups in East Asia-Oceania.

With his introductory speech, the Rector Major illustrates in detail the invitation that he himself has formulated to the entire Salesian Family for this 2021, "before a global reality that challenges us and that we cannot ignore". 

Msgr. Derio Olivero, Bishop of Pinerolo, was invited offer a reading, under the banner of hope, of the time that all humanity is experiencing. 

On the sidelines of the common events, the various activities coordinated by the language and regional centers are scheduled, including the unmissable appointment with the virtual tour of the "Casa Don Bosco Museum".

On Saturday 16 the common session will continue and, on the same channels indicated above, there will be a live broadcast starting at 1 pm of: “The voice of the Groups of the Salesian Family in the world”. “We will focus above all on sharing the "testimonies of hope" lived in the Salesian Family: we will listen to how members of different groups and countries have brought hope in times of pandemic, they will talk to us, through videos, these willing young people from all over the world, and we will commemorate credible witnesses of hope in difficult times” the Central Delegate of the Rector Major for the Salesian Family, Fr Joan Lluís Playà.

Parallel to the common work sessions, those divided by language will be held and managed by the various coordination centers. The Italian language group starts on Friday 15 January at 5.30 pm; the French and English language sessions at 4 pm, the Spanish language at 6 pm and, finally, the Portuguese language session begins at 9 am the following Saturday.

The Sunday program, on the other hand, will be uniform for all, with the closing Mass presided over by the Rector Major at 12.30.

Since the first edition of the Week of Spirituality of the Salesian Family it is the first time in history that so many people can participate in the appointment. This is already a first testimony of that hope that the Salesian Family is preparing to deepen and celebrate. In an era of crisis and pandemic, the members of the Don Bosco Family are able to get closer as never before, transforming a problem into an opportunity: thanks to modern technologies, but above all in communion of prayer and rooted in a common charism.

Thanks to the joint work of ANS and IME Comunicazione, the joint works are all visible, with commentary, on the ANS Facebook page and on ANSChannel.