(ANS - Rome) - On Thursday 29 May 2025, the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Fabio Attard, considering the Rescript of the Holy Father and following the resolutions of General Chapter 29 (GC29), appointed Salesian Brother Fernando Saade as Rector of the Salesian community in Concepción del Uruguay, belonging to the Saint Artemides Zatti Province of Argentina North (ARN), in response to the request made by the Superior of the ARN Province, Fr Horacio Barbieri, with the consent of his Council.
Anisakan, Myanmar – May 2025 - From May 7th to 9th, 2025, 34 perpetually professed Salesians gathered at the Don Bosco Retreat Centre in Anisakan for the GC-29 transmissions, led by Fr. Bosco Nyi Nyi and Fr. Leo Mang. The three-day program focused on the theme “Passionate About Jesus Christ, Dedicated to Young People,” emphasizing both personal growth and collaborative ministry. Each day’s schedule struck a balance between prayer, reflection, group work, and lively community activities, nurturing a strong family spirit. Participants were divided into three groups, engaging in thoughtful discussions, sharing insights, and presenting their reflections each evening. The Provincial encouraged open dialogue and candid feedback about the Province, further strengthening trust and unity. Creative presentations and friendly games added joy and energy to the gathering, with each group receiving special recognition. The event concluded with a heartfelt call to love and support one another, especially younger confreres in formation. Participants departed feeling valued, inspired, and recommitted to building vibrant Salesian communities devoted to the service of young people.
(ANS - Alghero) - Universality, diversity of languages, many and varied contexts and presences, resources and challenges to be accepted and on which we must base a future-oriented journey: this is a first image that can be offered of the recent experience of General Chapter 29 (GC29). This is how Fr Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major, put it in the words of the first Salesian Goodnight offered to the Assembly of Rectors of the Central Italy Circumscription (ICC), convened for 6-7 May in Alghero: an assembly that completed and enriched the days dedicated to the annual Retreat.
THE MESSAGE OF THE MAJOR RECTOR, Fr Fabio Attard, SDB
A confrere said to me, "Father, we just need your closeness, your listening, and your prayer. This consoles us, encourages us, and gives us strength and hope so that we may continue to serve the young, who are poor and wounded, afraid and terrorized!"
(ANS – Rome) – In recent years, the Salesian Congregation has gradually embraced a broader and more contemporary understanding of the concept of "mission." This theological and pastoral evolution has led to a re-reading of the traditional notion of mission in light of new socio-cultural, ecclesial, and digital challenges.
(ANS – Rome) – Perhaps one of the lesser known features of GC29 for those of us outside the daily workings of this body has been the constant and very active presence of Fr Pascual Chávez, Rector Major Emeritus. Along with the now 232 Chapter members (following the addition of various newly-elected members who were not previously part of the Chapter), Fr Pascual has conducted himself as every other member, being a regular part of the daily Assemblies and also active in the regular commission meetings. But he has also played a special role in summing up each week’s activities in a feature which he has called, in Italian, ‘fare il punto’, which has been translated in English as ‘taking stock’.