The Salesian Co-operators of the Panjim-Konkan Province came together on February 3 at Don Bosco Benaulim for a day-long formation programme aimed at deepening their understanding of the Salesian mission and strengthening their apostolic commitment. Thirty members, including office bearers from the province’s eight Co-operators’ units, participated in the event, which Mr. Franklin Coutinho, a seasoned resource person from the Mumbai Province, facilitated.

The long-awaited theme of Strenna 2026 has been officially unveiled by the Rector Major, Fr Fabio Attard, who offers the Salesian Family a detailed and heartfelt overview of this year’s choice and the spiritual journey ahead. The new theme, “Do whatever He tells you” – Believers, free to serve, is deeply rooted in the Gospel and the heart of the Salesian charism, inviting every member to a renewed experience of faith, freedom, and generous service.

The second edition of the National Conference on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) 2025 concluded at the St. Joseph Training Centre in Lonavala, following three days of vibrant dialogue, collaboration, and innovation. Organized by Auxilium Skills Academy, the June 24–26 event brought together over 50 experts, educators, youth leaders, and grassroots activists from across the country to reimagine WASH as a Right, Responsibility, and Resilience Strategy.

The Salesian Provincial Conference of South Asia (SPCSA) Assembly commenced on July 8 at the Don Bosco Skill Mission (DBSM), Bangalore, bringing together 55 participants, including Provincials, delegates, sector heads, and invited observers for a two-day deliberation on the future direction of the Salesian mission in the region.

A three-month tailoring course under the banner TIGRESS has successfully equipped seven women with essential dressmaking skills while fostering a strong sense of solidarity and self-worth. The initiative, jointly organized by the Salesian Co-operators and Don Bosco Veedu, concluded with a certificate ceremony that celebrated both skill development and community empowerment.

Marking an important milestone in the lead-up to the 150th anniversaries of the first Salesian missionary expeditions of the Salesians of Don Bosco (2025) and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (2027), the South Asia Chapter of the Associazione Cultori Storia Salesiana (ACSSA) hosted a regional seminar from June 27 to 29 at the Salesian Provincial House in Bangalore.

In preparation for the International Seminar marking the 150th anniversary of the first Missionary Expeditions of the Salesians (2025) and of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (2027), the South Asia branch of the Associazione Cultori Storia Salesiana (ACSSA – Association of Promoters of Salesian History) will host a regional seminar from 27 to 29 June 2025, at the Salesian Provincial House, Bangalore.

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Mother Chiara Cazzuola, Superior General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), as a member of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

The first plenary meeting of the newly elected General Council during the 29th General Chapter (GC29) is taking place at the Salesian Headquarters in Rome. This session serves to fulfill the General Council's specific responsibilities and foster mutual understanding among members, laying the foundation and outlining the roadmap for the work of the next six-year term.

From his earliest days in the working-class neighbourhood of Flores in Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio— Pope Francis—found joy in the simplest things: a football, a few friends, and a dusty patch of ground. He was never the strongest or the fastest on the field, but with a ball at his feet, he felt free, alive, and connected.

The Church is quiet today. The bells toll slowly, the faithful pause in prayer, and the world feels a little emptier. The Shepherd has left the pen.

In the bustling world of media and communication within the Salesian family, Fr Harris Pakkam stands out as a dynamic force, orchestrating the smooth and effective flow of information like a well-oiled engine. Currently, the Director of AGENZIA INFO SALESIANA (ANS) in Rome, Fr Harris, played a pivotal role in the dissemination of news and video content during the Salesian General Chapter (GC29), a task he undertook with precision for two months. Armed with a degree in Social Communication from the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS), Rome, his journey includes key roles such as Director of DBICA, Chennai, and a tenure at the Dicastery for Communication in the Vatican. Known for his visionary leadership and creative drive, he has also been an efficient organizer of the Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival (DBGYFF), fostering global youth engagement through the lens of cinema.

Joining him in this engaging tête-à-tête is Dr Bastin Nellissery SDB, the Chief Editor of Don Bosco South Asia. A sharp and insightful communicator, Dr Bastin brings his wealth of experience and editorial acumen to the conversation, ensuring that Don Bosco's voice continues to resonate across the South Asian region.

The 29th General Chapter of the Salesian Congregation concluded with the Eucharistic celebration on April 12 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Rome. The Rector Major Fr. Fabio expressed profound gratitude for the experience lived during the General Chapter, describing it as a moment of Salesian Pentecost. He highlighted how the Holy Spirit guided every phase of the Chapter through the method of conversation in the Spirit, and he invited the entire Congregation to continue on this path of listening and discernment.

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With recollected minds and hearts, the members of the General Chapter (GC 29) entered through the Holy Door and, reverentially bowing towards the Altar of the Chair at St. Peter's Basilica, settled among the pews to take part in the concelebrated Eucharist presided over by Fr. Fabio Attard, the Rector Major on Friday, April 11.