(ANS – Cassano delle Murge) – Last weekend (February 21-22, 2026), representatives of the 13 Groups of the Salesian Family Southern Italy gathered for their annual joint formation meeting. The central theme of the meeting was “Educating for the Common Good,” proposed by the organising committee led by Provincial Delegate Fr Tobia Carotenuto, SDB. This choice arose from the awareness that today the Salesian Family is called to an active and competent presence in social contexts where the fundamental rights and essential needs of people are most fragile and threatened. On the first day, the theme was explored in depth from the perspective of integral human development, thanks to the intervention and dialogue with economist Sister Alessandra Smerilli, FMA. The second day was dedicated to sharing multidisciplinary best practices already active in various sectors of lay and religious life, a concrete sign of an educational commitment that translates into responsibility and service. It was an experience of communion and formation, with the participation of the FMA Visitor, Sister Lidia Strzelczyk, and the Councillor for the Mediterranean Region, Fr Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy, SDB, who renews the Salesian Family’s vocation to be a generative presence in the territories of Southern Italy.
