Cartagena, Colombia – January 2024 - In the ordinary session of the District Council of Cartagena, held on 31 January, the Salesian Vocational Schools and the Salesian community in Cartegena were granted well-deserved recognition for their commitment to social promotion of the most vulnerable in the city community. This recognition highlights the constant commitment of the Salesian Vocational Schools and the Salesian community to the education and integral formation of young people in vulnerable situations, offering them opportunities for personal, academic and professional development. For years, Salesian Vocational Schools have been a beacon of hope for many young people in Cartagena, providing them not only with quality education, but also with human and moral values that allow them to become upright citizens committed to their community. This recognition by the Cartagena District Council is a well-deserved tribute to the dedication and sacrifice of all those who, day after day, work tirelessly to build a better future for young people and, therefore, for the entire community. The Salesian Vocational Schools and the Salesian community in Cartagena deeply appreciate this gesture of recognition and renew their commitment to continue working with passion and dedication for the well-being and integral formation of the most needy young people in society.

Antioquia, Colombia – January 2024 – Mass was celebrated for the first professions of nine Salesian novices belonging to the Provinces of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela on the afternoon of 13 January in the chapel of the Santo Domingo Savio Salesian House in La Ceja (Antioquia). The main celebrant was Fr Luis Fernando Valencia, Superior of the Salesian Province of Medellín, who stressed the importance of the Dream at nine years of age in his homily. Accompanying the young Salesians, in addition to a large group of family and friends, were Fr Marcelo Farfán, Superior of the Province of Ecuador; Fr Rafael Montenegro, Superior of the Province of Venezuela; Fr Jhon Jairo Gómez Rúa, Superior of the Province of Colombia-Bogotá and Fr Juan Pablo Alcas Michilot, Superior of the Province of Peru.

(ANS – Bogotá) – On Sunday 26 November, the “Salesiana” University Foundation of Bogotá had the joy and honour of receiving a visit from Bro. Jean Paul Muller, SDB, Economer General of the Salesian Congregation. He was accompanied by Bro. Alberto Rodríguez Mármol, also a Salesian brother, and by layman Fabio Buconi, both members of the team responsible for the administration and supervision of the assets of the Congregation around the world. The purpose of their presence was to learn about the progress, advances and challenges inherent in the birth of a new Institution of Higher Education in the Congregation.

Popayán, Colombia - November 2023 - The Salesians of Don Bosco, responsible for the presences in Popayán, Cali and Armenia, centred on Technical Training and insertion in the world of work, met on 17 November with their respective work teams for the opening of Don Bosco Tech, held at the Casa Museo Negret in the capital of the department of Cauca. Entrepreneurs from the region came together at such an important event to learn about the educational proposal and establish alliances that promote development and connect many people around an active working life process. Fr Gustavo Maury, together with Salesian Brother José Luis Jiménez, were responsible for this activity, which led to a change in the image of the Training Centres, as they were usually known, to Don Bosco Tech, seeking the consolidation of a formation proposal and various branches working together at a national level throughout western Colombia. The young people of the Don Bosco Educational Institution were presented with the research and technology projects in this launch of Don Bosco Tech, as an example of the approach and opportunities that the Salesians generate in their educational processes. Likewise present were technical educators from ETDH Don Bosco, now Don Bosco Tech, who guided visitors through the programme's offerings and the job opportunities generated with each of them.

Bogotá, Colombia - November 2023 - From 19 to 25 November, teams from the  "Pueblo de Dios" programme run by the Spanish Television TVE and Misiones Salesianas, the Salesian Mission Office in Spain, recorded a television programme to speak about the activities and the impact on the whole territory of the Don Bosco Social Centr" (Barranquilla) and the Don Bosco Training Centre (Cali). At the same time they also visited some Salesian works in the San Pedro Claver Province of Colombia-Bogotá (COB). The programme will be aired on the Spanish international TV channel in 2024 and the respective broadcast dates will be announced. "We thank TVE for this pleasant gesture of recognition of the Salesian Mission carried out in Colombia in favour of the poorest and most vulnerable young people," said the Salesians.

(ANS – Bogotá) – On Saturday, 25 November, the final acts of the meeting of the Provincial Economies of the Inter-American and South American Cone Regions took place. The meeting has been held in Colombia since 21 November. On the final day, after leaving the house at Fusagasuga, the participants visited the Shrine of the Divine Child of Bogotá where the final Eucharist was held, celebrated by Fr John Jairo Gómez Rua, Superior of the Province of Colombia-Bogotá (COB), in the presence of a thousand faithful.