Kathmandu, Nepal – June 2023 – 140 students from 14 districts of Nepal participated in a 50-day summer vocational training program at the Don Bosco Thecho centre. The programme started on 23 April and ended with the graduation ceremony at which the Chief District Officer (CDO) of Lalitpur presided. The students, who had just completed the Secondary Education Examination (SEE), were very happy to have completed the course and receive their Certificate of Skill Training from the CDO. The Don Bosco Institute has conducted this summer vocational training program for the past seven years. The Director of the Institute, Fr Philip Xavier, organised the training program very efficiently, together with the two directors of the Kathmandu centres and other Salesian personnel from the centre. The vocational training program consisted of five training courses: basic computer science, graphics and media, electrician, tailoring and beautician. They also had guidance and advice in career choice and sessions on personality development. The overall program consisted of several extracurricular activities such as talent shows, sports and picnics. The CDO thanked the institute for rendering these services in his district from 2001 onwards, and advised students to use these market-oriented training courses with interest and to make good use of the skills acquired. He also met the guests, the Salesians and the staff of the institute.

Krakow, Poland – June 2023 – 14 Formators from the Polish Provinces came together from 12 to 14 June for a formation program at the Inter-Provincial Theological Studentate in Krakow. It is a traditional event each year that selects important and current topics for formation courses. On the evening of the first day, 12 June, after adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Fr Marcin Kaznowski, Superior of the Salesian Province of Poland-Krakow (PLS), gave the traditional Salesian "goodnight". During the following days, in addition to the Eucharistic celebrations and moments of fellowship, the formators delved into various topics: “Forming an opinion on young confreres - criteria, tools and ways to evaluate the human and spiritual maturity of clerics. Working in a Formation team ”, presented by Fr Cyprian Klahs, OP; “Forming an opinion on young confreres” - workshop format, presented by Fr Jerzy Mikuła, SDB, director of novices for many years; “The formation of candidates in the context of abuse in the Church”, presented by Fr. Adam Żak SJ; Round Table –“The organisation of the postnovitiate in Krakow. Other challenges that await us in view of the lack of vocations”; “Pathology in spirituality and formation. Challenging certain attitudes of candidates for the priesthood and religious life. Analysis, attempt at evaluation”, presented by Fr Tomasz Knop, a spirituality theologian, psychotherapist, spiritual guide. The coordinator of the meeting was Fr Zygmunt Kostka, PLS Vice-Provincial.

Photo: Facebook PLS

Manique, Portugal – June 2023 - Every year, the Provincial Feast Day is an opportunity for thanksgiving for the life, vocation and mission of all the Salesians who make up the Portuguese Salesian St Anthony's Province (POR). This year the feast day was the occasion to celebrate Fr José Aníbal Mendonça, at the end of the six-year period of his mandate as Provincial The Salesian community in Manique hosted the Provincial Feast Day on 10 June . On behalf of all Salesians, the POR Vice-Provincial, Fr João Chaves, spoke to thank and remember the way in which Fr José Aníbal Mendonça guided the Province on the path of charismatic fidelity. “Like Don Bosco and in his name,” he said. With the cooperation of the Provincial Community, the most appreciated virtues, achievements, attitudes and feelings that marked his action during the mandate were presented. Fr Chaves also congratulated the Provincial for the way in which he led the Province especially during the pandemic, with the commitment to accompany and help the seeds of goodness of the Salesian charism that Fr Mendonça sowed grow and flourish. For his part, the Provincial said: “The priority task of the Provincial is to take care of the vocation of every Salesian”, recalling the recommendation of the Rector Major. In this way seeing the value of every Salesian was one of the elements that marked his mandate. In fraternal atmosphere during the afternoon, the participants celebrated the anniversaries of profession and ordination of some Salesians.

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