Seattle, United States - April 8, 2016 - The "Don Bosco Technical Institute's Symphonic Band", Rosemead, participated in Seattle at the annual competition for bands, orchestras and choirs in high school, called "WorldStrides Heritage Performance Music Festival." Among the 13 schools participating the Bosco Tech Band took first place and the "gold" rating by the jury of the festival, the best score in the category of instrumental music. The Ovation award was given to one of its members, Elias Hosseini, for his determination and service. 

(ANS - Dilbeek) - In his homily at Mass on Sunday, April 17, in the parish of Dilbeek, near Brussels, the Rector Major called his visit to Belgium and Holland a friendship visit.  During the Mass at Dilbeek the Rector Major also mentioned the continuous action of the Lord and the charism of Don Bosco, and the vocation of all the baptized to be Christian in faith and heart, to create open and welcoming communities, bearers of life.

(ANS – Tokyo) - On the evening of 14 April, an earthquake of intensity 7 struck Kumamoto Prefecture followed by more than 500 quakes continuing in different parts of the same Kyushu Island, located in south-west Japan, mainly in Kumamoto, Oita and Fukuoka Prefectures. As of 18 April, 41 have died, more than 2000 have been taken to hospitals, and more than 200,000 are evacuated from their homes, taking shelter elsewhere.