(ANS - Damascus) - "The current situation in Syria is one of great uncertainty, although everything is moving too fast," says Fr Pedro García, a Salesian missionary from Spain, the Director of the Salesian house in Damascus. "For now we can only wait and continue to work alongside the people. From the beginning, we Salesians have kept our doors open, even in the most difficult moments of the war. We have always been a point of reference for the population and we will continue to be so at this time,” he added.

(ANS - Rome) – The General Council of the Salesian Congregation’s work of appointing new Superiors continues. On Wednesday, 11 December, it was announced that Fr Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major, with the favourable opinion of the other members of the General Council, appointed Fr Vitális Gábor as the new Superior of the St Stephen the King Province of Hungary (UNG), with its provincial headquarters in Óbuda Budapest.

Phuoc Loc Don Bosco, Vietnam – December 2024 – On December 9, 2024, the Phuoc Loc Don Bosco Community celebrated the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, its patron saint. The thanksgiving Mass, held at 5:30 p.m., was presided over by the Provincial Fr. Barnaba Le An Phong, alongside other priests from the Province and the Community. In his homily, Fr. Barnaba highlighted the significance of the Virgin Mary's "Immaculate Conception" as a divine grace and noted that God grants grace uniquely to each individual. This feast holds particular importance for the Don Bosco Congregation, marking the day Saint Don Bosco founded his oratory. The well organized solemn mass concluded with the expressions of gratitude from Fr Giuse Nguyen Xuan Quang, the Rector, which was followed by a fraternal agape.