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Ashaiman, Ghana – January 2025 - The first meeting of Rectors in the Salesian Province of South West Africa (AOS) was held from 13 to 17 January. Coming from all the communities and presences of the five countries of the Province, the Rectors of the Salesian communities met with Fr Soro Kolotcholoma Denis, AOS Provincial, and with the Provincial Council at the Provincial House in Ashaiman. The discussions focused on community animation, Youth Ministry, Formation, Economy, the Salesian Family and Social Communication. Moments of group reflection followed the moments of communication from speakers, including the presence of the Salesian Brother Günter Mayer, former Provincial Economer of the former AFW Province. This first meeting of Rectors helps to consolidate the bonds of fraternity between the Salesians coming from different circumstances, but who are now called to journey together. The meeting ended with a moment of fraternal sharing also involving the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Ashaiman.
Athens, Greece – January 2025 - In fulfilment of the task entrusted to him by the Rector Major to follow up the beginning of the Salesian presence in Greece, Fr Alfred Maravilla, General Councillor for the Missions, was in Athens from 16 to 19 January. During these days, Fr Maravilla spent his time with the Salesians, who are studying modern Greek, to talk about possible future developments and clarify some issues. In addition, Fr Maravilla also paid a courtesy visit to the Archbishop of the Catholics in Athens, Archbishop Theodoros Kontidis SJ.
Turin, Italy – 18 January 2025 – The morning of Saturday 18 January for participants in the Salesian Family Spirituality Days 2025 opened with the celebration of the Eucharist presided over by Cardinal Cristóbal López, SDB, Archbishop of Rabat, in the Salesian Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. The Salesian cardinal, after recalling the start, that day, of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, recalled the readings of the day to deliver to everyone the appeal "Follow me" made by Jesus to Saint Matthew, pointing to it as an invitation that the Lord continues to make daily to all sinners who await a sign of hope and renewal. The cardinal then launched a new exhortation to the faithful, so that they might know how to cultivate the virtues of hope and trust, indicated by Saint Paul in his Letter to the Hebrews, founding them on the person of Jesus Christ, "our friend and savior, a doctor of souls (...) still of hope, who supports us and invites us on a pilgrimage with young people, for whom we must always be Signs and Beareres of the Love of God and also missionaries of the Kingdom".
Turin, Italy – 18 January 2025 – In the afternoon of the third of the Salesian Family Spirituality Days 2025, participants were invited to visit some of the countries dreamed about by Don Bosco on pilgrimage and to get in touch with their people, following in the footsteps of the missionaries who left on the various expeditions. Thanks to the testimonies of various speakers, in the various environments of Valdocco they learned about: Patagonia and the First Missionary Expedition (workshop by Fr Daniel Antúnez, SDB);
- Uruguay and the First Expedition of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (by two FMAs, Sister Cecilia Cayo and Sister Maria)
- Japan, the Country of the Rising Sun, and Myazaki (by Sister Veronica, of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus);
- the Mission in North-East India (by Fr Sanjay Aind, SDB);
- Ecuador, a testimony of Sister Maria Troncatti (by Sister Francesca Caggiano, FMA);
- The mission to some native peoples of Brazil (by Fr Reginaldo Cordeiro, SDB);
- Project Africa (Mr Paolo Vaschetto, SDB, and Fr Manuel Jímenez, SDB);
- The Laity on Mission (by Guido Pedroni, of the Community of the Mission of Don Bosco).
The workshops, organised by language groups, in addition to providing historical information and on the developments of missionary activities, highlighted the most necessary attitudes to be developed for a quality mission as pilgrims with young people.