Pinar Quemado Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic – January 2025 - 138 Salesian Cooperators gathered in Pinar Quemado, Jarabacoa, to renew hope, anchored in the faith and to continue working for the realisation of the dream that Don Bosco entrusted to them, to work for the smallest and most vulnerable. From 10 to 12 January, Fr José Pastor Ramírez, Superior of the Salesian Province of the Antilles (ANT), led the event and reflections on the theme of Strenna 2025 by the Vicar of the Rector Major "Anchored in hope, pilgrims with young people". The participants in the meeting made a gesture of solidarity of the pilgrims to bring hope to the "Margarita Herrera Geriatric Centre", which serves 52 elderly people. Songs and dynamics focused on the joy of Christmas were shared, and a donation of hygiene and cleaning products was delivered. In the Eucharistic celebration in the María Auxiliadora Parish of Jarabacoa, presided over by Fr José Cuello, the Salesian Cooperators renewed their promise. 

Corumbá, Brazil – January 2025 - Last Saturday, 11 January, the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Corumbá, Archbishop Francesco Biasin, presided over the ceremony that proclaimed the Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians as a Jubilee Church for the entire year 2025. With this recognition, the Shrine will have the opportunity to celebrate special rites through which the faithful and pilgrims can obtain indulgences. Several religious authorities participated in the celebration, including the rector of the Shrine, Fr João dos Santos Barbosa Neto, the rector of the Salesian Community, Fr Osvaldo dos Santos, the rector of the Scalabrinian religious community, Fr Anselmo Cristofori, and the vicar of the Curia, Fr Júlio César Mônaco. Numerous faithful joined the event, expressing their spiritual fervor. 2025 is a special year for the Catholic Church, which celebrates the universal Jubilee. During the celebration, the rector of the Shrine, Fr João Neto, stressed the importance of this occasion for the local community. "This is a unique evening that our Church offers us and that God has blessed us to make happen," he said.

Rome, Italy – January 2025 - The first days of this new year at the National Centre in Rome saw a meeting of Provincials, Youth Ministry Delegates, the representatives of the national offices and members of the Council of the Educative and Pastoral Community (EPC) of the National Centre for some coordination appointments in Salesian Italy. With the presence of the Councillor for the Mediterranean Region, Fr Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy, on 9 and 10 January there was the coordination of Youth Ministry, during which the theme of the Youth Jubilee was addressed,  the project of the National Centre and, on 10, a day of workshop study with Fr Fabio Attard: "The dimension of faith in the relationship with youth and contemporary culture". On 11 January there was the Youth Ministry assembly. In the morning the Rector Magnificus of the UPS, Fr Andrea Bozzolo, led the formation on the theme: "A Salesian reading of the Synod and what the Synod says to the Congregation". Subsequently, space was given to  communications of offices, especially for the organisation of the reception for the Jubilee. On Sunday 12 and Monday 13, however, there was the meeting of the Presidency Conference of the Salesian Provinces of Italy (CISI) with the Provincials. Among the topics addressed, a discussion with Fr Roberto Del Riccio SJ on the reshaping of Salesian Italy.