Quito, Ecuador - November 2023 - On 11 November 2023, the date on which the Salesian Congregation commemorated the 148th anniversary of the First Salesian Missionary Expedition, the Province of Ecuador (ECU) celebrated the Eucharist sending 10 young people out as international missionary volunteers to Mexico, Peru and Bolivia. This is the second group of young Ecuadorians to be sent on a volunteer mission abroad. The ceremony was presided over by Fr Marcelo Farfán, ECU Provincial, who in his homily emphasised that the sending of a new group of young people by the province is the fruit of many years of work, a long process of accompaniment and joint work by the Salesian Family in Ecuador. "The fundamental thing about volunteering is that we want to bring Christ. Volunteering is not defined by the activities that are carried out. It is defined by the desire to proclaim the Kingdom where you are going, where you want to bring Christ and make this proclamation of Jesus in the ordinary tasks that the communities will ask of you" Fr Farfán said. Before being sent, the young people went through a process of accompaniment and formation led by the Salesian Family's Youth Missionary Volunteer Team (VJMFS), made up of Fr Diego Rodríguez, a Salesian, Sr Gynna Lituma, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, Sr Carmen Alicia Sánchez of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and Miguel Mera. Over the next few days the 10 volunteers will travel to the different communities assigned, carrying their missionary cross on their chests and in their hearts their commitment to make the motto "Announcing Christ to the world" come alive.