America - November 2024 - A meeting of the presidents and some delegates of the Past Pupils of Don Bosco of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico took place online on 22 November. The meeting was convened by the Vice-President of the World Confederation of Past Pupils of Don Bosco and World Councillor for the Americas, Eduardo Pessoa Cavalcante. Mr Mario Reyes, President of the Association of Past Pupils of Guatemala, opened the meeting with a moment of prayer. Afterwards, the calendar with proposed activities for the year 2025 was presented, discussing Gex's presence in the federations, leaving each person to communicate two contacts to the secretariat before the regional meeting. Then a report on the last meeting of the World Presidency was presented and the experiences of those who were able to attend the last Extraordinary World Assembly, held in Turin, were shared. Furthermore, it was announced that the next regional meeting of past pupils will be attended by the world presidency and that the regional meeting planned for next year will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico. Again in line with synodality, the Regional Vice President concluded by thanking everyone for their work, presence and fraternity.

Jaboatão, Brazil - November 2024 - The third meeting of community rectors was held on 27 November, presided over by Fr Francisco Inácio, Superior of the Salesian Province of Recife (BRE). The meeting was also attended by members of the Provincial Council and Salesian school principals. The meeting opened with a Eucharistic celebration in the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians, early in the morning, in the presence of the novitiate community. The morning was reserved for formation, with a reflection on Don Bosco's dream at 9 years of age and the importance of the chronicle in the communities. In the afternoon, Youth Ministry information was shared, the administrative report and the Provincial's communications. Concerning youth ministry, Salesian Brother Manoel Messias and Fr Valdemir Augusto spoke about the next Salesian youth festival, support for vocations ministry, missionary experiences 2025, social action, the pastoral project in schools, the Salesian Family celebration, the youth jubilee, a subsidy for the formation of new collaborators, altar boys 2025. As an administrative report, the economer Fr Robson Barros dealt with the Shared Services Centre and its extensions, the province's cash flow and the parishes' contribution this year. Fr Francisco Inácio shared various items of information at the end of the meeting, including Obedience 2025, initial formation and GC29.

Samoa - A Day of Grace and Reflection: Don Bosco Technical Center Final-Year Students Visi to the Chapel of the Sacred Oil in Leauvaa Village
Leauvaa, Samoa, 28 November 2024 -- The final-year students of Don Bosco Technical Center in Samoa marked a significant milestone on their journey of formation with a special visit to the Chapel of the Sacred Oil in Leauvaa Village. This event, organized as part of their graduation preparation, served as both a spiritual retreat and a time of meaningful reflection. Accompanied by Fr Paselio Tevaga, Br Falefa Elia, and a dedicated team of teachers, the students engaged in a day filled with prayer, sharing, and Eucharistic celebration. This retreat emphasized the Salesian charism of integrating faith and daily life, as the young men prepared for their transition from school to the workforce or further studies. The day began with a spiritual sharing session, during which students were encouraged to reflect on their vocational journey, their relationship with God, and their roles within their families and communities. These moments of introspection were aimed at fostering a sense of gratitude and commitment to the values instilled during their time at Don Bosco Technical Center.

Lima, Peru - November 2024 - From 26 to 28 November, the Salesian Tabor Retreat House hosted a Meeting of Salesians of Don Bosco from the Salesian Province of Peru (PER), which brought together 61 Salesians from different communities in the country. This space for meeting, reflection and fraternity was led by Fr Juan Pablo Alcas, PER Provincial with Bishop  Martín Quijano, Bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Pucallpa, in charge. “This event, which brings together Salesians from all over Peru, is a unique opportunity to strengthen our bonds and renew our commitment to the mission that we have inherited from Don Bosco,” said the Provincial. In the afternoon, during the reception, there was an atmosphere marked by the warm reunion of Salesians with their confreres. Hugs, gestures of closeness, expressions of affection and, above all, a spirit of brotherhood. Each community created its own space to express, through photographs, memories and other elements, a fragment of their community life and pastoral work together with the young people and the Salesian Family. In the evening, Fr Juan Pablo Alcas opened the meeting with the presentation of the PER Province report. Afterwards, the participants spent some time analysing and reflecting on the report presented. In his reflection, the Provincial reminded the confreres of the GC28 guidelines.

Baku, Azerbaijan – November 2024 – A 14-year-old Climate Champion, Swanik Choudhury, of class IX and his mother Climate Chaperon Mrs. Swati Choudhury, a class V teacher, both of “Don Bosco School Park Circus Kolkata”, attended COP29 meeting held in Baku, Azerbaijan. “Swanik has taken proactive steps toward environmental conservation, including setting up compost pits, implementing rainwater harvesting, maintaining a kitchen garden, and planting saplings,” said his Principal, Father V.C. George. Swanik was invited to speak on a discussion panel regarding the contribution of different sectors to the growing environmental problems, and shared his role in Don Bosco's climate committee, the "Green Movement." "I spoke about our school's extensive measures to combat climate change, from planting trees and donating clothes to literacy programs and spreading the motto of ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’” he explained. "Meeting campaigners and activists from around the world reinforced my belief in the power of unity" he finallyu added. During the event Swanik was also declared a Climate Ambassador by the United Nations Agency for Development and Peace (UNADAP).

(ANS - Antananarivo) - In the digital age, the Salesians of Don Bosco are forming themselves to accompany young people wherever they are. That is why, during an enriching session held in Antananarivo, young priests and brothers from the Mary Immaculate Vice-Province of Madagascar and Mauritius (MDG) learned how to transform their smartphones into tools of evangelisation, reconciling modernity and pastoral mission.