Ljubljana Rakovnik, Slovenia - February 2025 - On 1st February, the Salesian Family in Slovenia came together in joy at the shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Ljubljana Rakovnik with four young people who have become Salesian Cooperators. Petra Čepon, Žiga Kosi, Borut Stramšek and Jure Zelič confirmed their decision to live their lives according to the Plan of Apostolic Life of the Association of Salesian Cooperators with a solemn promise before the Salesian Provincial Fr Peter Končan. The promise was accepted by the Provincial ASC Coordinator, Mr Timi Čižek, in the presence of Ms Blažka Merkac, Regional Councillor for Central and Eastern Europe.

Chennai, India - February 2025 - The Chennai Province (INM) ‘Young at Risk Day’ was celebrated with great enthusiasm at Don Bosco Beatitudes, Vyasarpadi, bringing together 296 participants from various organizations dedicated to the welfare of vulnerable children. Representatives from Don Bosco Anbu Illam (Chennai & Kavarapettai), Don Bosco Beatitudes (Vyasarpadi), ANBAGAM – Pope John’s Garden, ANAT Farm, WeLive Foundation (Chennai), St. Thomas Orphanage by SMA Kakkanjinagar, and Marialaya (Chennai & Pothur) joined hands to mark the occasion. This year’s event centered around the campaign theme “Family is Where I Belong,” emphasizing the importance of unity, support, and a sense of belonging within families and communities. The program was inaugurated by Fr. Joe Andrew, with Fr. John Christopher, INM Provincial Councilor for Social Ministry, and Fr. Arokiasamy, INM YaR Commission Head, addressing the gathering. They highlighted the significant contributions of the YaR Forum and encouraged the children to excel in the day’s competitions. The event’s competitions, all themed around the importance of family, saw Marialaya - Chennai securing the First Place, followed by Don Bosco Anbu Illam (Boys Home) – Chennai in Second Place, and Don Bosco Anbu Illam (Girls Home) – Chennai in Third Place. The Best Disciplined Group Trophy was awarded to ANBAGAM – Pope John’s Garden. The valedictory function was graced by Mr. Churchill (CWC Member – Chennai) and Mr. Daniel (Protection Officer, DCPU, Chennai), who honored the winners as well as the top academic achievers of the INM YaR Network (2023-2024) for 10th and 12th grades. The celebration concluded with a fellowship lunch, reinforcing the values of excellence, fraternity, and the deep need for family bonds among all participants.

Caracas, Venezuela - February 2025 - On 1 February, the opening of the 70th anniversary of the Don Bosco Oratory-Youth Centre was celebrated, a work of the Salesian San José presence belonging to the St Luke Province of Venezuela (VEN). The event, organised by the Salesians together with the animators of the Oratory and the laity of the various sports schools that make up the Oratory-Youth Centre, saw the participation of their children’s and youth sports teams, as well as the teams of the Don Bosco Popular Technical School and the School of Entrepreneurship, both belonging to the same Salesian presence, in addition to other sports schools in the area. At present, the Don Bosco Oratory-Youth Centre serves almost 1,200 boys, girls, adolescents and young people enrolled in the various sports (football, volleyball, swimming, karate, gymnastics, etc.) and formation (Salesian youth spirituality, formation courses, workshops, etc.) programmes. However, its impact goes far beyond this, as the population of its open-air courtyards doubles from Tuesday to Sunday, providing a space for recreation and healthy coexistence for the surrounding popular sectors and for those arriving from other parts of the city of Caracas. This anniversary takes on even greater significance as it coincides this year with two major events: the Holy Year (Jubilee 2025) and the 150th anniversary of the first Salesian missionary expedition, thus reinforcing the Salesian spirit of celebration and commitment.

Melbourne, Australia - January 2025 - On the feast day of St John Bosco, 31 January, the Salesian Family, together with friends, guests, family and parishioners, gathered at St Margaret Mary Parish in Brunswick to honour the solemnity of the founder of the Salesian Congregation. This year, the celebration was particularly special as Salesians Afia Enosa from Samoa and Cirilo Julio Boavida from Timor-Leste made their Perpetual Profession. The main celebrant for the occasion was Fr Peter Hoang, Superior of the Salesian Province of Australia-Pacific (AUL), who was joined by Salesian priests from various communities throughout Australia.

Bogotá, Colombia - January 2025 - The ceremony of the installation of Fr Rubén Darío Jaramillo Duque, SDB, as the new Superior of the Province of St Peter Claver of Bogotá (COB) was celebrated on 31 January as part of the Feast of Don Bosco. The event took place in the National Shrine of Our Lady of Carmen, and was celebrated in an atmosphere of joy, music and fraternity, reflecting the authentic Salesian charism. The Eucharist was celebrated by Fr Hugo Orozco Sánchez, SDB, Councillor for the Interamerica Region, and concelebrated also by Fr John Jairo Gómez Rúa, SDB, who concluded his term as Provincial from 2019 to 2024. In a solemn moment of the celebration, Fr Rubén Darío made his profession of faith and signed the act formalising his appointment, thus beginning his service as Provincial for the period 2025-2031. He then addressed his first words to the community, emphasising the importance of strengthening Salesian values in the Province and returning to the centre of Don Bosco's mission: the oratory, as a place of welcome, evangelisation and formation for young people. The Salesian Family and the faithful present gave a warm welcome to the new Provincial, who received compliments and hugs from his Salesian confreres and Fr Hugo Orozco.

(ANS - Rome) - The Feast of Don Bosco is always a day of celebration in all Salesian communities around the world. Great celebrations were also held on 31 January at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Rome, strongly desired by Don Bosco himself. The high point of the festivities took place in the afternoon with the solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, Cardinal Titular of the Basilica and Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Catholic Education.