Goma, DR Congo – May 2024 – On 20 May 20 the Planning and Development Office of the AFC-EST Delegation, led by Fr Carlos Balezi Kabumba, concluded a series of formation sessions aimed at raising awareness among the children at the Salesian house in Gahinja and the girls from the "Maison Marguerite" on the rights of women and minors. According to Pascal Bauma, project manager, this initiative has been useful to assess the situation of many children living on the street, especially in the city of Goma. Many young people, due to difficult family situations, are forced to take to the streets. This problem is also aggravated by the influx of people displaced by the war in and around Goma. Faced with this situation, the Salesians of the AFC-EST Delegation have been dedicated for more than a year to the care of some displaced children in the various Salesian houses. At the end of these courses, particularly appreciated by children, those present received certificates of participation, while the Office of Planning and Development wanted to thank the Mission Office in Bonn for its financial support and for its commitment to the protection of the rights of women and children in this conflict-torn region.

Guayaquil, Ecuador – May 2024 - On 18 May, 50 Salesian Cooperators (ASC) from the María Auxiliadora, Mariuxi, Domingo Savio, Casa Don Bosco and Margarita Bosco centres met for a Day of Recollection on the theme "The dream at 9 years of age, how does a Salesian layperson live it among young people?" Fr Raúl Conza, Delegate for the Margarita Bosco Centre, shared the theme, inviting participants to reflect on how to reach young people and be able to change their lives in the Salesian style. Subsequently, the Bishop Emeritus of Machala, Bishop Luis Sánchez Armijos, SDB, presided over the Eucharist, also concelebrated by Fr Conza and Fr Ivan Segarra, Provincial Delegate for the ASC, and all the members renewed their promises.

Buenos Aires, Argentina – May 2024 – Under the motto "The oratory, a living dream!", the Pilgrimage and the Oratory Day in the Buenos Aires area were celebrated on Saturday, 18 May. Over a thousand young people gathered in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Almagro to pay homage to the Virgin. After the celebrations, the participants shared a day of oratory activities in the San Francesco de Sales, Pio IX and Mary Help of Christians houses in Almagro.

Verona, Italy - 21 May 2024 - Pope Francis' visit to Verona on 18 May 2024 was relaunched on social media thanks to the contribution of students from the Salesian University Institute of Venice (IUSVE) and reporters from Cube Radio, who delivered a special version of the event's logo to artists Amadeus and Ligabue, among the protagonists of the "Arena of Peace" segment of the event, broadcast by RAI. For several months Claudia Rossato, Davide Lonardi, Eleonora Lucrezia Iacoponi, Flor Maria Montan and Matilde Dal Forno supported the digital communication of the five working groups that came together in the "Arena of peace" event. Their work was joined by Matteo Contarin, videomaker, Marica Padoan, photographer, Emma Magnabosco, graphic designer, Elisa Filippini and Giulia Compagnin, specialising in social media management. They are all part of the "Cube Radio Social Team", a group coordinated by Aurora Simionato, social media manager of the academic broadcaster, and Luca Salaorni, head of student activities at IUSVE in Verona, able to ensure real-time multichannel communication with the support of Artificial Intelligence. "For years, the professionals we train have included future social media managers of companies and enterprises" Marco Sanavio, Director of institutional communication of IUSVE and Salesians of Mestre explained. "For our students, the Pope's visit on 18 May was an opportunity to try their hand in the field and apply the skills learned and put them at the service of a project that has closely connected them with the territory and society in Scala."

Messina, Italy – May 2024 - 11 young Salesians were ordained deacon by Bishop Cesare Di Pietro, Auxiliary Bishop of Messina on Saturday, 18 May in the splendid setting of the Assumption Cathedral in Messina. The 11 Salesians ordained are Danilo Finocchiaro, Giuseppe Priolo and Alessio Tavilla, from the Province of Sicily (ISI); Nicodemus Besigrinee, from the Province of Southern West Africa (AOS); Olivier Makoroka and Privat Nizeyimana, from the Africa Great Lakes Vice-Province (AGL); James Edward Massawe, from the Province of Tanzania (TZA); Poliansky Lynel Mbatchi, from the Equatorial Tropical Africa Vice-Province (ATE); Alexander Alfred Noah and Clement Thanda, from the Zambia-Malawi-Zimbabwe-Namibia Vice-Province (ZMB) and Fabrice Michel Razafimandimby, from the Madagascar Vice-Province (MDG).

Johannesburg, South Africa – May 2024 - The 13th Provincial Chapter of the Blessed Michael Rua Vice-Province of Southern Africa (eSwatini, Lesotho and South Africa) concluded with a Eucharist of thanksgiving, celebrated on 21 May, , at the Bosco Youth Centre in Walkerville, Johannesburg. A total of 18 Chapter members, together with two young Salesians, gathered for four days to discuss the theme: "PASSIONATE ABOUT JESUS CHRIST, DEDICATED TO THE YOUNG. In order to live our Salesian vocation faithfully and prophetically.“ For the first time, the Provincial Chapter of the AFM Vice-Province was prepared by a preparatory commission (comprising the moderator, Fr Lingoane Tlaile and two other members) ,in place since last November. During the Chapter, the focus was on reflection in preparation for the 29th General Chapter as well as the feedback provided by the seven local communities, on the status of the AFM Vice-Province. The Salesians have thought creatively about how to relaunch the Salesian charism, with deliberations on strengthening the Salesian presence in the many schools, with the start of a Youth Centre in Cape Town (Lansdowne) and with the project of a Youth Ministry formation centre in Johannesburg. At the end of the Chapter, Fr Bonginkosi Nhleko was chosen as Delegate to the GC29, while Br Mojela Fihlo was chosen as substitute.