Dungalpitiya, Sri Lanka – May 2024 - In the coastal community of Dungalpitiya, the local population, largely dependent on the sea for their livelihood, faces many challenges: the five state schools there, for example, do not have adequate infrastructure or sufficient staff, and are therefore attended only by the weakest and most deprived social groups. In this context, the Salesians of Don Bosco have decided to offer free after-school courses, vocational guidance sessions and programs for the development of leadership and overall skills. "Empowering children through education and the development of life skills is not enough unless the family context is also conducive to supporting and cultivating motivations for growth", say the local Salesians. That is why this project, supported by "Misiones Salesianas", the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid, also aims to raise awareness and involve students' parents and the elderly population, initiating paths of emancipation for women and the elderly through self-employment, the promotion of children's rights and community engagement.

Caracas, Venezuela – May 2024 - The Meeting of Salesian Brothers of St Luke Province Venezuela (VEN) took place on May 4 and 5. All eleven Salesian Brothers in the VEN Province participated in the meeting, chaired by the Provincial Fr Rafael Montenegro. The event provided an appropriate space to celebrate the joy of the fraternal encounter of all generations of Salesian Brothers in the Province and also to reflect on the contribution of the Salesian Brother today in the country.

Shillong, India – May 2024 - An Orientation Meeting of the "Youth at Risk" (YAR) sector was held on Monday, 6 May  at the Pastoral Centre of the Province of India-Shillong (INS),  in which the members of the 5th Provincial Chapter of INS participated, in order to understand the role of the Salesians in "empowering families and communities for the care of young people at risk". The session was led by Fr Joseph Prabhu, Secretary of the YaR Salesian National Forum, and Fr Bosco Francis, responsible for the Pastoral Care for Migrants in the South Asia Region. The INS Provincial, Fr John Zosiama, warmly welcomed and introduced the participants, who were then conducted in an in-depth discussion on the "Don Bosco YaR" forum by Fr Joseph Prabhu. This addressed the issue of young people at risk, providing relevant statistics and a historical context of the phenomenon. In addition, he clarified the national policy regarding family emancipation and the fundamental values of the Salesian National Forum for at-risk youth. In the next session, Fr Bosco Francis presented his research on the situation of migrants in the North East, particularly within Shillong Province. Based on his investigations, he proposed concrete and feasible steps for the Province to address the needs of migrants, both incoming and outgoing, whether they are interstate or intrastate migrants. The sessions were dynamic, with participants engaged in lively discussions and interactive exchanges.

Lisbon, Portugal – May 2024 – The second session of the Provincial Chapter of the Salesians of the Province of Portugal (POR) took place at the Salesian community in Lisbon from 1 to 4 May. The days of study and discernment of the 26 Chapter members were held in a spirit of shared responsibility and synodality, as they explored the theme of the 29th General Chapter (GC29) "PASSIONATE ABOUT JESUS CHRIST, DEDICATED TO YOUNG PEOPLE. Living our Salesian vocation faithfully and prophetically.“ The new Overall Provincial Plan was studied and approved and Fr João Chaves and Fr Juan Freitas were elected Delegate and Substitute of the Province for the GC29, respectively. The Provincial Chapter was attended by four lay guests, without voting rights, who enriched the various themes from the perspective of their vision of lay people engaged and sharing responsibility in the Salesian mission. The entire Chapter experience took place in an atmosphere of fraternity and spirituality, trying to create appropriate conditions for the exercise of discernment by those who seek to discover the will of God regarding the mission entrusted as a Salesian Province. The days always began and ended with prayer and the style of discernment in the plenary sessions and in the work of the three commissions helped to create a true experience of synodality, where everyone listened to the Spirit.

Reggio Calabria, Italy – April 2024 - The 28th Provincial Chapter of the Southern Salesian Blessed Michael Rua Province Italy  (IME) has opened in the Don Bosco church at Bova Marina. A valuable time in which a representation of Salesians and lay people, engaged in the 28 Salesian Educative and Pastoral Communities, are working together with Provincial Fr Gianpaolo Roma, on the three core areas of the 29th General Chapter (GC29) and on reshaping the Southern Province. After the celebration, at which the Provincial presided, everyone moved to the Altalia Club Village in Brancaleone to officially start the work of the Chapter. These are busy days, characterised by discussion of various topics, with particular attention to the contributions of young people from the Salesian Youth Movement and the Salesian Family. The active inclusion of the laity has made the conversation even richer and more meaningful, confirming the value of shared responsibility in the life of the IME Province and the Congregation. In the following days, the participants addressed a series of crucial issues, guided by the desire to give concrete form to Don Bosco's charism in the current context. The Provincial's detailed report on the status of the Province provided a comprehensive overview of the activities and challenges faced, paving the way for an in-depth and constructive discussion. The presentation of the core areas of GC29 also offered valuable insights to guide the future work of the Congregation. The last day was dedicated to the approval of the Provincial Directory on the Economy and the election of the Delegate and Substitute of the IME Province to  GC29, Fr Giuseppe Russo and Fr Tomë Mihaj, respectively.

Wau, South Sudan – May 2024 - The Salesians of Don Bosco in Sikka Hadid, near Wau, celebrated the 48th anniversary of the parish dedicated to St Joseph the Worker. The parish was built in 1972 by the Comboni Missionaries and pastoral responsibility was taken up by the Salesians in 1976. This year's feast was honoured with 225 young people receiving the sacrament of Confirmation and it is in this parish that the first 9 Salesian Cooperators of the delegation from Sudan and South Sudan who made their promise, on 28 January 2024, are present. The St Joseph the Worker parish thus lays the foundations for the Salesian missions in Sudan and South Sudan. On the occasion of the celebrations for the anniversary, Bishop Matthew Remijio Adam, Bishop of the Diocese of Wau, presided over the Eucharist, accompanied by the parish priest Fr Papi Reddy and the assistant parish priest Fr Francis Anthonyraj, as well as 25 priests from other religious communities and the diocese.