Asunción, Paraguay – April 12, 2024 – The Salesians in the Province of Paraguay (PAR) celebrated the last session of the 23rd Provincial Chapter, during which Chapter members finished the work on the core areas by developing the final draft, making their respective votes on the draft that will go as a contribution to the GC29. Additionally, the PAR Province representatives to GC29  Fr Dionisio Medina, delegate, and Fr Nilo Zárate, substitute delegate, were elected. The president of the Chapter, Fr Mario Villalba, Provincial, thanked each committee and the teams for all the work done during the days. With the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr Villalba and concelebrated by the Vice-Provincial, Fr Delio Barreiro, and by the Chapter Moderator, Fr Nilo Zárate, the 23rd Provincial Chapter was officially closed.

Campo Grande, Brazil – April 2024 – At the initiative of Salesian missionary Fr Joseph Tran Van Lich, Provincial Delegate for Missions and Missionary Animation in the Province of Campo Grande Brazil (BCG), a few weeks ago the construction of a small chapel for the Catholic community of the Xavante Imaculada Conceição de Maria village began. In addition to the masons hired by the Salesian missionaries, the village chief and other men of the community are engaged in the excavation of the foundations and the erection of the walls for the chapel that will be dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of Mary. "The building" explains Fr Joseph Tran Van Lich "is a very simple chapel, as we find in the villages, with a room with an altar and a small room to accommodate the missionaries who go there for activities. The Imaculada Conceição de Maria village belongs to the Sangradouro – Volta Grande indigenous land, in the municipality of Nova São Joaquim (MT). The population of the village is about 70 people, all ethnic Xavante, and the Catholic community is very faithful and fervent, as witnessed by the parish priest Fr Juan Carlos Uscola. The distance of the village from the urban centres and the difficult access are some of the challenges to be faced for completion of the work, for this reason some fundraisers were started by Fr Clemente Deja, SDB, parish priest of the village more than 20 years ago, Fr Joseph Tran Van Lich, who This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.donors both in São Paulo and in his native land, Vietnam. Fr Ricardo Carlos, Superior of BCG Province, has guaranteed that the province headquarters will contribute to the construction of the chapel. Work will continue in the coming weeks and is expected to be completed during the Marian celebrations in May.

Pindamonhangaba, Brazil – April 2024 - From April 19 to 21, the activity called Acampabosco 2024 took place, bringing together about 80 young people in Pindamonhangaba. It was organised by the Youth Ministry Sector in the Salesian Nossa Senhora Auxiliadora Province of Sao paolo Brazil (BSP). The central objective of the event is to promote youth leadership and leadership in Salesian communities, offering spaces, opportunities and forms of support. The program included sports activities, competitions and moments of spirituality. The diversity of the participants reflected the richness of Don Bosco's legacy, while the personal encounter with Jesus Christ was highlighted as fundamental in guiding the projects and lives of young people. Acampabosco is not only a moment of fun and conviviality, but also an opportunity to strengthen faith and commitment to the Salesian values of each of the participants.

Lubumbashi, DR Congo – April 2024 – The Safina Cultural House in Lubumbashi run byt the Salesians of Don Bosco, in collaboration with the youth club, organised from 19 to 28 April the 14th edition of the School Theatre Festival with the acronym FETHESCO in French. The Safina Cultural House belongs to the Salesian work at Salama, and has as its vocation: the "Cultural and Christian Formation" of young people. Therefore, through the Festival, we want to promote Theatre Culture in schools, in order to respond to its primary mission as the work of Don Bosco. During this edition, students developed their play performances, focusing on the themes of "tribalism" and the "environment". These two themes have been chosen and proposed to respond to the difficulties that are occurring in the country in the hope that the actors and all participants will bring a message of peace in their respective schools and in their families. The festival was attended by 25 public and private schools from Kasumbalesa, Kipushi, Likasi and Lubumbashi, as well as five Salesian schools from Lubumbashi, while the jury comprised some professors from the University of Lubumbashi. Fr Tryphon Kalimira, Vice Provincial of the Salesian Province of Central Africa (AFC) and Fr Jean Luc Vanderkhove, Rector of the Don Bosco University of Lubumbashi, presided over the final day.

Estoril, Portugal – April 2024 – 967 young athletes, 115 coaches divided into nine delegations representing the Salesian presences of the Province of Portugal (por), competed from 25 to 28 April in the six sports disciplines planned for the 28th edition of the Salesian National Games. Futsal, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, swimming and chess competitions were held under the Salesian values of friendship, sharing, mutual respect and fairness. In addition to the games, there were dance shows, music with 50 artists involved and moments of prayer. The event was made possible thanks to the work of 279 staff and volunteers, 32 referees, technical teams, families and sponsoring bodies. The National Salesian Games have been held every year in Portugal since 1992 with the aim of bringing together athletes and educational-pastoral communities in a family moment according to the Salesian style of educating and evangelising.

São Leopoldo, Brazil – April 2024 – The 22nd Provincial Chapter of the Salesian Province of Brazil-Porto Alegre (BPA) took place from 23-26 April at the Cristo Re di São Leopoldo Spirituality Centre. An essential event for the BPA Province, which brought together consecrated men and women and lay people committed to the Salesian mission, with the aim of tracing the path of the Salesian presences in the South of Brazil. During the days of the Chapter, participants were guided through moments of prayer, reflection, and deliberation. There was the election of moderators, formation on the topic, the Provincial’s report, collective work on the core areas and the election of the delegate to the GC29, Fr Sérgio Ramos, BPA Vice-Provincial. The culmination of the event was marked by the closing Mass, presided over by Fr Ademir Ricardo, BPA Provincial, and by the Religious Profession of Salesian Kleber Oliveira. The Provincial Chapter officially concluded, leaving the expectation that the decisions taken will contribute to the strengthening of the Salesian presence in the southern region of Brazil and the service to young people.