Chiari, Italy – April 2024 - The "DLDAY 2024" took place at the Salesian house in Chiari on Sunday 14 April: a day of celebration for pre-adolescents in the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) of Lombardy, Switzerland, Emilia-Romagna and San Marino. This year everything was focused on the Olympics, a theme that guided the theatre and all the games. The almost 900 boys and girls present competed in the different sports to win the winner's prize. The central moment of the day was the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Don José Miguel Nuñez, SDB, in the Lombard-Emilian Province (ILE), to carry out the Extraordinary Visitation in the name of the Rector Major. In his homily he invited the young people to take Dominic Savio and Laura Vicuña as examples in life to reach holiness.  This opportunity for play would not have been possible without the help of the 300 teenagers of the Leaders Formation School who, since Saturday afternoon, together with their companions, have set up the spaces, prepared the materials and built the scenery. The Chiari Oratory and its volunteers have worked tirelessly to find clean and welcoming environments without ever missing a smile.

Palabek, Uganda – April 2024 – "An Extraordinary Visitation that turned out to be a wonderful experience of animation and accompaniment", this was the comment of Fr Ubaldino Andrade, SDB, Rector of the Palabek community, on the occasion of the Extraordinary Visitation by Fr Alphonse Owoudou, Councillor for the Africa-Madagascar Region, to the community of San Kizito, in the Palabek refugee camp. On 11 April the Regional Councillor was welcomed with great joy by the entire community and for a few days shared the joys of working among refugees, the achievements of the last six years, the challenges of every day, the pain of people experienced as "our" pain and sadness. Fr Alphonse Owoudou shared his thoughts with the Salesian community, offering them valuable indications and possible improvements. Very important suggestions so that the Salesians can continue to be good pastors of the people that God has entrusted to them. In the meeting with the collaborators and friends of Salesian work, the Regional Councillor encouraged everyone present to work together so that Don Bosco Palabek can be a true home where everyone can feel safe and protected; a Church where they can encounter God; a school where they can learn, with their qualities and talents, to be useful for themselves, for their family, for people. Finally, a place of growth, where everyone can have fun together, make friends, sing, dance and play.

Shillong, India – April 2024 – The Salesian St Xavier high school in Pathaliaghat hosted a two-day formation course on 15 and 16 April for all teachers in Salesian schools in Pitra, Herma, Mandwi, Bishramganj, Naba Sardar and Pathaliaghat. The event, which saw Fr P.D. Johny, Secretary of the SPCSA and AIDBES in New Delhi as a reference person, was attended by 190 teachers, five principals and five rectors, who met in view of the new academic session 2024/25. This meeting is the result of a joint effort of all six Salesian schools in the region, under the leadership of Fr Babu Stephen, Head of Education and Culture for Shillong Province. These two days of formation were of great help to the teachers involved, who learned a lot from the sessions held by Fr P.D. Johny and from the group discussions. Teachers were motivated to engage in the culture of active teaching and learning and to cultivate student well-being.

Seoul, South Korea – April 2024 – Salesians in the Province of South Korea (KOR) celebrated their Provincial Community Day on  16 April. The gathering, which began with evening prayer, was attended by over a hundred people. The Goodnight was given by Fr Joseph Phuoc, Councillor for the East Asia-Oceania Region, who is making the Extraordinary Visitation to KOR Province. He thanked the KOR Province for its financial contribution to the Team Visit held in Vietnam and for its generosity in supporting various missions in the Region. Subsequently, the consultation for the choice of the next Provincial for 2024-2030 took place. The festivities took place in a cheerful atmosphere and simple entertainment prepared by each community. Some Salesians celebrated their 25th anniversary of first profession and Fr Phuoc celebrated his 50th anniversary of first profession this year. The next day there were various sports activities that involved many Salesians.

Krakow, Poland – April 2024 - A Liturgical Service of the Altar (LSO) meeting for the Province of Krakow (PLS) was held last weekend, 13 April at the Salesian Seminary in Krakow., The meeting was attended by about 230 people, including altar servers, readers, young singers from the Schole (schola cantorum) and their parents. It all started with a greeting to participants, introduction, fun together. Two conferences were offered: altar servers and readers listened in the Seminary hall to a conference by Fr Mirosław Kosiec, SDB, on Don Bosco's Dream at 9 Years of Age, while the parents and others accompanying the boys went to the chapel for a conference prepared for them by Fr Andrzej Golębiowski, SDB. Subsequently, everyone witnessed an extraordinary show by a Warsaw illusionist. Mass was celebrated, followed by an outdoor lunch in the "Villages of the World" run by Salesian Missionary Volunteer Młodzi Światu and the performances by youth groups from the various Salesian presences in PLS Province.

Photo: PLS Archive)

Siliguri, India – April 2024 – The Salesian Institute in Siliguri has received a certificate of recognition for carrying out the "Model United Nations" based on Sustainable Development Goal 2 of the United Nations - ZERO HUNGER, from the United Nations Association for Development and Peace (UNADAP). The Executive Director of the Association, Dominic F. Dixon, who opened the event on 13 April and participated in the work, handed the certificate to Fr Babu Joseph, Principal of Salesian College in Siliguri and Sonada, during the closing ceremony on 15 April. The certificate rewards the hard work, dedication and perseverance of the Principals, faculty and vibrant student community. In addition, at the end of the ceremony, Dominic F. Dixon, a former student of the Salesian Institute of Graphic Arts in Chennai, offered the students at the Siliguri Institute an internship at UNADAP, a seven-week advanced course on "Business and International Relations" and a seven-week online course focused on the "spirit of excellence". Finally, the suggestions made by the Salesian Institute will be presented to the United Nations Agency for Development and Peace.