Riobamba, Ecuador – March 2024 - Holy Week, a period of deep spiritual meaning, becomes a propitious time for missionary action, where religious fervour and devotion are intertwined with commitment to the service of the community. The Padre Saturnino Lópe Missionary Group of the "Santo Tomás Apóstol Educational Unit in Riobamba (UESTAR) is a tangible example of this synergy between faith and action. During this year, the formation of young people who are part of this experience throughout the school year has been strengthened, accompanied by significant experiences that strengthen the mission of "being signs and bearers of God's love for young people, especially the poorest". The preparation of missionaries is complex, ranging from the study of the Scriptures and prayer to the planning of activities and the logistics of the trip. Each member of the group is immersed in a formation process that strengthens their spirituality and provides practical tools to face the challenges of the mission. The places where the missionaries are awaited are the mission of Esmeraldas, Simiatug and Facundo Vela, where they will try to bring a message of hope and salvation and respond to concrete needs, promoting development and global well-being. During Holy Week the missionaries develop several special techniques focusing on reflection and meditation, trying to connect more deeply with the message of Jesus Christ and the charism of Don Bosco. Through games, workshops, and reflection activities, missionaries strengthen their bonds and prepare mentally and emotionally for the work that awaits them. All these spaces for sharing, formation and reflection end with the Eucharist of the Missionary Sending.

Campo Grande, Brazil – March 2024 - A Meeting of Pastoral Coordinators from the Salesian Province of Campo Grande Brazil (BCG) began on 19 March with Holy Mass in the chapel at the São Vicente Institute. In the first evening there were also performances by the artistic group Psalmos, the Nossa Senhora Aparecida (Moreninhas) Parish in Campo Grande and a theatrical performance staged by the Salesian postnovices. The first conference had as its theme "I am a Salesian Mission", given by Fr Ademir Lima de Oliveira, Vice-Provincial of BCG Province. The second day of the meeting was entirely dedicated to the presentation by journalist Karina Maia, with the theme "Developing assertive communication", which was followed by a brainstorming by participants to explore and consolidate the topics discussed during the day. The following day the "Fic Retrô" project was presented, a proposal to be carried out in the Salesian presence of the BCG Province as a pastoral activity. The final mass of the meeting was presided over by the director of the Colégio Salesiano Dom Bosco, Fr Wagner Luís Galvão.

Kalemie, DR Congo – March 2024 – As part of the Extraordinary Visitation to the Province of Central Africa (AFC), Fr Alphonse Owoudou, Councillor for the Africa-Madagascar Region, visited Kalemie for the first time, the 26th and last Salesian community canonically erected during the pastoral year 2023 -2024. The Salesian Family of Kalemie warmly welcomed Fr Owoudou first at the national airport at Kahinda and then in the Salesian community in Kahite with a large delegation that celebrated the welcome ceremony. At the end, the Regional Councillor took the floor to thank them for his welcome. On 24 March, Palm Sunday, Fr Owoudou celebrated the Eucharist with the faithful of the Tabacongo district all gathered in the central chapel, where cultural activities took place after Mass. During his Extraordinary Visitation to Kalemie, the Regional Councillor first met his confreres, then the young people in vocational research and the aspirants and finally the past pupils. In addition, Fr Owoudou was welcomed by Bishop Jean Christophore Amade Aloma, bishop of Kalemie-Kirungu. The Regional Councillor also gave the "good morning" to the students at the Lubuye Technical and Professional Institute (ITPL Don Bosco) and also spoke with  student representatives and the teaching staff. At the end of his visit, Fr Owoudou spoke to those present, giving them encouragement and recommendations before taking the flight on Tuesday, 26 March 2024 to Lubumbashi.

São Paulo, Brazil – March 2024 – On 19 March, the Bom Retiro Don Bosco Institute, belonging to the Salesian Province of Brazil-São Paulo (BSP), celebrated 105 years of existence. The Salesian work that serves thousands of children, adolescents, young adults, adults and the elderly every day, through various services and units,  organised a day of celebrations with various activities under the motto "The Dream that Makes You Dream".

Ramsey, United States – March 2024 – Last weekend, Don Bosco Prep’s (DBP) junior varsity (JV) FRC, Team 4652, celebrated an outstanding victory at the robotics competition in Warren Hills, NJ. The competition was fierce, but these guys showed incredible improvement with every match they played. It’s wonderful that they received the blue banner. DBP’s varsity team also had a fantastic weekend. They made it to the playoffs and put up a strong performance. Despite the outcome, DBP is incredibly proud of the varsity team’s hard work and dedication. Special shoutout to varsity team member Tiernan Burke, who was named a finalist for the Dean’s List Award, a first in the program’s history.

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – March 2024 - In this ever-changing world of media, young people need the right tools to communicate effectively. On Saturday, 23 March 2024, the second session of the series of seminars on media education dedicated to printed paper was held at the St Charles Lwanga secondary school in Gerehu. The program began with moments of prayer, reflection and dynamics led by student representatives from the 11 participating Catholic institutions. Fr Ambrose Pereira, SDB, Coordinator of Social Communication for the East Asia-Oceania Region, and his team of volunteer leaders, delved into the key elements of news writing and the anatomy of a newspaper. Stressing the need to write stories and document events and activities in their respective institutions, students were taught the elements to write news, organise ideas or content through the inverted pyramid. The second part of the session included a design activity for a news layout led by the journalist, Jesher Tilto of the "National Newspaper", who shared his experiences with the students. After the group activities, the students presented their news followed by an assessment and reflection on how they will practically share what they have learned with others when they return to their respective institutions.