Haiti – February 2024 - The National Federation of Past Pupils of Don Bosco of Haiti (FENADBH) organised an Extraordinary General Assembly for Sunday, 18 February 2024, with the aim of scheduling the National Congress of Past Pupils and the election of a standing committee that will guide the future of FENADBH. This Assembly was held online in the presence of 21 Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco including the Delegate of the Vice-Province, Fr Jean-Paul Mésidor, and the President of the World Confederation of Past Pupils of Don Bosco, Bryan Magro. In his address for the occasion, the provisional President of FENADBH, Dr. Jude Élie, asked the Past Pupils of Haiti to do more to create a positive impact on the lives of young people and took the opportunity to thank Bryan Magro for his support of FENADBH. President Magro, for his part, stressed above all the need for a "change in continuity", helping young people to become salt of the earth and light of the world.
Quito, Ecuador – February 2024 - On Saturday, 17 February, a Eucharist of thanksgiving was celebrated for the missionary vocation of the Salesian Klimer Sánchez, who on 24 September 2023 was destined for Mozambique, in Africa, at the Sending Eucharist for the 154th Salesian Missionary Expedition, celebrated by the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime. The Provincial of the Salesians of Ecuador, Fr Marcelo Farfán, presided at the Eucharist in the María Auxiliadora Shrine at El Girón, concelebrated by Fr Juan Flores, Vice-Provincial, and Fr Luis Mosquera, Provincial Economer. They were accompanied by Salesians, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, young people from Salesian School Centres (CES) and the Polytechnic University of Quito, oratories and collaborators of Salesian works. During his homily, Fr Farfán stressed the joy of seeing so many young people present celebrating and giving thanks for missionary life and gave the Bible to Klimer Sánchez as a sign that his main mission will be to proclaim the Gospel among those who need it most, especially young people. For his part, the young man thanked his family and the Salesians for their support, especially from Fr Virgilio Noboa, who reawakened his vocation to continue God's project. As part of the celebration, the Missionary Collection collected last year and destined for the Salesian communities of Esmeraldas, San Lorenzo, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Simiatug and Yaupi was delivered. These donations will now become many projects for the benefit of children and young people.
Krakow, Poland – February 2024 – The 93rd edition of the sacred representation of the Passion of Christ entitled "Misterium" was staged on 17 February, at the theatre in the Salesian Seminary (WSDTS) in Krakow. Actors were the Salesian clerics in Krakow and also some young people from the "Ziemia Boga" group. This year the theme of the performance is to invite all Christians to remember their baptism and to rediscover their relationship with Jesus and with others. "Misterium" is interwoven with meetings and relationships. It is a valuable help to live Lent and prepare for Easter. Director and author of the screenplay, for twelve years now, is an actor from the "Bagatela" Theatre in Krakow, Mr Marcin Kobierski. The show will run every Saturday and Sunday of Lent until 23 March.
Photo: Agnieszka Krzyształowicz
Lyon, France – February 2024 - The Salesian educational network is often called one of the largest and most relevant in the world, with schools in more than 130 countries and hundreds of thousands of students. In France, this international opening of the network was organised in 2020 through the "Don Bosco International Campus". Within this dynamic, from June 2022, students and staff from 21 institutions in the French network can benefit from "Erasmus+" mobility, with co-financing from the European Union. These facilities are part of the Salesian "Don Bosco Campus on the move" Consortium. Thus, in mid-February, in Lyon, those who initiate and conduct these mobility projects in their schools were able to meet in a seminar to explore the richness and rigour of the framework established by the French agency known as "Erasmus+". Representatives of various French Salesian institutes that are part of the "Don Bosco Campus on the move" were there, as well as representatives of two other Salesian works, which with a total of 1,570 students will join the consortium at the beginning of the next school year. Mobility projects or cooperation projects, group mobility or individual mobility, observation mobility or training mobility... These salient issues were guided by the consortium team, dependent on the "Association Maisons Don Bosco" (AMDB), under the guidance of Fr Jean-Noël Charmoille, SDB, president of the AMDB.
Sepahijala, India – February 2024 – On the occasion of National Girls Day, celebrated on 17 February, the district administration of Sepahijala, together with the District Office for Education, awarded the band at the Salesian St Institute during a large ceremony held at the multipurpose hall in Bishramganj. The school band, consisting of 25 girls, was praised for winning third prize in the national competition for school bands, held in Delhi on 22 January. The ceremony was organised in order to encourage and motivate girls to excel in everything they do in their lives. Numerous institutional and dignitary personalities from the district administration and the education department were present on the occasion, speaking to those present about the importance of emancipation of girls. During the same function, many other girls, from different schools, who have distinguished themselves in various sports and cultural events of the State, were also rewarded.
Venezuela – February 2024 - The young people of the Salesian Youth Movement prepare for formation as "Salesian Missionary Disciples 2024" (DIMISAL), with the motto: "I will speak to your Heart and you will change the wolves into lambs" (Hos 2:16 -22). With an exciting initiative, the various Salesian works of the Province of Venezuela (VEN), have started the DIMISA process and that is why the SYM has started formative and preparatory experiences in anticipation of Holy Week. The main objective of the initiative is to promote growth in a mature faith, to strengthen the believing community and announce the good news of the Gospel. It is expected that more than a thousand young people nationwide will commit to bringing words of hope, joy and help in many houses, nursing homes, hospitals, orphanages and many other places. The goal is to share their love and service with children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and the elderly. This experience will not only strengthen the Salesian mission, but will also contribute to the building up of a synodal Church open to current challenges, with the hope that every step taken by these young missionaries will be a seed of love and fellowship towards a more just and compassionate world.