Rome, Italy – January 2024 - A meeting of the young Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB) took place at the Istituto Maria SS. Bambina in Rome, at the Vatican From 29 December 2023 to 2 January 2024. The event was attended by 40 VDBs from different European countries: France, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Hungary and Italy. During the meeting, the participants shared their experiences of consecrated life in their groups and regions, and reflected on some topics of their life project, such as communion, secularity and spirituality. They experienced the transition to the new calendar year in an atmosphere of prayer and celebration. On January 1st, they participated in the solemn Eucharist celebrated in St Peter's Basilica with Pope Francis, and they very satisfactorily evaluated the opportunity to dialogue and learn together.

Bollington, Great Britain – December 2023 – Over the Christmas period, the SDB Brothers in Formation gathered at “Savio House” for a Youth Ministry training session. The session was led by Salesian Sisters, Sr Anne Frances McNamee FMA, Sr Gill McCambridge FMA, and Sr Bernadette Cassidy. Frs Bob Gardner and Joe Tran, as Delegates of Youth Ministry, accompanied the group. The group gathered together to learn about VIDES UK and how volunteers and young people are trained in the Salesian ways and in understanding British Safeguarding expectations.

Santiago, Chile – January 2024 - Full of joy and enthusiasm, dozens of people gathered at the Salesian Camilo Ortuzar Montt High School to experience a commemorative day for the 50th anniversary of the Salesian "Villa Feliz" Coloies and the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM), held on 6 January. The celebration aimed to share experiences, promote the continuity of this legacy in the new generations, through reflection on the historical and spiritual scope of this initiative that strengthens the commitment to the integral formation of young people and the Salesian mission. The Provincial of the Salesians in Chile, Fr Carlo Lira, said "We are very happy to be able to celebrate these 50 years of life of the Salesian Youth Movement that was born here following the first Salesian Villa Feliz colonies in January 1974." Fr Hugo Strahsburguer, who was part of the forerunners of the movement, recalls that it all began months after the 1973 coup d 'état, when the population was very afraid. It was then that they decided together with the FMA to do something as a Salesian Family. In total, 600 children were assisted in the style of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello, says Fr Strahsburguer, and a few months later it was decided to continue by establishing the Salesian Youth Movement. The event, which ended with the blessing of a commemorative plaque, was attended, among others, by Cardinal Riccardo Ezzati, SDB, Fr Juan Miguel Cárcamo, Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry and Sister Ximena Oyarzo, FMA Provincial

Rome, Italy – January 2024 – On January 4 and 5 at the headquarters of the Salesian Central Italy Circumscription (ICC), Rectors met to discuss "The Salesian mission in the coming years". The first day was led by Fr Emanuele De Maria, Delegate for Youth Ministry, with a particular focus on the reworking of the ICC Provincial Salesian Educative and Pastoral Project (SEPP) in the coming years. The work proposed to the Rectors is part of a broader process that has been designed as a concrete way to ensure the maximum involvement of each of the strengths of the Province: the individual Educative and Pastoral Communities (EPCs), the Commissions, the Mission Team, the Rectors and then it will be the turn of the Mission Consultative group and the Provincial Council. The meeting represented a fundamental junction in the process of developing the new SEPP. The fruit of the work of the past months has been delivered into the hands of the Rectors involved in the work, through personal study, group discussion, sharing. The second day of work was focused on the question: "What lay Salesian for today's young people?", a necessary in-depth study, starting from the Provincial Formation Project, of the formation processes in place in the individual EPCs. Divided by settings, they discussed the formation experiences in place at the local level, and started a more particular reflection on the gradualness of lay involvement starting from the laity in their own house.

Anisakan, Myanmar – December 2023 - During the Christmas period, the Salesian novitiate community organised games in three places for children from the surrounding areas. Among these, the most important took place at the shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Nazareth-Anisakan, which was attended by about 200 youngsters from the oratory. After the opening prayer, Don Bosco Nyi Nyi, SDB, Superior of the Salesian Vice-Province of Myanmar (MYM), addressed a short Christmas message to the crowd. Then various games took place. At the end of the day, all participants were offered refreshments. Prizes and gifts were also awarded to all the winners of the games. The children were very happy and felt at home, because they had experienced the spirit of Family thanks to the joy of the clerics and Salesian novices.

Ourense, Spain – January 2024 – On January 2, the Amencer Youth Centre in Ourense organised the 28th edition of "Boscomusic", a charity concert in support of the "Proyecto Hombre de Galicia". The audience attended 8 shows by groups and soloists, for a total of 20 musicians, with over 10 technicians, with various musical styles: rock, pop and author's songs, acoustic and unreleased versions.