Recife, Brazil - December 2024 - More than a thousand young people, organised in dozens of delegations from Salesian works I  the Province of Recife Brazil (BRE), from 29 November to 1 December gathered at the Salesian College for the celebration of the 28th Salesian Youth Festival, the great feast of the youth of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. On the opening day, after the welcome with music, dances and cultural interventions by the young people, Fr Francisco Inácio, Superior of the BRE Province, and Sister Adriana Gomes, FMA, Provincial of the Mary Help of Christians FMA Province (BRE), brought their message of great inspiration, Salesian spirituality and joy. The programme on the second day, Saturday 30 November, began with the Holy Mass in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, celebrated by Fr Francisco Inácio and concelebrated by the Salesians from BRE Province. Then it was the turn of the Festival of the Arts at the Boa Vista Theatre, where delegations composed of aspirants, young people from the SDB and FMA centres brought joy and emotion to the audience. In the afternoon, speaking activities took place. To close the second day of the Festival, there was a moment of fraternisation and interaction among the young people. The Holy Mass on the first Sunday of Advent opened with great emotion the last day of the Salesian Youth Festival, which ended with the procession to the altar of Our Lady Help of Christians, accompanied by a crowd of young people full of joy and enthusiasm through the streets of the Boa Vista neighbourhood, in Recife. 

Quito, Ecuador - November 2024 - On 25 November, the annual meeting of the Extended Team was held at the Salesian Centre for Ongoing Formation in America (CSFPA), in Quito, Ecuador. This is a forum to accompany, evaluate and plan the work carried out by the CSFPA during the year, and approve the agenda of activities for the following year, with respect to formation courses. The topics discussed during the meeting were a proposal to support the formation of the Salesians in their quinquennium in the Interamerica Region; accompaniment of Salesian teachers in the formation houses; accompaniment of the formators in the initial stages; accompaniment of teams for ‘Formation to Salesianity of the laity, in the Provinces. In addition, the theme of the 50th anniversary of the CSFPA, which will be celebrated in 2025, 50 years of service to the Salesian Provinces of Latin America, was examined. The Extended Team is composed of the Provincial of Ecuador, two Regional Councillors, Interamerica and South Cone America, the two Regional Formation Coordinators of America, South Cone and Interamerica, the General Councillor for Formation and the General Councillors of the different Sectors of the Salesian Congregation.

Morocco - November 2024 - The second mission visit took place in the context of the new Special Circumscription of North Africa (CNA), from 25 to 27 November,  concerning the possibilities offered by the Italian government's ‘Mattei Plan’. The first took place in Tunisia in October, and this second took place in Morocco, attended by Fr Luca Barone from Salesian Headquarters in Rome, accompanied by Fr Pietro Bianchi. Welcomed at Rabat airport by the Vicar of the Circumscription, Fr Piotr Wolny, they were able, during their stay, to get to know the work that the six Salesians in the community, of six different nationalities, carry out passionately on Moroccan soil. The Don Bosco of Kenitra school is comprises a nursery school with 210 children, a primary school with 641 children and 241 in the college, and the Vocational Training Centre with 90 young people with civil, industrial and automation electrical vocational training. The pastoral work of the Parish and Youth Centre offers a complete panorama of Salesian educational activity. The meeting with the Italian Ambassador Dr Armando Barucco and his collaborators allowed a fruitful exchange of knowledge and proposed steps for collaboration. Particularly significant were two meetings held with the Salesian Cardinal of Rabat, Cristóbal López Romero, and with the 12 directors of Catholic schools in Morocco united in the ECAM Association, of which the rector of the Salesian house, Fr Alexandre Damians, is the archiepiscopal delegate. The esteem and affection with which the Salesians are surrounded is a splendid testimony to Salesian work in the Islamic context.

Hanoi, Vietnam – November 2024 – The first formation meeting of Rectors and those in charge of non-canonical communities in the Northern Delegation of Vietnam took place on 28 November. The event took place at the Parish of Van Phuc, in the Archdiocese of Hanoi, and represented an important moment in preparation for the establishment of the North Vietnamese Vice-Province, as indicated by the Rector Major after the Extraordinary Visitation made on his behalf by the Councillor for the Missions, Fr Alfred Maravilla. During the meeting there were numerous interventions, including one by Fr Anthony Nguyen, a Salesian from Australia, who dealt with the theme: "The Rector as guardian and animator of the Salesian consecrated identity". In the afternoon, Fr Thomas Vu Kim Long spoke and gave instructions on the way forward for the Delegation. The meeting marked the intention of the entire Delegation to put into practice the directives and recommendations of the Rector Major, with great hope for the growth of the Salesian charism in the northern part of Vietnam. 

Venezuela – November 2024 - In recent days, the Salesian Province of Venezuela (VEN) has celebrated two great anniversaries: the 30th anniversary of the Salesian Don Bosco School of Entrepreneurship (EPES) in Mariches and the 44th anniversary of EPES Dolorita. The celebration of these anniversaries coincides with a time when technical and vocational training is more necessary than ever. The EPES remain faithful to the vision of Don Bosco, they continue to offer a quality education based on Christian values, which prepares young people not only for the world of work, but also for life. Both EPES Don Bosco de Mariches and La Dolorita are examples of educational institutions that, through their work, contribute to building a more just and equitable future for all. "In celebrating these anniversaries, we recognise the importance of technical and vocational training and reaffirm our commitment to quality education," the Salesians say.

Goma, DR Congo – December 2024 – On the occasion of the canonical visit to the Don Bosco Ngangi Work, Fr Tryphon Kalimira, ViceProvincial of the Salesian Province of Central Africa (AFC), met all the members of the Salesian Family from the work: Salesian Cooperators (ASC), Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB), Past Pupils of Don Bosco (EX.DB) and Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA). After the Mass presided over by the Vice-Provincial, the day continued with talks with the participants during which he stressed the crucial importance of these groups in the realisation of the Salesian mission: "The different Salesian branches constitute the backbone of our Congregation," he said. Fr Tryphon encouraged the groups to create a digital database that brings together the information of all members, in order to facilitate exchanges and strengthen spiritual, material and social solidarity. He also recommended the regular organisation of moments of formation and spirituality to strengthen the Christian and missionary life of each person. Finally, he insisted on the importance of unity and cooperation between the groups to ensure the success of the Salesian mission in the work. The day ended with a moment of conviviality and fraternal sharing in the inner courtyard of the Salesian community where all the participants gathered around Fr Tryphon Kalimira to strengthen fraternal ties within the Salesian Family.