Pasadena, United States – January 2025 – Three Salesian high schools in Southern California gathered on New Year's Day to participate in an international event called the "2025 Tournament of Roses Parade". Comprised of young people from the Bishop Mora Salesian High School, the Don Bosco Technical Institute and the St John Bosco High School, the Salesians of Don Bosco Southern California High School Marching Band worked together during the past year. The talented young musicians have formed a united and harmonious group to march proudly in the internationally televised parade. "We had the opportunity to share through television networks that these schools are affiliated with the Salesians of Don Bosco, an international Catholic religious order that uses ‘Reason, religion and kindness’ as keys to educate young people," said Karen Krynen Director of Communication at the Don Bosco Technical Institute. The President of the "2025 Tournament of Roses Parade" was Ed Morales, a Salesian past pupil who graduated from Bosco Tech, born in 1981. He met with the Salesian band and the directors to encourage them and congratulate them.

Photo by Ed Morales: www.tournamentofroses.com

Italy – January 2025 - From 3 to 5 January, about thirty young leaders from Calabria, Campania, Basilicata and Santeramo in Colle gathered in Grumento Nova, and about sixty from Puglia gathered in Santeramo in Colle, all united to work at the "Stage Animators". The common thread was social communication, but not the cold kind of social networks, but of messages that reach the heart, of glances that create bonds and of words that can change the world. As Don Bosco taught, true communication is born from listening and love for others, and the youngsters experienced all this firsthand. The mornings were dedicated to formation on Don Bosco and Mother Mary Mazzarello, recognised as great communicators and among the first to adopt innovative communication strategies. This approach laid the foundations for the practical workshops held in the afternoons that were the beating heart of the Stage: from creative writing, where the youngxsters worked together to create a song that will be released on 31 January – a hymn to dreams and hope – to the creation of creative and engaging video reels that tell stories. There were also writing workshops dedicated to the creation of articles; podcasts, focusing on spiritual themes intertwined with music, culture and attention to the local area; and theatre. The words "Those who live in hope, die in love" accompanied many moments of reflection, testifying that hope is not only a passive expectation, but the courageous choice of those who believe in the future.

Source: donboscoalsud.it

Yaoundé, Cameroon – January 2025 - As part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first Salesian missionary expedition, the Equatorial Tropical Africa Vice-Province (ATE) welcomed Fr Simplice Tchoungang, the first African missionary integrated into the Europe project. After his visit to the Prenovitiate at Ebolowa (Southern Cameroon), Fr Tchoungang arrived at the community of the St Augustine  theologate at Nkol-Afeme where he spoke to Salesian theology students about his missionary experience in Austria, carried out for over ten years with joy and zeal, which are renewed day after day. The Salesian community at the Saint Augustine theologate this year has 61 Salesians from 20 nationalities: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, DRC Congo, Spain, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Chad and Togo, three continents (Africa, Europe and Asia) and 11 Provinces and Vice-Provinces of Africa and Madagascar (ANG, ACC, AFC, AFE, AGL, ANN, AON, AOS, ATE, MDG, TZA). At the end of the Eucharist presided over by Fr Tchoungang, words of thanks were addressed by Fr Privat Ignace Fouda, formator of the theologate and Delegate for Missionary Animation of the ATE Vice-Province.

Krakow, Poland – January 2024 - The Salesian Missionary Volunteer Movement (SWM) "Młodzi Światu" and the Salesians from the Province of Krakow, Poland (PLS), especially the students at the Salesian Seminary (WSDTS), have joined the organisation of the 19th edition of the Three Kings Parade in Krakow. As on every 6 January on the feast of the Epiphany, the Three Kings, with three different small processions (blue – African; green, with the Salesian group – Asian and red – European), have traditionally left from three different points of the city to meet at noon on the main square as a Great Parade and together venerate the newborn Baby Jesus. This year's motto was "Bow down to the king!", inspired by a Christmas carol and two other anniversaries: the Jubilee Year proclaimed by Pope Francis and the 1000th anniversary of the coronation of the first Polish king Bolesław Chrobry. Once again, during the Krakow Parade, a fundraiser was also held for a housing project for the homeless, carried out by the Relief Work of San Padre Pio.

Photo: Adam Bujak

Santiago, Chile – January 2025 - More than 70 educators and leaders of the Presences of the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Chile began a new course, the Diploma in Salesian Pedagogy on 5 January. This formation opportunity, the result of shared work between Salesian Youth Ministry (PJ) and the Institute of Youth Ministry (IPJ) at the Silva Henríquez Catholic University (UCSH), will be held at the Lo Cañas Spirituality Centre and will end on 17 January. The 2025 course brings together 30 students at level 100 (initial), 24 at level 200 (intermediate) and 22 at level 300 (advanced). Although each level has specific objectives, they all share the mission of strengthening Salesian identity in education. Through a global approach, participants have the opportunity to delve into Salesian history, pedagogy and spirituality, with particular attention to the Preventive System and its implications in the current educational context. The program places a particular emphasis on the historical-critical-spiritual method, which invites educators to reflect on the maturity of the Preventive System and its relationship with Salesian Youth Spirituality, understanding the importance of the Salesian educational ecosystem as a transformative space for children and young people. The event takes place in an environment inspired by the Oratory experience, allowing participants to meet Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello in a lively and meaningful way. The dynamics of these intense days are based on reflection, collaborative learning and community experience, elements that strengthen the Salesian educational mission. The teaching group is made up of eminent academics and specialists in Salesianity such as Fr David Albornoz, Fr Erick Oñate, Sister Cecilia Poblete, Sister Karen Vivanco, Carolina Alfaro, Marcelo Palominos, Luis Alvarado and Freddy Araya.

SOURCE: Salesian Communication Chile

Ourense, Spain – December 2024 - Every year the Amencer Youth Association (Asociación Xuvenil Amencer) organises "BOSCOMUSIC", a music festival of solidarity now in its 29th edition. A music festival of solidarity, in homage to the young Miguel Redondo, a Salesian, who died in Ourense 22 years ago. On 28 December 2024, more than 20 musicians performed in front of a large audience, with the help of technicians and members of the organisation, at the Salesians' theatre in Ourense. Various groups with different styles, Rock, Pop, author songs, acoustic versions, as well as the performance of unreleased songs, performed at the "Boscomusic". The proceeds from the tickets sold at a symbolic price were destined for the "Proxecto Home de Galicia".