Catania, Italy – September 2024 - On 1 September, the Assembly for the start of the pastoral year was held in Catania for all the Educative and Pastoral Communities (EPCs) in the Salesian Province of Sicily (ISI), involving 200 people including SDB, Laity and young people. Fr Alberto Anzalone, Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry, presented the material published by the Youth Ministry Sector of the Salesian Congregation on the Oratory-Youth Centre. Fr Antonio Lauretta, in charge of the Gela Youth Centre Oratory, presented the educative and pastoral proposal through the experience of Fr Elio Cesari, Director of the National Centre and Secretary of the CISI, and the Cannizzaro family, Roberto and Giulia, Salesian Cooperators and educators of the lay-run St Philip Neri Oratory. In the afternoon, after discussion of the various EPC Councils on the educative and pastoral model of the OCG, the Councillor for Youth Ministry of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Sicily, Sr. Maria Grazia Tripi, presented the pastoral proposal of Salesian Italy for the new year: "Awaited by his Love. Joyful in Hope”. At the end, Fr Franco Di Natale, Vice-Provincial, presented the programming sheet for Formation and YM. Finally, 4 young people who participated in the Salesian Youth Synod, recounted their experience in the SYM, expressing a great sense of belonging to the Movement which in 2025 will be celebrating fifty years in Sicily since its foundation. The day ended with Holy Mass celebrated by the Provincial, Fr Giovanni D’Andrea.

Lima, Peru – September 2024 - On the occasion of the Bicentennial of Don Bosco's "Dream at 9 years of age", the Salesian Santa Rosa Province, Lima, in collaboration with the Salesian San Francisco de Sales school (Lima – Breña), promoted a Second Meeting of Salesian Animation, under the title "We are children of a dreamer!" The event was attended by 11 Salesian schools located in various parts of the country. In light of the Rector Major's Strenna 2024, the participants reflected on Don Bosco's childhood dream, a dream that marks the origin of the Salesian mission on behalf of young people. The over 800 students, men and women, gathered at the San Francisco de Sales school had the opportunity to strengthen the bond that charismatically unites all the students in Salesian schools in Peru. Through recreational activities and shared moments, the bonds of friendship, fraternity and familiarity were strengthened. This space for integration has been fundamental for the personal and spiritual growth of young people. Fr Juan Pablo Alcas, Superior of the Province of Peru, during his message to young people said "I hope with all my heart that Don Bosco always lives in your heart".

New Delhi, India – August 2024 – The Salesian Youth at Risk Forum (YaR) has launched a campaign entitled: "FAMILY is where I BELONG". The latter aims to create environments similar to those at home in alternative care settings, to strengthen families and to empower communities for good childcare. Ms. Vandhana Kandhari, UNICEF India Child Protection Specialist, was the guest of honour and gave the keynote address. She also presented the new poster of the campaign and supported the importance of a family environment for the growth and holistic development of children. Fr Joe Prabu, Executive Director of YaR, stressed the value of family environments and mentioned the importance of strengthening families to provide better support to children, promoting the social acceptance of children in alternative care. At the end of the event there was a representation staged by the young people of the Don Bosco Ashalayam Boys Home, which was followed by thanks to Raj Parit for the technical coordination and to Mr. Austin Francis for the poster of the campaign.

Dosquebradas, Colombia – September 2024 - On 2 and 3 September, the joint meeting of the Provincial Councils of the Salesian Provinces of Colombia, Bogotá (cob) and Medellín (COM) is taking place at San Juan Bosco School in Dosquebradas (Risaralda). The event is held with the aim of strengthening the processes of discernment around the care of the Salesian vocation starting from the identity of consecrated persons. In addition, by reflecting, sharing and discerning together, a space has been opened to strengthen the experience of fraternity. During the Meeting, the curatoriums held in the formative communities of the Novitiate, Postnovitiate (Colombia) and Theologate (Guatemala) were followed up. In another moment, the work animated by the processes of Salesian Youth Ministry, Formation and Economy was shared from the perspectives of joint work for the new six-year period. This experience challenges the work arising from the shared mission of the Salesian charism in the country and strengthens the dynamic of the initiatives and processes that are carried out to enrich the accompaniment and needs of Educative and Pastoral Communities and young people in the Colombian context.

Salta, Argentina – September 2024 - At the Salesian Ceferino Namuncurá School in the city of Salta, belonging to the Argentina North Province (RNA), students demonstrate a firm commitment to the care of our Common Home. The use of renewable energy, the reuse of materials and the maintenance of a school garden are some of the ecological activities that are part of the daily life of the institution. The "Eco-school and school garden" project invites students to take on environmental responsibility through various activities and experiences that are significant for them and for the community. The school is a member of the Don Bosco Green Alliance, the international platform of the Salesian Green Movement which brings together members of institutions of the Salesian Family engaged in global environmental actions, thoughts and policies. As part of this alliance and within the Eco-school project, the Ceferino Namuncurá School faced several key challenges: use of renewable energy: in collaboration with INTA (National Institute of Agricultural Technology) and the San José Vocational Training Centre (VTC), a solar hot water tank was installed for school use; reuse of materials; development of the school garden to promote the production of vegetables for school and family consumption. In addition, as part of the Ecoscuola project and in relation to the annual solidarity initiatives, a new challenge has been undertaken with the support of the "Bottles of Love" project, through which students produce eco-bricks to create a room for games and snacks in the Floresta district of Salta, in an area with a vulnerable population.

Jakarta, Indonesia – September 2024 – On 3 September Pope Francis arrived in Indonesia at 6.19 am (Rome time), 11.19 am local time. The Ita Airways flight landed at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the first stop of the trip to Asia and Oceania, the 45th international apostolic trip and the longest of the pontificate. To welcome the Pope, at the foot of the forward stairway, were the Minister for Religious Affairs and two children in traditional dress with a gift of flowers. After the greeting of the delegations and the Guard of Honour, the Pope moved to the Apostolic Nunciature, where he met a group of sick people, migrants and refugees accompanied by the Community of Sant'Egidio and the Jesuit Refugee Service. The Pope's trip will come alive tomorrow,with the welcome ceremony outside the Presidential Palace and with the courtesy visit to the President of the Republic. Subsequently, there will be the first public meeting with the authorities, civil society and with the diplomatic corps, followed by the private meeting with the members of the Society of Jesus at the apostolic nunciature and then by a meeting with the bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, seminarians and catechists in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, then closing the day with a meeting with the young people of  the "Scholas Occurrentes" in the Grha Pemuda House of Youth.

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