Vynnyky, Ukraine - October 2018 - Past pupils of the Pontifical Minor Seminary of the Ukrainian ministry from Ukraine gathered in the Salesian Prenovitiate of Vynnyky on October 1 to renew the traditional "Grape Walk". 21 past pupils, including six priests, with their then director, Fr Eugenio Nebesniak, SDB, celebrated the commemoration of Salesian superiors and seminarians who have died since the opening of the first seminary in 1952 in Loury, France. Then the meeting with the Salesians of the house took place, to share the memories of the years of the seminary and a fraternal agape.
Luanda, Angola - October 2018 - On 3rd October, at the Salesian Vice Province of Angola, the third meeting of Delegates for Social Communication took place at the Conference of Provinces and Vice Provinces of Africa-Madagascar (CIVAM). During the meeting, led by Fr Manuel Jiménez, Superior of the Vice Province of Africa Congo Congo, and Fr Juan Pablo Abreu, of the Dicastery for Social Communication, the delegates reflected on the role of communicators in their provinces, with young people and Salesians; and on how to become more effective with reference to the manual of the Salesian Social Communication System.
Panama City, Panama - October 2018 - On October 2 in the Basilica of Don Bosco came the relic of Blessed Óscar Arnulfo Romero, one of the patron saints of WYD, with a ceremony presided over by the archbishop of Panama, José Domingo Ulloa. Numerous faithful welcomed the reliquary containing a piece of cloth stained with the blood of the blessed when he was wounded to death, a bust and a replica of his mitre. The relic will remain in Panama until the World Youth Day which will take place in January 2019, and during this period will travel to various parts of the country. On October 14th, Pope Francis will proclaim saints Msgr. Romero and Pope Paul VI and with them two priests, two religious and a layman will also be canonized.
Rome, Italy - October 2, 2018 - On October 2, the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime and the community of St. Joseph of the Salesian Central Office received a courtesy visit from Cardinal José Luis Lacunza Maestrojuán, Bishop of David, Panama; Msgr. Manuel Ochogavía Barahona, bishop of Colón - Kuna Yala, Panama; Ms Miroslava Rosas Vargas, Ambassador of Panama to the Holy See and Cardinal Oscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, SDB, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Ennerdale, South Africa - September 30, 2018 - The young people of the Salesian Youth Movement in Johannesburg gathered in the Salesian parish of All Saints for a reflection meeting on the Synod of Bishops on the theme: "Young people, faith and vocational discernment". Two young people shared their journey of faith, followed by group discussions and the concluding Eucharistic Adoration.
Passau, Germany - 2 October 2018 - In view of the Synod of Bishops the young people of the Salesian houses of Würzburg and Sannerz, together with Fr. Johannes Kaufmann, Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry in Germany, assistants, young volunteers and a Salesian aspirant, donated a book to Msgr. Stefan Oster, Salesian, bishop of Passau. In the book many young people of the German Salesian houses tell their lives, their convictions and what they want to say to Pope Francis on the occasion of the Synod on young people. "I welcome this gift as a source of inspiration for our discussions," said Msgr. Oster, who participates in the Synod as President of the Commission for Youth Ministry of the German Episcopal Conference.