Mestre, Italy - August 2018 - On August 25, there was a ceremony for the inauguration of the new Provincial of the "San Marco" Province, North-East Italy (INE), Fr Igino Biffi, and a greeting to the former Provincial, Fr Roberto Dal Molin. Taking place with the ceremony was the start of the year Assembly and the official launch of the 6th Provincial Chapter. Also present were Fr Stefano Martoglio, Councilor of the Mediterranean Region, who presided at the Eucharist and spoke on "The General Chapter 28 in the life of the Congregation: meaning, contents, aims", and the moderator of the Provincial Chapter, Fr Enrico Gaetan, who presented the preparation path.
Hatyai, Thailand - August 2018 - On August 12, Worachot Tanwinit, a student of the Salesian school Saengthong Vitthaya, received the "Golden Award" at the Asia Youth Piano Competition held in Singapore. Tanwinit began studying piano at the age of 4 and is currently attending the Salesian school's piano course.
Gbodjome, Togo - August 2018 - As part of the animation visit to the Province of Francophone West Africa (AFO), from August 17 to 22, the Economer General of the Salesian Congregation, Salesian Brother Jean Paul Muller, animated the spiritual exercises. On 23 August, he took part in the Salesian Assembly and led a training session on economic management for directors and treasurers of the AFO Province.
Mexico City, Mexico - August 2018 - On 16 August on the occasion of the commemoration of the birth of Don Bosco, 15 young people from the Salesian Provinces of the Antilles, Ecuador, Haiti, Mexico-Guadalajara and Mexico-Mexico City made their first profession.
India - 24 August 2018 - BREADS Don Bosco Projects has reached 39,818 victims of the Kerala floods by providing aid and rescue. Food rations were provided to 89% of the victims, 64% received clothes and sleeping kits, 24% medicines, 56% health-related articles and 13% emergency housing articles. Now BREADS Don Bosco Projects moves on to the cleaning of houses and supplying essential goods to the most needy. The action is being carried out by Salesians, past pupils, staff members, youth groups, friends and volunteers of Don Bosco. #RebuildKerala
Catania, Italy - July 2018 - This year in the "San Giovanni Bosco" oratory of Catania's Salette, the summer activities called "GrEst" involved about 200 young people and 60 animators, with various activities including games, Olympic-style competitions, seaside excursions and walks through the city streets. Durirng the year, a group of animators had prepared several theatrical scenes highlighting the life of Fr Pino Puglisi which they enacted during formation afternoons. The priest from Palermo, killed in hatred of the faith in 1993, was the key protagonist of the formation of the Salette young. "We try to educate to faith and to legality," said the coordinator of summer activities. The motto chosen "A testa alta" was printed on the colored sweaters the young wear and reminds them "to act responsibly, without being afraid to tell the truth and without committing actions that they might regret later."