Guatemala City, Guatemala - July 2018 - On 7 July, the Salesians Marcos René Castillo Villatoro and Efrén Orlando Mejía Artiga were ordained deacons via the laying on of hands and the consecratory prayer of Msgr. Raúl Antonio Martínez, auxiliary bishop of Santiago of Guatemala.
Pangasinan, Philippines - July 2018 - On July 11, the ceremony of laying the first stone of the first Salesian school in the province of Pangasinan took place. The rite was attended by representatives of the Catholic Church and the government, Salesians of the North Philippine Province and representatives of several private companies. The "Don Bosco Pangasinan" will stand on a two-hectare site located a short distance from the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaog. Upon completion of the first construction phase, the new vocational training center will offer courses in automotive mechanics, welding and maintenance of motorcycles and small engines, under the guidance of the "Don Bosco Technical Institute" of Tarlac.
Sydney, Australia - June 2018 - The St Mary's Don Bosco Youth Center celebrated the 25th anniversary of its foundation on June 23 and 24. The facility offers services and assistance to thousands of needy young people in the west of Sydney. On June 23, about 500 people, including beneficiaries and volunteers who attended or attend the center, took part in the Family Fun Day with games, barbecues, music. On June 24, a Eucharistic celebration took place in the nearby church of Our Lady of the Rosary. It was presided by Fr Peter Kerrin, SDB, founder of the center, and attended by governmental authorities, representatives of the local Church and the Salesian Family. The St. Mary's center is directed by two supervisors and the community is made up of Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
Parañaque City, Philippines - June 2018 - On June 23, Msgr. Jesse Mercado, DD, of the diocese of Parañaque, ordained ten Salesians as deacons: Gersio Amaral, Victor Mario da Cunha, Olivio da Costa, Albino Fernandes, Marizoni Resali Noronha (East Timor Province); Marselinus Tanggu Daga, Ignasius Harianto, (Vice Province of Indonesia); John Quincy A. Caballo (South Philippines); April Jerome S. Quinto (North Philippines); Nguyễn Nhật Khoa (Delegation Cambodia).
Tlaquepaque, Mexico - June 2018 - On June 30, three Salesians were ordained deacons: Ismael Hernández and Francisco Javier Ávila, of the Province of Mexico City (MEM), and Gustavo Ramírez, of the Province of the United States West. The ordination was presided by Msgr. José Guadalupe Martín Rábago, archbishop emeritus of León.
Caracas, Venezuela - July 2018 - The counselors and animators of the Salesian Youth Movement of "Gran Caracas" participated in various training workshops on topics such as first aid, recreation, activity planning and Salesian formation. All this in preparation for the oratories and the vocational camps to be held next August where it is expected to involve about 4000 young people with scarce resources.