Vienna, Austria - June 2018 - On 29 June, Fr Petrus Obermüller, SDB, Provincial of the Salesian Province of Austria (AUS), presided over the solemn blessing of a new building of the "Don Bosco Flüchtlingswerk", a Salesian association committed to serving young refugees. The structure is able to accommodate up to 30 unaccompanied minors. Fr Obermüller underlined the great work done by the association and said: "The new home is a space where young refugees can develop". Sr. Maria Maul, FMA, Superior of the Province of Austria-Germany, then affirmed that Don Bosco would also have, today, committed himself with all his strength to help these children in need of protection and would have given them his trust.
Yaoundé, Camerun - June 2018 - On June 30, in the basilica of Mary Queen of the Apostles of Mvolyé, 12 Salesians received the diaconal order: Atangana Engelbert, Issene Lévy Brad and Pelayo Justo (ATE); Azagba Emmanuel, Bere Jean Paul, Gandonou Donald Gaël, Medah Oscar and Salami Roméo (AFO); Andriamparany Alain Patrick, Solonirina Berthin (MDG); Banza Yves (AFC); and Mugendi Njiru Patrick (AFE). Two Salesians, Essindi Martial and Makon Marcel (ATE), instead received the presbyteral order, by the laying on of hands of the Archbishop of Garoua, Msgr. Faustin Ambassa Ndjodo.
Krakow, Poland - June 2018 - On June 30, about 300 motorcyclists of the "Sparkle of Mercy" pilgrimage, after the Mass presided by the Archbishop of Krakow, Mgr. Marek Jędraszewski, in the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Łagiewniki, left Krakow for the Shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje. In his homily, Msgr. Jędraszewski invited the participants to be men of mercy and witnesses of Divine Mercy. The initiative of the "Spark of Mercy", now in its third edition, takes place with the participation and under the presidency and spiritual care of Fr Adam Parszywka, SDB, Provincial of the Poland-Cracow Province.
Tainan, Taiwan - June 2018 - On June 30, the bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen, SDB, presided over the priestly ordination of Salesian Philip Huang Long-hsuan. Present were the family of the new priest, Fr Joseph Ng Chi-yuen, new Provincial of China, Fr Lanfranco Fedrigotti, former CIN provincial, and Fr Matthew Tri, Director of the community.
Lahore, Pakistan - June 2018 - On June 26, the Christian community gathered in the parish church of Youhannabad, Lahore district, to celebrate with a Mass and a procession the birthday date of Akash Bashir, the past pupil of the Lahore's Don Bosco school, who was killed in a terrorist attack on 15 March 2015. While providing security service at the entrance of the church, packed with over 2500 faithful, Akash bravely held back a kamikaze terrorist, preventing the latter from entering. The bomber blew himself up, killing Akash and 20 other people, as well as wounding circa 80 others.
La Ceja, Colombia - June 2018 – From June 19 to 21, the 13 novices of the Salesian novitiate of La Ceja (Antioquia) participated in a Communications course offered by the Medellín Province, through its Communication office. The novices - from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia - were able to study and explore various topics: the challenges of Salesian communication, fake news, educational presence in social networks and videos as a tool for evangelization and education. Johana Vélez, Delegate for Communication, offered several talks, while Jorge Rojas, expert in audiovisual productions, led the theoretical-practical course for video production, during which two films were made for the promotion of vocations.