San Salvador, El Salvador – July 2024 – The National Meeting of Salesian Cooperator Aspirants in El Salvador took place on Sunday 21 July, attended by 38 candidates and formators from four local centres. The activity, which took place at the Ricaldone Technical Institute in San Salvador, began with a Eucharistic celebration and subsequently integration dynamics were carried out among those present. The theme of the reflection was "Vocation, journey and commitment", and was presented by Malú Zárate. After the presentation, the theme was shared in groups and a plenary session was held. In the afternoon the participants took part in a gathering around Salesian holiness. The aim of the meeting was to offer the candidates a fraternal and formative experience to encourage sharing among the members from the different centres, as well as to promote mutual knowledge.

Maridi, South Sudan – July 2024 – The Don Bosco Salesian secondary school in Maridi has launched a tree planting campaign entitled "One student, one tree". Fr Michael Kalathipullatt, Rector, and Fr Charles Taban, Principal, started this ecological and care path of our Common Home among the students of the Salesian institute and extended it to all schools and nearby villages. The school prepared seedlings of various trees, in addition to those brought by the students. Each of them planted one, with the task of taking care of it during their time at the school. Fr Kalathipullatt reminded the students: “He who plants a tree, plants a hope. And our closeness to nature is really closeness to the Divine, because God speaks through nature.” Since it is currently monsoon time in South Sudan, this is a favorable time to plant trees. Through these initiatives, the school administration intends to spread hope among young people and make Sudan greener for future generations.

Shillong, India – July 2024 – The Salesian Saint John Paul II Province of Shillong, India  (INS), has organised a seminar in memory of Servant of God Fr Costantino Vendrame, currently on the path to venerability, at the Theological Studentate of the Sacred Heart, on Tuesday 23 July. Fr Richard Majaw, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Shillong, was the main guest at the event, which was attended by Fr Genesius Wanniang, Provincial Economer, priests, sisters, novices and some young people from Italy, led by Fr Lorenzo Barbieri, head of Youth Ministry in the Diocese of Vittorio Veneto. During the seminar Frs Mawrie Barnes, Phillip Borjo and Jose Anikuzhikattil spoke,  tracing the life and work of Fr Vendrame, popularly known as the "Apostle of the Khasi". Many of the participants asked questions to learn more about the life of this missionary, who carried out his work in the villages of the Khasi people, on the hills of Khasi Jaintia. Fr Barbieri, in particular, spoke at the seminar reading a message taken from the life notes of Fr Vendrame. The programme ended with a singing performance by the novices of the Salesian novitiate in Sunny Side, who sang a song about the Servant of God written and composed by Fr Mawrie Barnes.

Callajchullpa, Bolivia – July 2024 – From 11 to 13 July, the Spiritual Exercises for lay people were held at the María Auxiliadora retreat house in Callajchullpa. The event was organised by Fr Damaso Nina, Delegate for the Salesian Family in Our Lady of Copacabana Province, Bolivia (BOL), and involved some 31 lay people. The goal of this meeting was to provide spiritual formation to the closest lay collaborators who serve in the works of the Salesian Family in the Country. "We wanted to give the opportunity to all our collaborators, the closest lay people, to be able to further understand Salesian spirituality, what Don Bosco wanted, and to be able to be committed to our works, and I believe that we have achieved the goal," said Fr Nina.

Anisakan, Myanmar – July 2024 - The Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) was founded in Myanmar on Wednesday 24 July 2024, with the first 66 members making their promises. The solemn celebration took place in the Shrine of Mary Help of Christianat Don Bosco-Nazareth in Anisakan, and was presided over by the Superior of the Salesian Visitation of Myanmar (MYM), Don Bosco Nyi Nyi, accompanied by the Delegate for the Salesian Family, Fr John Gam Seng. During the ceremony, medals, regulations, badges, cards and uniforms of the association were delivered to each member. Meanwhile, in other cities of the country there are also a good number of lay people who are preparing to enter ADMA, the fourth group of the Salesian Family.

Burehe, Rwanda – July 2024 - On Saturday, 20 July, Salesian Deacon Célestin Ntakiyimana, member of the Africa Great Lakes Visitation Group (AGL), was ordained priest by Bishop Papias Musengamana, Bishop of Byumba. Fr Pierre-Célestin Ngoboka, the Superior of the AGL Vice-Province, his Council and numerous Salesian, Diocesan and other Congregational priests were present at the celebration. There were also numerous members of the Salesian Family, collaborators and young people who came for the occasion.