Brazil – July 2024 - The 2024 Youth Missionary Animation (AMJ, in Portuguese) project ended successfully on Sunday 28 July, leaving a profound mark on the communities in Southern Brazil. Starting from Curitiba, (State of Paraná), passing through Massaranduba, (Santa Catarina), until reaching Santa Rosa, (Rio Grande) and Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul), this year's AMJ witnessed the transforming force of Salesian youth united by Oratory criteria. Under the inspiring motto of Strenna 2024 "The dream that makes you dream. A heart that transforms wolves into lambs", more than 350 young Salesian missionaries and coordinators have tirelessly dedicated themselves to the service of local communities. During 22 days of uninterrupted mission in the southern states of Brazil, more than 2,900 families were visited, bringing with them God's blessings, human warmth and hope that characterise the Salesian charism. This year, more than ever, AMJ has reaffirmed the Salesian commitment to cultivate "a heart that transforms wolves into lambs", inspiring young people to dream and be active agents of peace and hope in their communities.

San Pedro Carchá, Guatemala – July 2024 – A Meeting of Heads of Parishes and Churches in the Salesian Central America Province (CAM) took place from 16 to 18 July at the Chibajche  Salesian work During the meeting, a reading and analysis of Pope Francis' Letter to Parish priests took place. Those present also worked collectively on the Parish Provincial Project (PIP). The meeting was attended by Bishop Rodolfo Valenzuela Núñez, Bishop of Verapaz and President of the Guatemalan Episcopal Conference, who spoke on "Spiritual Conversation". All participants finally participated in the closing Eucharist in the Chajquej Village of San Pedro Carchá, where they were welcomed with great joy by the faithful of the community. The meeting was organised by Fr Carlos Francisco Hernández Sánchez, SDB, with the support of the laity from the Salesian parish of San Pedro Carchá.

Santiago, Chile – July 2024 - The Planning and Development Office in the Salesians of Chile Province (CIL) has received a donation of 100 native Chilean trees to reforest Peñihue Park, located in Lo Cañas, near Santiago, and inaugurated in November 2023. The donation, delivered on Wednesday 24 July in the municipality of Til Til, took place thanks to the appeal of "Biocys", a consulting company specialising in environmental rehabilitation, thanks in particular to its "Donation of nursery plants from Guayacanes" programme, for which the CIL Province was selected, together with other institutions. The program aims at projects that guarantee the care and development of the plants delivered with sustainable practices in the service of the communities. Ms Elizabeth Vivanco, representative of the Project Office, has received several species of plants that will serve to reforest the Salesian space. "The commitment to care for Creation is already an integral part of our institutional work, which should motivate the entire Salesian Family to take care of our Common Home, generating green spaces that contribute to this environmental sustainability. Generating these alliances will allow us to take care of the environment, "said Ms Vivanco. For its part, Biocys expressed the desire to continue collaborating with the Salesians in terms of ecosystem restoration, through support, advice and dissemination in favour of common well-being and natural spaces.

SOURCE: Salesian Communication Chile

Vatican City, Vatican - July 2024 - Today, July 29, 2024, the Diocesan Inquest of the Servant of God Akash Bashir (June 22, 1994 - March 15, 2015), lay Salesian alumnus, was opened at the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. Present - with Dr. Federico Favero of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - were Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, Postulator General, and Fr Gabriel Cruz, Vice-Postulator of the Cause. The 4 envelopes of Transunto and Public Copy were presented, two in Urdu and two in English, and then the seals were broken, going through the General Index to verify the articulation of the structural parts of the Inquiry and dwelling in particular on the work of the Historical Commission. With the opening, the Proceedings can be divided and organized. They will then pass temporarily to the Typography, which will collate and bind them in blank, titling and numbering the volumes, as per the practice of the Dicastery. Thereafter, they will be made accessible to the competent Office, for it to study their legal validity: that is, the Dicastery will check that the fulfillments prescribed under the law have been carried out correctly and completely in the Diocesan Phase.

Jakarta, Indonesia - July 2024 - Taking advantage of the presence in Indonesia of Fr M.C. George Menamparampil, former Coordinator of Salesian Mission Offices, Fr Yohanes Boediraharjo, Economer of the Salesian st Louis Versiglia Vice-Province of Indonesia (INA), invited ten lay people, some of them Salesian Cooperators or Salesian Cooperators aspirants, to understand the nature of Salesian Mission Offices. The meeting was also attended by Fr Vincentius Prastowo, recently appointed Superior of the INA Vice-Province, and Fr Adie Prinanto. Fr Menamparampil spoke of the importance and work of the Salesian Mission Office: "By basing our work on the Word of God ‘I want mercy, not sacrifices’, we work for young people, especially the poorest. Our works must also be communicated to the general public so that it is possible to obtain greater support. And in addition to support from abroad, the Mission Office must also be able to obtain support from local benefactors."

Gatchina, Russia – July 2024 - The Salesian oratory in Gatchina, which does not have its own headquarters, rented a large gym this summer to organise its summer camp for young people. 81 children from 8 to 14 years old and 22 leaders from 15 to 37 years old, led by Fr Andrej Porubchin, SDB, took part in the summer camp, held for three weeks, from 3 to 23 July. During the days the participants were able to carry out various activities, including music, theatre, group work, educational meetings, team games, excursions and cultural trips.