Caracas, Venezuela - February 2018 - On February 17 and 18, the meeting of the Salesian Cooperators (ASC) of Gran Caracas took place, in the presence of Carlos Alvarado, National Coordinator, Sr. Julieta Martínez, Delegate for the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Susanna Zamora, Secretary, and Fr David Marín, SDB, Delegate for the Salesian Family and Salesian Cooperators. During the meeting, on the theme "Vocation and Formation of the Salesian Cooperator", various important aspects of the Salesian Cooperator were discussed as were the current situation of each center, their strengths and weaknesses, and finally the initial and permanent formation plans of the Salesian Cooperator.

Rzeszów, Poland - February 2018 - On February 13th in Rzeszów, the Knight's
Cross of the Order of Poland was conferred upon Salesian Fr Tadeusz Pater. The award was given by the President of the Polish Republic, Andrzej Duda, at the hands of the voivode of Podkarpacie (Subcarpathia), Ms Ewa Leniart, who declared: "Father Tadeusz has received this honor for the great merits in cultivating and spreading the history of the Poles of the eastern territories of Poland, later lost, and who today are part of the republics of Ukraine, Lithuania and Belarus."

Vilnius, Lithuania - February 2018 - The celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Lithuania took place all over the country on 16 February. All the church belltowers throughout the country rang out at 12:30, recalling the proclamation of independence. The Salesian parish in Vilnius, dedicated to Don Bosco, also took part in the celebrations, not only by ringing the bells and with a solemn Eucharistic celebration, attended by many parishioners, but also by a show of colors of the national flag with a display of smoke bombs: yellow, green and red. As smoke rose to the sky, enthusiastic parishioners spontaneously chanted various patriotic songs. These 100 years of independence have been marked by great national joys and satisfactions, but also by great suffering due to the 45-year Soviet occupation and the consequent religious and cultural persecutions. For this reason, the celebration was truly heartfelt by the local population, and the Salesians took part in it in full and in its own style.

Brussels, Belgium - February 2018 - From 11 to 14 February, Fr Fabio Attard, General Councilor for Youth Ministry, set up four workshops on the Educative-Pastoral Community and the Reference Framework for Youth Ministry in four locations of the France-South Belgium Province (FRB): on the 11th in Nice, 12th in Lyon, 13th in Paris and 14th in Brussels. In the various meetings, accompanied by Fr Tarcizio Morais, collaborator of the Department for Youth Ministry, and Fr Xavier Ernst, Delegate for Youth Ministry in the FRB Province, a participatory methodology was proposed followed by reflection, group debate and common sharing, sessions much appreciated by the many participants. Participation was high and varied in the meetings attended by Salesians, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Salesian Cooperators, young people and school directors of the Don Bosco Network. During the Paris meeting, Fr Daniel Federspiel, FRB Provincial, was present. In Brussels, where participation was significant (60 people), 3 representatives of the Belgium North Province also participated, including Provincial Fr Wilfried Wambeke.

Manaus, Brazil - February 2018 – Celebrated on 4 February was the Thanksgiving Mass that officially opened the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the Salesian Parish "São José Operário" in Manaus. The Mass was presided by the Archbishop of Manaus, Msgr. Sèrgio Castriani, and concelebrated by the parish priest, Fr João Benedito Cunha, by Fr Reginaldo Barbosa and Fr Jefferson Luis da Silva Santos, Salesian Provincial of Manaus.

Pyeongchang, South Korea - 11 February 2018 - Group photo at the end of the Eucharistic celebration for Polish athletes participating in the XXIII Winter Olympics. The Eucharist was presided over by Msgr. Marian Florczyk, bishop of Krakow, and concelebrated by Fr Edward Pleń, Salesian, chaplain of the Polish National Team.