Damascus, Syria - January 2018 - On January 29, the feast of Don Bosco took place at the Salesian oratory in Damascus. Mass was presided over by Fr Mounir Hanachi, SDB, Director, in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio Cardinal Mario Zenari, a number of priests and many young people.

Kampala, Uganda - January 2018 - On 27 January the Salesian Family in Namugongo - Kampala met in the presence of the Salesians, members of the Association of Salesian Cooperators and Past Pupils of the communities of Kampala, Bombo and Kamuli. The Eucharist was presided by Fr Calixte Ukwitegetse, Delegate for the Salesian Family. During the meeting the Strenna 2018 of the Rector Major was presented, with deepening and reflection of the participants.

Turin, Italy - January 2018 - On January 27th, at the "Don Bosco" International Institute of Turin-Crocetta, the second edition of "First Steps in Family" began, a cycle of 4 meetings promoted by the Primary ADMA of Turin, aimed at married couples in their early years of marriage and engaged couples who are close to the wedding. This first meeting was attended by 21 young couples, accompanied by spouses who follow the path of the ADMA Families. With a catechesis entitled "A Covenant in the Light of God", Fr Andrea Bozzolo, SDB, starting from the text of Genesis 2: 18-25 has helped to rediscover the greatness of the vocation to marriage, seen as an alliance in which we play the deepest identity of man and woman, and as a relationship crossed by the presence of God. After a time of silence for personal and romantic reflection there was a moment of sharing and exchange in small groups, followed by the Eucharistic celebration.

Vatican City, Vatican - 26 January 2018 - In the Sala Clementina of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Among them is Cardinal Raffaele Farina, SDB.

Dili, East Timor - 30 January 2018 - Arrival of the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, at the Salesian house in Dili, seat of the Vice Province of Indonesia-East Timor (ITM), where there is also a post-novitiate and a vocational training center.

Santiago de Chile, Chile - January 2018 - On 27 January, Fr Natale Vitali, Councilor for the America South Cone Region, presided over the ceremony for the inauguration of the new Provincial of the Salesian Province of Chile: Fr Carlo Lira Airola.