Kinshasa, Congo - January 2018 - From January 2 to 6, the first meeting of the Directors of the Vice Province "Africa Congo Congo" (ACC) took place.
Isola delle Femmine, Italy - January 2018 - From 3 to 5 January, about 200 adolescents of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) of Sicily met in Isola delle Femmine (Palermo) for their annual "Teenage Meeting", this year on the theme "All for one Church." The teens committed themselves to the four pillars of the Church - Prayer, Word of God, Charity and Testimony – and were aided by FMA, Salesians, Salesian Cooperators and animators of SYM's Regional Council. Speaking, among others, were: Margherita Asta, Consecrated by the Community Volunteers of the Gospel; Brother Biagio Conte, of the Mission of Hope and Charity, and finally Fr Arnaldo Riggi, Salesian. The three days ended with a pledge by the young to live well their being Salesian animators. At the concluding Mass, presided over by Fr Domenico Luvarà, Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry, Fr Gaetano Gullotta, new Delegate of the Sicilian Episcopal Conference (CESI) for Youth Ministry, was also present.
Vatican City, Vatican – 7 January 2018 – On Sunday, Pope Francis celebrated the Eucharist and baptized 34 children. "They too have their own dialect which does, and makes us feel, good!", the Pope exclaimed. "We must not forget this language of children, who speak as best they can, but it is the language Jesus likes so much." Then he invited the audience: "In your prayers be as simple as children. Tell Jesus what comes from your heart, as they do. They will do so today, by crying, yes, like children. (...) The dialect of parents is the love to transmit faith, and the children's dialect is to be welcomed by the parents to grow in faith."
Środa Śląska, Poland - December 2017 - On 8 December a group of young people started a three-day meeting called "Oratoriada": a gathering of teenagers from the oratories of Western Poland; the theme: "How do we build a community?" During the event, participants discussed interpersonal relationships in the spirit of Christ and of Don Bosco and on the role of Mary in their lives, writing letters with requests, thanks and praises. During the meeting, there were various moments for prayer, dancing and sports competitions. Fr Jarosław Pizoń, Provincial of Wroclaw (PLO), discussed the importance of building community and the value of each member. Divided into groups, participants reflected on the difficulties of life, on being animators and true Christian women and men.
Pamplona, Spain - December 2017 - On 15 December the Salesians of Pamplona organized a meeting on the theme: "New Challenges for Dual Vocational Training." The event was attended by government representatives of the Spanish autonomous communities of the Basque Country, Rioja and Navarre. The day of reflection was used to analyze how the “FP Duale” is developing, how it can be improved and what the challenges are. Of note, it reported that over 80% of the students of the Dual Professional Training find jobs.
Paris, France - December 2017 - On 11 December the Salesian Fr John Paul Swaminathan from the Province of France and South Belgium (FRB), originally from India Tiruchy Province (INT), obtained his Master's degree as Film Director and Producer from the prestigious Department of Higher Education of the European Union and the "EICAR International Film School." During his formative journey, Fr Swaminathan had received the Alberto R. Boccoli Award for young directors with his short film: "Alive - death does not stop life", based on the terrorist attack on the Bataclan Theater of Paris.