Montevideo, Uruguay - October 2017 – On October 21 at the Collegio Pio IX of Villa Colón, the meeting of the oratory's youth took place; the topic: "We come from everywhere, we want to live happily." 350 young people and 50 animators participated.
Johannesburg, South Africa - October 2017 - On 26 and 27 October, the Salesians of the Southern Africa Vice Province (AFM) met at the Bosco Youth Center for the Vice Province's Annual Meeting to reflect on the topic of the 2018 Synod on Young People. The assembly ended with the Eucharist for the celebration of Blessed Michele Rua, patron of the AFM Vice Province.
Pasay City, Philippines - October 2017 - On October 25, the 39th edition of the "Catholic Mass Media Awards" was held, during which the Salesians of the Philippines were awarded for Excellence in Mass Media and Ministry in Social Media. "Word & Life Publications" of Word & Life Publications, directed by Fr Salvatore Putzu, SDB, and his team, received the "Catholic Mass Media Awards" for the fifth time as the best youth magazine. Also awarded: "Rowena's Choice" by Fr Remo Bati, SDB, Glady Ramos and Dann San Miguel as Best Comics; "Word and Life Barkada," by Glady Ramos, as the Best Entertainment Column; and the Salesian Bulletin "St. John Bosco Today," with a special citation as Best Magazine of a Local Community.
Turin, Italy - October 2017 - Following the October 15 vote, the elected ADMA Primary councilors met in Turin-Valdocco on October 29 to assign roles. The new ADMA Primary Council for the four-year period - 2017-2021 - is hereby as follows: Renato Valera (President); Paolo Peirone (Vice-President); Andrea Damiani (Treasurer); Mariapia Gallo (Secretary); Federica Lucca (Young Councilor); Davide Ricauda (Councilor for Young People); Gianluca Spesso (Family Counselor); Luciana Bianchetti (Senior Councilor); Fr Pierluigi Cameroni (World Spiritual Animator); Sister Marilena Bianchetti, FMA (Piedmont Spiritual Animator). As per art. 15 of Regulations, the Association Mary Help of Christians, based in the Sanctuary of Mary Help of Christians of Turin-Valdocco, is the heir and continuation of the first founded by Don Bosco, and therefore called 'Primary.' Given its origins and its connection to the Sanctuary, it is responsible for the Association's animation, links and information at the worldwide level.
Cracow, Poland - October 2017 - On October 14, a large number of pilgrims from the St Stanislaus Kostka parish of Dębniki, and other parishes, including non-Salesian, from Krakow, Lublin, Kielce, Racibórz, Pogrzebień, Kobyla, Kietrz, Toruń, Limanowa, completed the XIII Pilgrimage in the footsteps of Karol Wojtyła, Laborer. The faithful walked the streets from the Salesian Church of St Stanislaus Kostka, which was attended by Karol Wojtyła during his stay in Dębniki in the years 1938-1944 when he was a student and worked in the stone quarries of "Solvay", to the John Paul II Center, where the Eucharist was presided over by Fr Tadeusz Rozmus, Regional Councilor for Central and North Europe, with the homily of Fr Andrzej Gołębiowski.
Recife, Brazil - October 2017 - On October 10, the State Forum for the Prevention and Eradication of Child Labor in the state of Pernambuco organized the "Fifth March against Child Labor", with the participation of the Salesian School "Escola Dom Bosco." Activities included: flash mobs, interactive round tables and itinerant shows and
theatrical performances, all with the aim of stimulating initiatives related to "Children's Week", and to raise awareness among the general public and the associations defending human rights. The "Escola Dom Bosco" has so far involved over 70 former child laborers in its apprenticeship program.