Krakow, Poland - October 2017 - The inaugural academic year ceremony of Krakow's Theological Students took place on 2 October. Attended by the Provincials of the four Polish Provinces, and Fr. Tadeusz Rozmus, Regional Councilor for Europe Center and North, who started his Extraordinary Visit at the center, the event began with the Eucharistic presided by Fr Rozmus, with his homily. The Counselor - after the greeting of the Director, Fr Dariusz Kozłowski, and his presentation - held a lectio magistralis entitled: "Current State of the Youth Ministry in today's Europe. Situation, Challenges and Strategies."

Chiang Mai, Thailand - October 2017 - The youth ministry team of the Salesian Province of Thailand (THA) organized a youth camp in Chiang Mai to offer a Salesian experience to 70 children and young people from the tribes of the country's North. During the camp, the participants learned about Don Bosco's story, the religious life of Salesians, and the basic notions of catechism. Some of the young participants expressed interest in pursuing a Salesian life and shall, indeed, begin their training as aspirants in 2018-2019.

Bogotá, Colombia - October 2017 - The Salesian Artistic Festival 2017 was held from September 30 to October 7 in the "Niño Jesús" Salesian house and the "León XIII" Salesian College, of the Bogotá Province (COB). Inspired by the theme of the Rector Major's Strenna 2017: "WE ARE FAMILY! Every Home, a School of Life and Love," the festival was attended by 1,670 young people from all over Colombia. Participants presented musical, dance and theatrical performances, plastic and visual arts exhibitions, literature, symphonic concerts. They also participated in two workshops: "formARTE" and "evangelizARTE."

Stony Point, United States - October 2017 - From October 2 to 5, the first retreat of the new school year for the young animators of the Salesian schools of East United States took place. The retreat was coordinated by Fr Abraham Feliciano, SDB, Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry and his team.

Warsaw, Poland - October 2017 - On 6 October, at the Belweder Palace, the official residence of the President of Poland, a scientific conference was held to honor Msgr. Antoni Baraniak, Salesian (1904-1977) - secretary to two Archbishops of Poland: Mgr. August Hlond, Salesian, and Msgr. Stefan Wyszyński - on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of his death and the 60th anniversary of his Metropolitan Poznań Office. Poland's President, Andrzej Duda, also taking part, called him, among other things, "a person who was a little forgotten, not spoken of, but today he is held in the highest esteem and ranks among Poland's most important heroes since 1918." Bishop Stanisław Gądecki, Archbishop of Metro Poznań, one of the seminar speakers, announced, "We begin the process of beatification of Archbishop Antoni Baraniak, martyr of the Communist system, a man persecuted and tortured in prison by Stalin's investigators." After the conference, an album produced by the National Memorial Institute (IPN) entitled "Arcybiskup Antoni Baraniak 1904-1977" was presented. In the photo, Mgr. Antoni Baraniak, on the right, with Archbishop Stefan Wyszyński.

Mumbai, India - October 2, 2017 - On 2 October, on "Gandhi Jayanti", an Indian national holiday to commemorate the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, the Salesian NGO "Don Bosco Development Society" (DBDS), led by Fr Rolvin D' Mello, SDB, organized a march on the theme: "My Security Is My Right." The rally was attended by 350 women from the Mumbai shantytowns.