Ljubljana Rakovnik, Slovenia – 24 May, 2017 - During the Eucharistic celebration in honor of Mary Help of Christians, led by Fr. Janez Potočnik, Superior of the Province of Slovenia, in the Salesian Church of Ljubljana-Rakovnik, five young people made their promise as members of the Salesian Cooperators Association (ASC). Tilll Mlakar, ASC Regional Coordinator, greeted the new Cooperators with best wishes of faith and joy for a steady growth of Salesian Cooperators in Slovenia.
Paranaque City, Philippines - May 2017 – on 31 May, the Perpetual Professions of 11 Salesians (10 clerics and a Co-Salesite) took place at the National Sanctuary of Mary Help of Christians. The Eucharist was presided over by Fr Paul Bicomong, Superior of the North Philippine Province, and concelebrated by don Charles Saw Thi Han Lwin, Superior of the Pre-Province of Myanmar, and don Honesto Geronimo, Vicar of the South Philippines Province.
Maynoot, Ireland - On Sunday, May 28, in St. Patrick's Church, Mgr. Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam, ordained 2 Salesian deacons: Vietnamese missionaries Dominic Binh Nguyen and Paul Binh Tran, along with the three Irish diocesan Kevin Connolly, Anthony McAleese and Gerard Quirke. The Eucharist was also concelebrated by Don Guillermo Basañes, General Counsel for Missions, and IRL Inspector, Don Michael Casey.
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - May 2017 - On May 24, the pastoral education community of Gabutu's "Don Bosco" School of Engineering attended the Feast of Mary Help of Christians at the Shrine of East Boroko. During the Eucharist, presided over by Msgr. Dariusz Kaluza, Bishop of Goroka, 13 people were baptized, 40 received the Sacrament of the Confirmation, and 28 made their First Communion.
Sampran, Thailand - May 2017 - In May, the Salesian Provincial of Thailand (THA), that includes Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, celebrated the first professions of three Salesian youths, two from Cambodia and one from Thailand. The first Salesian Norn Chandara, professed at Don Bosco Lawaan, Cebu, Philippines, on 6 May. The other two - Andrew Surachai Rattanayomngamdee and John Bosco Prak Ieth - in Sampran, Thailand, on May 26th.
Brussels, Belgium - May 2017 - On May 30, participants of the Don Bosco Network General Assembly (DBN) were able to learn more about major European Institutions. They were led by Don Bosco International, the liaison between the Salesian Congregation and Brussels: they participated in a session of the Development Committee of the European Parliament; met with Paolo Berizzi, European Commission Cabinet Member Neven Mimica, in charge of Development Cooperation; met the leaders of religious inspirational development platforms: CIDSE, Act Alliance and ASVI. Don Guillermo Basañes, General Councilor for the Missions, with Salesians and lay people of the DBN General Assembly, were very satisfied with the institutional tour and new visions gained.