São Paulo, Brazil – 6 May 2017 - On the feast of St Dominic Savio, about 600 young people gathered at the "Coração de Jesus" High School for the meeting of Altar Servers of the São Paulo Province (BSP) . The meeting began with Mass. Fr Natale Vitali, Councillor for the American Southern Cone Region, presided and the homily was given by Fr Martin Lasarte of the Missions Department. After lunch, there were training workshops, coordinated by theology students, and time for recreation.
Lubumbashi, R.D. Congo - May 2017 - On 7 May, young missionaries, accompanied by Fr Albert Kabuge, SDB, Provincial Delegate for Missionary Animation, and some members of "Regina Mundi" and the academic oratory, went to Buluo Prison to bring solidarity and comfort to prisoners. During the visit, the Eucharist was celebrated, followed by moments of animation and the giving of gifts.
Dili, East Timor – 1 May 2017 - On the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker in the Parish of Mary Help of Christians in Comoros, Dili, Fr Apolinário Neto, Superior of the Vice-Province of Indonesia-East Timor (ITM), received the perpetual professions of Salesian Brothers, Filipe da Conceição and Josafat Tanio Oliveira Neto Fraga.
Hamamatsu, Japan - April 2017 – On 24 April there was the first spiritual retreat for about 40 members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) of the Tokyo and Hamamatsu groups. During the retreat, animated by Fr Angel Yamanouchi, Spiritual Animator of ADMA, and Fr Mario Yamanouchi, Provincial of Japan, 23 people from various nationalities made their promises as members of the Hammamatsu ADMA group.
Madrid, Spain - April 2017 – A Meeting of the World Conference of Salesian Past Pupils took place from 27 to 30 April, The meeting was attended by the President of the World Confederation, Michal Hort; GEX Vice President, Angel Gudina; Regional Councillor for Europe, Fernando Nunez Arce; Councillor for America, Eduardo Pessoa Cavalcante; GEX Councillor for America, Fresia Mendez Mora; GEX Councillor for Asia and Oceania, Alberto Alves Piedade; Councillor for the Family and Formation, Maurizio Bruni, Councillor for the Work Platform, Diego Genese; and, for the first time, the new World Delegate, Fr Raphael Jayapalan. The Secretariat was taken care of by Silvia Bruni, Peter Kovac and Stefan Bosnak. The main purpose of the meeting was to enable all the presidency members to participate in the work. Numerous topics were covered: the creation and expansion of the world database of structures, - schools, oratories, presidents, delegates and contacts; Organization of Eurobosco 2017, scheduled for next October in Samon (France); site development: www.exallievi.org
Rome, Italy - May 2017 - From 1 May to 5 May, an International Seminar for New Provincial Economers took place at the Salesian Generalate. There were 15 participants. The Seminar was chaired by the Economer General, Salesian Brother, Jean-Paul Muller, assisted by Fr Piotr Gozdalski and Fr Tullio Orler, of the Economer General’s department. The following topics were addressed: Identity and role of the Provincial Economer (Muller); Transparency and Anti-Corruption (Willi Kawohl); Criteria for decision making and financial choices (Dr. Pietro Tardini / Dr. Alex Garattoni); Report - ESC – Relation Direction-Provinces (Gozdalski); Organization of the Office of the Provincial Economer (Orler); Organization and Management of the PDO - (Patricia Rodriguez Gonzalez); Salesian religious life and discipline (Muller); Administration according to the rules of Canon Law (Muller). In the photo: the group together with the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime.