Seoul, South Korea - April 2017 - On 20 April, Bishop Luc Van Looy, SDB, of the diocese of Gent, presided over the ordination of four Salesian priests and one deacon.

Brussels, Belgium – 24 April 2017 - Several representatives of Salesian organizations took part in Brussels at the 2nd Annual Inclusive Growth Conference: Brian Hogan (Don Bosco Care - Ireland), Alexandra Constantino (Fundaçao Salesianos - Portugal), José Miguel Bautista Salesian Social Platforms - Spain), Belén Otegui (Pinardi Federation - Spain) and Angel Gudiña (Don Bosco International). The meeting took place with the slogan "Every voice counts. Make yours heard.” NGOs and Institutional Authorities of 35 Countries, met to study how to improve the situation with regard to the social inclusion of young people. Through a very dense work programme, issues such as youth unemployment, child and youth poverty, intergenerational equity, and the social inclusion of young people, especially those with disabilities, were dealt with. Salesian works took advantage of the meeting to strengthen the network of projects at national level and within European programmes.

Cachoeira do Campo, Brazil - April 2017 - From 23 to 30 April, a Seminar on Missionary Animation and Formation is taking place on the theme "The First Proclamation and the Salesian Mission". This is the first of the regional seminars to be held jointly by the Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. The General Councillors for the Salesian Missions and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), Fr Guillermo Basañes and Sr Alaíde Deretti, are attending the event. Other participants include Fr Natale Vitali, Councillor for the American Southern Cone Region; Fr Martin Lasarte of the Missions Department and various SDB and FMA Provincials, Salesians, FMAs, and lay people.

Lusaka, Zambia - April 2017 - On 25 and 26 April, the Salesians of the Quinquennium of the Vice-Province of Zambia-Malawi-Zimbabwe-Namibia (ZMB) met with 11 priests led by Fr Peter Carol SJ on the topic of affectivity.  Fr Christopher Rychcik, Superior of the ZMB Vice-Province was also present.

Krakow, Poland - April 2017 - On 24 April, at the Theological College in Krakow, a Historic-Pedagogical Conference was held under the title "Archbishop Antoni Baraniak – an Inflexible Bishop." The event was attended by Fr Tadeusz Rozmus, Regional Councillor for Northern and Central Europe, Fr Adam Parszywka, Provincial in Krakow and the Provincials of other Polish Provinces. Among the guests there was also the new Metropolitan Archbishop of Krakow, Marek Jędraszewski. The programme of the conference included the launch of the film "Inflexible Soldier of the Church" by Jolanta Hajdasz; a talk by Professor Filip Musiał, on the persecution of the Church by the Polish Communist Government (1944-1956); an address by Archbishop Jędraszewski on the documentation concerning Bishop Baraniak and his imprisonment by the communist government (1953-1955); and a final round table discussion.

Lisbon, Portugal - April 2017 - On 25 April, the 43rd anniversary of the "Carnation Revolution", the President of the Republic of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, received the representatives of 31 Social Communication Bodies with publications going back over 100 years. The President thanked the Portuguese Press Association and awarded it the honorary title of the Order of Merit. The Salesian Bulletin, whose first Portuguese edition was published in February 1902, was represented by its director, Joaquim Antunes.